Meatloaf Mac & Cheese Casserole
The ultimate comfort food. A flavor packed meatloaf topped with a creamy layer of Mac & Cheese baked up in the oven. Comfort doesn't get any better than this!
Equipment
- Deep sided 13x9 inch oven safe casserole dish
Ingredients
For the meatloaf:
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 30 Ritz crackers, crushed
- 1 envelope onion soup mix
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
For the Mac & Cheese:
- 3 cups macaroni noodles
- 1½ cups milk, warmed
- 8 oz Velveeta processed American cheese, cubed
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
Prepare Meatloaf:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a small bowl combine the ketchup with the barbecue sauce. Set aside.
- Place the ground beef in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the crushed Ritz crackers, onion soup mix, eggs and ½ of the ketchup/barbecue sauce mixture.
- Use your hands or use the paddle attachment of your stand mixer to combine all the ingredients.
- Spread the meatloaf mixture out in an even layer of a high sided 13x9 inch casserole dish.
- Top the meatloaf with the remaining ketchup/barbecue sauce mixture.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until meat reaches a temperature of 140°F.
Prepare Mac & Cheese:
- Cook the macaroni noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the Cubed American cheese and cooked noodles until well combined and the American cheese has melted.
- Add the seasonings; salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and stir to combine.
- Add warm milk and stir to coat noodles with the cheese sauce.
- Add ½ of the shredded cheeses to the bowl and stir to combine everything.
- After the meatloaf has baked for 40-45 minutes, remove it from the oven.
- Drain off any excess fat that has accumulated along the edges of the casserole dish.
- Spread the Mac & Cheese mixture evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
- Top with the remaining shredded cheeses and return the casserole dish to the oven.
- Bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the Mac & Cheese is hot and bubbly and the cheese topping is completely melted and starting to brown along the edges.
- Turn oven temperature to "broil" and continue to cook until cheese topping is lightly browned. Keep a close eye on it so it doesn't burn.
- Remove casserole from the oven and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it and serving.