Description
Cheesy Loaded Meatloaf Casserole brings comfort to your dinner table with a hearty blend of ground beef, melted cheese, and crispy bacon that’ll make your family ask for seconds. Packed with flavor and easy to prepare, this dish turns weeknight dinners into a satisfying feast everyone will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup cooked bacon bits
Starches and Binders:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- ⅓ cup milk
Seasonings and Toppings:
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Instructions
- Crank your oven to 375°F and coat a 9×9-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend 1 lb ground beef, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 1 egg, ⅓ cup milk, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and all seasonings until just combined.
- Gently press the meat mixture into the prepared dish, creating an even layer that touches all sides.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, allowing the meat to develop a rich flavor and start browning.
- Remove the dish and carefully spread 2 cups of mashed potatoes across the top of the partially cooked meat surface.
- Sprinkle 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese and ¼ cup bacon bits evenly over the potato layer.
- Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling blanket.
- Pull the dish from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes so the layers can settle and cool slightly.
- Optionally, scatter 2 tbsp chopped green onions across the top for a fresh, sharp garnish before serving.
Notes
- Let the meat mixture rest briefly before forming to help ingredients bind together more effectively.
- Check internal meat temperature reaches 160F to ensure safe cooking and prevent dryness.
- Opt for lean ground beef (90/10 ratio) to reduce excess grease in the casserole.
- Customize toppings by substituting mashed potatoes with cauliflower mash for a lower-carb version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 518 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg