Description
Mac and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole is a delightful comfort food mashup combining savory meatloaf with creamy macaroni and cheese. This hearty casserole layers seasoned ground beef meatloaf with cheesy macaroni, baked to bubbly perfection for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
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
- 2 cups uncooked macaroni
Cheese Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the proper temperature before baking the meatloaf.
- Prepare Meatloaf Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, diced onion, breadcrumbs, egg, 1/4 cup milk, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Mix thoroughly to blend all ingredients evenly.
- Form Meatloaf Base: Press the meat mixture evenly into a greased baking dish to form a uniform layer for the casserole base.
- Initial Bake: Bake the meatloaf layer in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to begin cooking.
- Cook Macaroni: While the meatloaf bakes, cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour and cook for one minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in 2 cups of milk until the sauce thickens, then season with salt, pepper, paprika, and dry mustard. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
- Combine Macaroni and Cheese Sauce: Mix the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce until well coated.
- Assemble Casserole: Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture over the partially baked meatloaf layer in the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top.
- Final Bake: Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes or until the cheese topping is bubbly and golden.
- Serve: Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your comforting Mac and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole!
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting results.
- Breadcrumbs can be substituted with gluten-free breadcrumbs to make the dish gluten-free.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- For a creamier texture, add a splash of cream to the cheese sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: mac and cheese, meatloaf, casserole, comfort food, baked casserole, cheddar cheese, family meal
