Meatloaf Casserole with Mashed Potatoes (Printable version)
Classic meatloaf flavors layered with sauced beef-pork mix, creamy mashed potato and golden cheddar topping.
# 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 whole milk
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tsp kosher 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 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
14 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
15 - 1/2 cup whole milk
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Sauce
17 - 1/2 cup ketchup
18 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
19 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
→ Topping
20 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
21 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
02 - Place peeled and cubed potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold salted water, and bring to a boil. Cook for 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain thoroughly, then mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, chopped onion, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and smoked paprika. Mix gently until just combined — avoid overmixing to keep the texture tender.
04 - Press the meat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, forming a uniform base layer.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. Spread the sauce evenly across the surface of the meat layer.
06 - Spoon the prepared mashed potatoes over the sauced meat layer, spreading gently and evenly to cover completely.
07 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the mashed potato layer.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until the casserole is bubbling at the edges, the meat is cooked through, and the cheese is golden brown.
09 - Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- The combination of beef and pork gives the meat layer a juiciness that plain ground beef simply cannot match, and once you try it you will never go back.
- Layering ketchup sauce between the meat and potatoes keeps everything incredibly moist while building flavor in every single bite.
02 -
- Overmixing the meat mixture is the fastest way to end up with a dense tough layer, so mix with your hands and stop as soon as you no longer see streaks of different ingredients.
- Spreading the potatoes too aggressively will push them into the sauce and meat below, so use gentle spoonfuls and work from the center outward with a light touch.
03 -
- Wet your hands slightly before pressing the meat mixture into the dish and it will not stick to your fingers, giving you a much more even layer.
- Use a potato ricer instead of a masher if you want impossibly smooth potatoes with zero lumps peeking through that golden cheese blanket.