Meatloaf Casserole

This meatloaf casserole recipe is so much more than your average meatloaf. The tender meatloaf is layered with creamy mashed potatoes, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon. It's super filling, flavorful, and sure to be a weeknight favorite! 

My Take On Meatloaf Casserole

I love a classic-style meatloaf, like my meatloaf with crackers and Southern meatloaf, but when it comes to the ultimate comfort food meatloaf dinner, nothing beats this loaded potato meatloaf casserole.

I mean, it's packed full of incredible flavor, from the loaded mashed potatoes on top to the tender and juicy meatloaf layer on the bottom. With crispy bacon bits and shredded cheese, there's no wonder why I've been obsessed with this easy meatloaf recipe.

It's hard to tell just what part of this dish is the star. Is it the creamy loaded mashed potatoes, or the moist and smoky meatloaf? It has to be the crispy bacon bits, right? I'll let you decide!

Anyway, I like to whip up this meatloaf casserole for a simple weeknight meal that I know will leave my family satisfied, and it's a great holiday meal too. Easy enough to double up, it can feed any crowd for a hearty meal.

Why This Recipe Works

It doesn't take much to make. This meatloaf casserole can be made with minimal hands-on work. I love a recipe where you don't have to do any extensive steps, and this meatloaf casserole fits the bill.

Always a crowd pleaser. I haven't had anyone who's tried this meatloaf casserole that hasn't loved it. Its flavorful layers are just so tasty that even the pickiest eater at the table will want seconds.

The layers. Tender meatloaf, creamy mashed potatoes, bacon, and cheese, this meatloaf recipe has it all.

Ingredients

You might be surprised to find you already have all of the ingredients for this meatloaf casserole recipe! At least, most of them are pantry staples in my house.

Check out what you need to make loaded potato meatloaf casserole:

• 1.5lbs. of ground beef (I used a 50% beef, 50% pork mix)
• ½ cup yellow onion , finely chopped
• ⅔ cup seasoned dry breadcrumbs
• ⅓ cup whole milk
• 1 large egg 
• 2 lbs. of potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
• ⅓ cup butter
• ½  cup whole milk
• Salt and pepper 
• ½ cup bacon bits, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup provolone cheese, shredded

If you want to try another one of the best mashed potato recipes, you can use a few of the ingredients from the mashed potatoes in this recipe to make my cheesy mashed potatoes.

How To Make Meatloaf Casserole

1. Prep work: First, preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x9 inch baking dish with some nonstick cooking spray.

2. Combine the meat mixture: In a large bowl, gently combine ground beef, onion, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, salt and pepper. Mix until all of the ingredients are fully combined, then press them into the prepared baking dish.

3. Bake: Put the meatloaf in the oven and bake it uncovered for 15 minutes. Once it's baked, remove and drain any excess fat from the dish.

4. Boil potatoes: While the meatloaf is cooking, add potatoes with just enough water to cover them in a pot. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and cook the potatoes for 15 minutes.

5. Mash the potatoes: Drain the water from the pot of boiled potatoes and add the milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Mash the potatoes until they're creamy and reach your desired consistency.

6. Finish the meatloaf: By this time, the meatloaf should be finished with the first bake. So go ahead and spread the mashed potatoes over the meatloaf in an even layer and top it with the shredded cheese and bacon. Bake the meatloaf for an additional 15 minutes, until the bacon is sizzling, the cheese is bubbling, and the mashed potatoes are slightly crispy. Serve warm, and enjoy!

Tips For Making The Best Meatloaf Casserole 

• I've made this recipe with instant mashed potatoes to save time, and that works great too. I like to add a bit of sour cream to them for a little creaminess.
• Don't over mix the ground beef mixture! Fold together your meatloaf ingredients until just combined. Too much stirring will give you a tough meatloaf casserole.
• Try switching out the provolone cheese for sharp cheddar cheese for a different flavor. Really any shredded cheese will be delicious, so use whatever you want.

How To Store Meatloaf Casserole

In the fridge: Transfer any leftover meatloaf casserole to an airtight container and store it in the fridge up to 4 days.

In the freezer: Put the cooked meatloaf in an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag with the extra air squeezed. You can store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Reheating: I like to put the meatloaf casserole in a baking dish, cover it with tin foil, and bake it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes. For the frozen meatloaf, thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.

More Recipes

• Meatloaf with stuffing
• Swiss chicken casserole
• Chicken and stuffing casserole
• Chicken crescent roll casserole
• Twice baked potato casserole