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Macaroni and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 148 reviews

This Macaroni and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish that combines a flavorful meatloaf base topped with creamy macaroni and cheese. Baked to perfection, it blends the zestiness of ketchup and BBQ sauce with the savory richness of cheese for a crowd-pleasing meal perfect for family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatloaf Base

  • 1 pound (453g) lean ground beef
  • 15 Ritz style crackers
  • 1 ounce dry onion soup mix (1/2 packet)
  • 1 large free range egg
  • 1/2 cup (125g) tomato ketchup
  • 1/2 cup (125g) BBQ sauce

Macaroni and Cheese Topping

  • 1 1/2 cups (175g) dry macaroni noodles
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
  • 1/2 can condensed cheddar cheese soup
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder (not salt)
  • 1/2 tablespoon onion powder (not salt)
  • 2 cups (240g) mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend, divided

Instructions

  1. Prepare Oven and Baking Dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C/gas mark 4). Butter a 9-inch square baking dish and set it aside. Put a large saucepan of lightly salted water on to boil for cooking the macaroni noodles later.
  2. Crush Crackers: Place the Ritz crackers into a zip lock bag and crush them finely using a rolling pin. This will act as a binder in the meat mixture.
  3. Mix Sauces: Whisk together the tomato ketchup and BBQ sauce in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Set aside half of this mixture for topping the meatloaf later.
  4. Combine Meatloaf Ingredients: Add the lean ground beef, crushed crackers, dry onion soup mix, and egg to the remaining ketchup and BBQ sauce mixture in the bowl. Mix everything gently with a fork until evenly combined. Transfer this mixture into the prepared baking dish and pat it out evenly. Spread the reserved ketchup/BBQ sauce mixture over the top evenly.
  5. Bake Meatloaf Base: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes to cook the meatloaf base.
  6. Cook Macaroni: While the meatloaf bakes, cook the macaroni noodles in the boiling salted water according to package directions. Once cooked, drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water, then drain again.
  7. Prepare Macaroni and Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the condensed cheddar cheese soup and whole milk until well combined. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Fold in the cooked macaroni noodles and half of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese mixture.
  8. Assemble Casserole: After the initial baking time, remove the meatloaf base from the oven. Pour the prepared macaroni and cheese mixture evenly over the meatloaf layer. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly over the top to create a cheesy crust.
  9. Bake Casserole: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese topping has melted and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
  10. Rest and Serve: Once baked, allow the casserole to rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This helps the layers to settle and makes serving easier. Enjoy your delicious Macaroni and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole!

Notes

  • For the cheddar cheese soup, you can use canned condensed soup such as Campbell’s or homemade equivalent if preferred.
  • Using Ritz crackers adds a subtle buttery flavor and helps bind the meatloaf without adding too much moisture.
  • Feel free to adjust the seasoning to your taste by adding herbs like parsley or paprika for extra flavor.
  • The macaroni noodles can be swapped with any small pasta shape you prefer.
  • If you want a thicker cheese sauce, slightly reduce the milk quantity.

Keywords: macaroni and cheese, meatloaf casserole, baked casserole, comfort food, cheesy meatloaf

Find it online: https://dinewithlily.com/macaroni-and-cheese-meatloaf-casserole-recipe/