Description
Comfort meets indulgence in this hearty Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole, blending classic American home cooking with irresistible flavors. Creamy potatoes, savory meatloaf, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Layer:
- 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) ground beef
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (60 grams) breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) milk
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Seasoning and Sauce:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Potato Layer and Topping:
- 3 cups (about 4 medium) potatoes, peeled and cubed
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) milk
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ cups (150 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare potatoes by submerging cubed pieces in generously salted water, bringing to a rolling boil until they yield effortlessly when pierced with a fork, approximately 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly and transform into creamy mashed potatoes by incorporating milk, butter, salt, and pepper until smooth and luxurious.
- Create the hearty meat foundation by gently combining ground beef with finely diced onions, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and seasoning. Mix ingredients until perfectly integrated and uniform.
- Transfer meat mixture into a well-greased rectangular baking vessel, pressing evenly to create a compact layer. Place in preheated oven and roast until meat develops a robust color and releases clear juices, indicating thorough cooking.
- Delicately spread the prepared mashed potatoes across the partially cooked meat layer, ensuring a consistent, elegant coverage that conceals the entire surface.
- Lavishly distribute shredded cheddar cheese over potato landscape, then generously scatter crisp bacon fragments for an indulgent finishing touch.
- Return casserole to oven, allowing cheese to melt into a golden, bubbling blanket and intensify overall flavor profile. Remove when cheese appears completely molten and slightly golden at edges.
- Allow casserole to rest momentarily, permitting flavors to settle. Garnish with delicate green onion slices and serve while piping hot, presenting a comforting, layered culinary masterpiece.
Notes
- Opt for lean ground beef to reduce overall fat content and create a lighter version of this hearty dish.
- Mix different types of cheese like sharp cheddar and mild mozzarella for a more complex flavor profile.
- Swap regular bacon with turkey bacon or omit for a healthier alternative that still maintains the dish’s comforting essence.
- Prepare the meatloaf mixture ahead of time and refrigerate for deeper flavor integration and easier weeknight meal preparation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 487
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 741mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 116mg