Description
Mac and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole is the perfect comfort food mashup that combines savory meatloaf flavors with creamy macaroni and cheese in a single, hearty casserole. This dish is easy to prepare and bakes to a cheesy, satisfying finish, making it an ideal meal for family dinners or cozy nights at home.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meatloaf
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Macaroni & Cheese
- 2 cups uncooked macaroni
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the meatloaf and casserole.
- Prepare Meatloaf: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, diced onion, breadcrumbs, egg, 1/4 cup milk, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly. Press the meat mixture firmly into the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, forming an even layer.
- Bake Meatloaf: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake the meatloaf base for 20 minutes until it starts to firm up but is not fully cooked.
- Cook Macaroni: While the meatloaf is baking, cook the macaroni in boiling salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain the macaroni and set it aside.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons of flour and cook for about 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in 2 cups of milk, continuing to whisk until the sauce thickens. Season the sauce with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp dry mustard. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
- Combine: Pour the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce and mix well to coat all the pasta evenly. Pour this cheesy macaroni mixture evenly over the partially baked meatloaf in the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese evenly on top.
- Bake Again: Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes or until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and golden brown, and the meatloaf is cooked through.
Notes
- This comforting casserole perfectly combines the hearty flavors of meatloaf with creamy mac and cheese for a crowd-pleasing meal.
- Using a 9×13-inch baking dish ensures even cooking of both the meatloaf and cheesy macaroni layers.
- For best results, make sure not to overcook the macaroni before mixing it with the cheese sauce to avoid mushy texture.
- Feel free to customize by adding cooked vegetables such as peas or bell peppers for extra nutrition.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated well in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 casserole
- Calories: 540 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
