Meatloaf Casserole with Cheddar (Printable)
Savory meatloaf casserole with mashed potatoes and cheddar; quick to assemble and bake for family.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meat Mixture
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1/2 lb ground pork
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup breadcrumbs
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1/3 cup whole milk
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
→ Mashed Potato Layer
13 - 2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
14 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
15 - 1/2 cup whole milk
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Sauce
17 - 1/2 cup ketchup
18 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
19 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
→ Topping
20 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
21 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Place peeled and cubed potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly, return potatoes to the pot, and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, chopped onion, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, thyme, and smoked paprika. Mix gently with your hands or a fork until just combined — avoid overmixing to keep the texture tender.
04 - Press the meat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a uniform flat layer.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. Spread the sauce evenly over the meat layer using the back of a spoon.
06 - Spoon the mashed potatoes over the sauced meat layer. Gently spread them out in an even layer, sealing the edges to prevent the sauce from bubbling through.
07 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the entire surface of the mashed potato layer.
08 - Bake uncovered on the center rack for 40 to 45 minutes, until the casserole is bubbling at the edges, the meat is cooked through, and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
09 - Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It gives you all the comfort of meatloaf and mashed potatoes in one single pan, which means less cleanup and more eating.
- The tangy sweet sauce seeps into the meat while the potatoes soak up every bit of flavor underneath that golden cheese lid.
02 -
- Overmixing the meat is the fastest way to turn tender meatloaf into something dense and rubbery, so stop mixing the second everything looks combined.
- Letting the casserole rest before slicing is not optional, because cutting too early means the whole thing collapses into a beautiful but messy pile.
03 -
- Wet your hands slightly before pressing the meat into the dish, because it prevents sticking and helps you get a smooth, even layer without tearing chunks away.
- To make the mashed potato layer easier to spread, warm the milk and butter before adding them to the hot potatoes, because cold additions make the potatoes stiff and gummy.