Description
Comfort meets creativity in this mac and cheese meatloaf casserole, a hearty dish blending classic American favorites. Creamy pasta layers mingle with savory ground beef, promising a satisfying meal that brings warmth to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Layer:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
Mac and Cheese Layer:
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
- Salt
- Pepper
Topping:
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light grease coating to prevent sticking.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly blend ground beef with breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Distribute the meat mixture uniformly across the bottom of the baking dish, creating an even layer that will serve as the casserole’s foundation.
- Bake the initial meat layer for 20-25 minutes, allowing it to partially cook and develop initial flavor profiles.
- While the meat bakes, craft the cheese sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then incorporate flour to create a smooth roux.
- Gradually introduce milk to the roux, whisking continuously to prevent lumps and achieve a silky consistency. Simmer until the sauce thickens, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Fold in shredded cheddar cheese, mustard powder, salt, and pepper, stirring until the cheese melts completely and the sauce becomes luxuriously smooth.
- Integrate cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce, ensuring each pasta piece is generously coated with the creamy mixture.
- Extract the partially cooked meatloaf from the oven and delicately spread the mac and cheese layer across the surface.
- Enhance the casserole by sprinkling additional shredded cheese and breadcrumbs, creating a tantalizing crispy topping.
- Return the casserole to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, allowing the top to transform into a golden-brown, crispy crust and ensuring the meatloaf reaches complete doneness.
- After removing from the oven, let the casserole rest for a few minutes to set, then slice and serve this decadent comfort food creation.
Notes
- Customize the meat blend by mixing ground beef with ground pork or turkey for extra flavor and leaner protein options.
- Ensure the meatloaf is partially cooked before adding mac and cheese to prevent a soggy bottom and guarantee even cooking throughout the dish.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives like crushed rice crackers or almond flour.
- Enhance the cheese sauce’s richness by adding a splash of heavy cream or using a blend of cheeses like sharp cheddar, gruyère, and parmesan for deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg