Meatloaf Casserole with Mashed Potatoes (Printable)
Hearty meatloaf casserole with seasoned beef and pork, sweet-tangy sauce, creamy mashed potatoes and melted cheddar.
# 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 milk
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tsp salt
10 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
11 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
→ Mashed Potato Layer
13 - 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
14 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
15 - 1/2 cup milk
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Sauce
17 - 1/2 cup ketchup
18 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
19 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
→ Topping
20 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
21 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - In a large pot, cook peeled and cubed potatoes in salted boiling water until tender, approximately 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and smoked paprika. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
04 - Evenly press the meat mixture 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 until smooth. Spread the sauce evenly over the meat layer.
06 - Gently spoon the mashed potatoes over the sauced meat layer and spread into an even coverage, sealing the edges.
07 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the entire surface of the mashed potato layer.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until the casserole is bubbling, the meat is cooked through, and the cheese is golden brown.
09 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired and serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It takes everything comforting about meatloaf and turns it into a fork tender casserole that feeds a crowd without any slicing fuss.
- The mashed potato layer soaks up the sweet tomato sauce while getting crispy on top, which is honestly the best of both textures in one bite.
02 -
- Overmixing the meat mixture will make the base layer dense and tough, so stop mixing the moment everything looks evenly distributed.
- Spreading the mashed potatoes too aggressively will swirl the sauce into the potatoes, which still tastes fine but loses that clean layered look.
03 -
- Cook the potatoes while you prep the meat mixture to save yourself at least 15 minutes of total kitchen time.
- Use a potato ricer for the smoothest mash, because any lumps in the potato layer will stand out against the soft meat and melted cheese.