Meatloaf Casserole with Mashed Potatoes (Printable)
Hearty layers of meat and vegetables topped with creamy mashed potatoes and melted cheese for a comforting family meal.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1½ lbs ground beef
02 - ½ lb ground pork
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn)
06 - 2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
→ Pantry & Dairy
07 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
08 - ½ cup milk
09 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
10 - ½ cup breadcrumbs
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - ¼ cup ketchup, plus extra for topping
13 - 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 tsp salt
15 - ½ tsp black pepper
16 - Nonstick cooking spray
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
02 - Place peeled and cubed potatoes in a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain well, return to the pot, and mash with milk and butter until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
03 - While the potatoes cook, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing for 3 to 4 minutes until fragrant and softened. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, sautéed onion and garlic, breadcrumbs, eggs, ¼ cup ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
05 - Press the meat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread the frozen mixed vegetables in an even layer over the meat.
06 - Spread the mashed potatoes over the vegetable layer, smoothing into an even, uniform layer across the entire dish.
07 - Drizzle the remaining ketchup over the mashed potato layer, then sprinkle evenly with the shredded cheddar cheese.
08 - Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the cheese is melted and golden brown on top.
09 - Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing into portions and serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It takes everything comforting about meatloaf and turns it into a layered, fork tender casserole that feels like a hug on a plate.
- The mashed potato topping gets golden edges while staying fluffy underneath, and the cheese pulls everything together in a way that makes seconds inevitable.
02 -
- Overmixing the meat makes it tough and rubbery, so fold the ingredients gently and stop as soon as everything looks combined.
- Warming the milk and butter before adding them to the potatoes prevents the mash from cooling down and becoming stiff while you assemble the rest.
03 -
- Run a fork lightly across the top of the mashed potatoes before baking to create ridges that crisp up and give you irresistible golden edges.
- Letting the casserole rest the full ten minutes is not optional if you want slices that hold together instead of crumbling onto the serving spatula.