Description
Cheesy Loaded Meatloaf Casserole brings classic comfort to your dinner table with a hearty blend of ground beef, melted cheese, and crispy potato topping that makes your family crowd around the table. Warm, satisfying, and packed with flavor, this dish delivers pure home-style goodness in every single bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 lbs ground beef
Starch and Binding:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup diced onions
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ½ cup additional ketchup
- 1 cup additional shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Heat your oven to exactly 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Combine 2 lbs ground beef, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, ½ cup milk, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix the meat mixture thoroughly with your hands until all ingredients are completely blended.
- Gently incorporate 1 cup cheddar cheese, ½ cup diced onions, 2 minced garlic cloves, and ¼ cup chopped parsley into the meat mixture.
- Spread the meat mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, pressing it down to create a smooth surface.
- Pour ½ cup ketchup over the top of the meatloaf, ensuring it covers the entire surface.
- Bake uncovered for exactly 45-50 minutes until your meat thermometer reads 160°F in the center.
- Pull the meatloaf from the oven and immediately sprinkle 1 cup additional cheddar cheese across the top.
- Return the dish to the oven for 5 more minutes to melt the cheese completely.
- Scatter ½ cup crumbled bacon and 2 sliced green onions over the melted cheese.
- Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes so the juices can settle and redistribute throughout the meat.
Notes
- Mixing the meat mixture with hands ensures even distribution of ingredients and prevents overmixing, which can make the meatloaf tough.
- Letting the meatloaf rest after baking helps retain moisture and makes slicing easier, creating a more tender final dish.
- For a lower-carb version, replace breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds to maintain the texture.
- Adding a splash of beef broth can help keep the meatloaf extra moist and enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 488 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg