Meatloaf Casserole Recipe with Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

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This delicious Meatloaf Casserole Recipe with creamy, cheesy potatoes on top is an easy, comforting, and flavorful make-ahead family dinner!

Now this is the way to enjoy meatloaf! In a casserole dish with cheesy mashed potatoes on top. This Meatloaf Casserole Recipe is a great way to make dinner ahead, then just heat up and enjoy on a busy weeknight.

You get the flavorful juicy meatloaf on the bottom, topped with creamy fluffy mashed potatoes, then salty melted cheese on top. It’s total comfort food. All you need to add is a side vegetable and you have a complete meal.

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Jump to:

• Simple Ingredients and Substitutes
• Simple Equipment
• Time Saving Prep-Ahead Steps
• Make the Meatloaf Casserole Recipe
• Meatloaf Casserole Recipe Variations
• Meatloaf Casserole Recipe FAQs
• If you like this Casserole, you will love these too!
• Meatloaf Casserole Recipe with Parmesan Potatoes
• Comments

Simple Ingredients and Substitutes

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Mashed Potato Topping

• Yukon Gold Potatoes – I used yukon gold potatoes. Peeled Russet potatoes work well for mashed potatoes too. You could also use sweet potatoes.
• Milk – I used 1 %, but any milk is fine. You can also substitute in plain unsweetened non-dairy milks.
• Salted Butter – You can also use unsalted butter, just taste to see if you need to add any salt at the end.
• Parmesan Cheese, grated – Parmesan brings in more nutty flavor, but also some needed salt.
• Garlic Powder – I like garlic powder in this recipe because it really combines throughout the potatoes. You can use fresh garlic, but I would smash it into a paste to give it the best chance of mixing through the meat.

Meatloaf

• 90% Lean Grass-Fed Ground Beef – I used 90% lean Ground Beef, but you can use any fat content. You can substitute in ground chicken or ground turkey.
• Parmesan Cheese grated
• Onion, diced – I used yellow onion, but you can use white onion, red onion, shallots, or even scallions. If you don’t have fresh onion, you can also use a tablespoon of onion flakes or onion powder.
• Large Egg – The egg helps to hold the meatloaf together in a traditional meatloaf recipe. Since this recipe is a casserole and the meat is pressed flatter, you don’t absolutely need the egg. You can leave it out or substitute with another thick substance like mayonnaise, yogurt, or sour cream.
• Ketchup – You can use your favorite ketchup brand or check out my recipe for Homemade Sugar Free Ketchup with Honey! You can also substitute in tomato sauce.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded – Any shredded cheese or mix of cheddar, jack, or mozzarella will work in this recipe.
• Salt and Black Ground Pepper

See recipe card for quantities.

Simple Equipment

For this recipe, you need a medium-large casserole dish that’s approximately 10×10 or similar.

Time Saving Prep-Ahead Steps

We are all extremely busy and making dinner during the week can be overwhelming. Here are steps you can prepare ahead to save time on busy nights! (See the full recipe below) 

For this meatloaf potato casserole, you can make the mashed potatoes 1-2 days in advance.

Peel the potatoes and keep them in cold water until all are peeled and cut. Cut them into small 1 inch size pieces so they cook faster.

Put potatoes into a large pot of water. Add 2 tablespoon of Salt to the water. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat (about 8-10 minutes). Remove cover (so it doesn’t boil over) and boil for 5 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.

When the potatoes are soft and slide off the fork or break apart easily, drain the potatoes and add back to the pot for smashing. Add the butter and milk and smash with a potato masher. Add garlic powder, ground black pepper, and parmesan and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning and add a teaspoon of salt or more if needed. (You can store them in an airtight container until ready to add to the casserole up to 2 days ahead.)

Make the Meatloaf Casserole Recipe

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Then cover with shredded cheese.

Bake for 10 minutes until golden brown on top. Note, you can also place under the broiler at the end for 2-3 minutes to get browned on top.

Meatloaf Casserole Recipe Variations

Here are some fun ideas for a fun twist on this recipe for the next time!

• Mexican Fiesta! – When making the meatloaf mixture, add some taco seasoning or a combination of chili powder, cumin, and garlic. Swap the ketchup with salsa and sprinkle crushed tortilla chips on top.
• Greek Style – To the meatloaf mixture, add chopped kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese! You can also add in fresh herbs and garlic. Serve with a Cucumber salad.
• Ground BBQ sauce Chicken – Instead of ground beef, use ground chicken or turkey and swap the ketchup with barbecue sauce. Serve with Creamy coleslaw.

Meatloaf Casserole Recipe FAQs

Can I use ground chicken or turkey instead of beef in this recipe?

You can definitely substitute the ground beef with either ground chicken or ground turkey in this meatloaf casserole recipe. The cooking time will be the same, but check the internal temperature to ensure it has reached 165 F degrees.

Can I use bread crumbs instead of parmesan cheese?

Yes, meatloaf typically has breadcrumbs, so that is perfectly fine. I swapped the breadcrumbs with parmesan to make it gluten free and add more flavor.

What other ingredients can I add to this meatloaf?

You can add so many different ingredients, spices, and seasonings! I tried to keep this recipe as simple as possible, but there are lots of other ingredients that would be great additions!

• Herbs: dried oregano (1-2 teaspoons) or fresh Chopped cilantro (¼ cup) is great for added flavor.
• Vegetables: A finely diced jalapeno would be delicious for a kick. Diced red or green peppers, finely sliced scallion or diced onion would also be delicious. Try grating carrots in to sneak in some veggies!
• Seasonings: Chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, a touch of brown sugar, or taco seasoning are all wonderful additions.

If you like this Casserole, you will love these too!

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Have you tried this recipe? If so, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe below! I love to hear your feedback and your rating helps others to find this recipe. Thanks so much!