Loaded potato meatloaf casserole

If you love meatloaf and you love loaded mashed potatoes, this Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole is about to become your new weeknight hero. It takes two classic comfort foods and bakes them together in one pan, with melty cheddar and crispy bacon on top.

Jump to:

• Why You Will Like This Recipe
• Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole
• Ingredients For Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole
• How To Make Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole
• Storage And Reheating
• Tips And Variations For Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole
• Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole FAQs
• Recipes You May Like
• Conclusion

I first made this on a rainy Tuesday last October when Alex asked for meatloaf and Sarah wanted mashed potatoes. I didn't feel like making two separate things, so I layered them in one dish and crossed my fingers. Honestly? It was gone in fifteen minutes, and Donald asked me to put it in the regular dinner rotation that same night.

Here's what you can expect: a juicy, tender meatloaf base, a thick layer of creamy potatoes, and that loaded baked potato topping we all love. It feels like Sunday dinner, but it's simple enough for a regular school night. If you're into cozy layered dinners like this one, my cheesy hamburger potato casserole is another one my kids ask for again and again.

Why You Will Like This Recipe

• Two dinners in one pan. You get meatloaf and loaded mashed potatoes without washing extra dishes.
• Simple ingredients. Ground beef, potatoes, cheddar, bacon. Nothing fancy, nothing hard to find.
• Kid approved. Alex calls this the cheeseburger and fries of casseroles. Sarah just asks for seconds.
• Make ahead friendly. You can assemble it in the morning and bake it at dinnertime.
• Freezer friendly. It freezes beautifully, which saves me on nights when I have zero energy.
• Juicy, never dry. The cottage cheese and BBQ sauce keep the meatloaf tender every single time.

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Ingredients For Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole

Here's everything you need for this loaded potato and meatloaf casserole. I always have most of this in my kitchen already.

For the meatloaf layer:

• 1 ½ pounds of lean ground beef or turkey
• ½ cup of finely chopped white onion
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
• 1 cup of seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• ⅓ cup of cottage cheese (trust me on this one, it keeps everything moist)
• ½ cup of BBQ sauce

For the loaded potato layer:

• 2 pounds of potatoes, peeled and diced
• ½ cup of unsalted butter
• ½ cup of sour cream
• ½ cup of warm milk or half and half
• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 6 slices of thick bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese

A quick note on substitutions. Ground turkey works great if you want something lighter. No cottage cheese? Ricotta does the same job. And if your family isn't into BBQ sauce, ketchup works just fine.

How To Make Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole

Making this loaded potato and meatloaf casserole is easier than it looks. I've broken it into three simple parts so nothing feels overwhelming.

Step 1: Make The Meatloaf Base

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix the ground beef or turkey, chopped onion, minced garlic, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, beaten egg, cottage cheese, and BBQ sauce. I use my hands for this because it mixes faster, but don't overwork it or the meat gets tough. (I learned that the hard way years ago!)

Press the meat mixture evenly into your prepared pan. Bake it for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Make The Creamy Potatoes

While the meatloaf bakes, put your diced potatoes in a pot of water and cook over medium heat until fork tender. This usually takes me about 15 minutes.

Drain the water and add the butter. Beat the potatoes with a hand mixer until smooth, then add the sour cream, warm milk, salt, and pepper. Mix until everything is creamy and well combined.

Here's a tip from my mom, who taught me to cook when I was a teenager: warm your milk before adding it. Cold milk makes potatoes gluey, and nobody wants that.

Step 3: Layer And Finish Baking

After 30 minutes, take the meatloaf out and carefully drain any excess grease. Don't skip this part, or the potatoes will slide around.

Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meatloaf. Top with a generous layer of shredded cheddar and crumbled bacon.

Bake for another 15 minutes, until the potatoes are hot and the cheese is fully melted. Let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving so the layers hold together when you slice it.

Storage And Reheating

Leftovers keep really well, which is one of the reasons I love this dish. Store any extras in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

For the freezer, wrap individual portions tightly in foil, then place them in a freezer bag. They'll keep for up to 3 months. I label mine with the date because I will absolutely forget otherwise.

To reheat, cover with foil and warm in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. The microwave works too for single servings, about 2 minutes on medium power. Honestly, I think it tastes even better the next day because the flavors have time to settle in together.

Tips And Variations For Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole

After making this loaded potato and meatloaf casserole more times than I can count, here's what I've picked up along the way.

• Cook the bacon extra crispy. It softens a little in the oven, so a crispier start keeps that crunch on top.
• Try different cheeses. Pepper jack gives it a little kick. Donald loves that version.
• Add green onions on top. Sprinkle them on right after baking for a true loaded baked potato feel.
• Swap the sauce. Not a BBQ family? Try it with a ketchup and brown sugar mix instead, similar to what I do in my cottage pie recipe.
• Watch the grease. Draining after the first bake matters. Skip it once and you'll never skip it again. Ask me how I know!
• Don't rush the rest time. Ten minutes of cooling makes clean slices instead of a messy scoop.

Have you ever noticed how the simplest dinners are the ones your family remembers most? This is one of those. If you love the meat and potato combo, my hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes hits the same cozy spot.

Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole FAQs

Can Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole Be Made Ahead Of Time?

Yes, and I do this all the time. Assemble the whole casserole up to the point of the second bake, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you're ready, bake it at 375°F, adding about 10 extra minutes since it's going in cold. It's a lifesaver on nights when Alex has practice and dinner needs to happen fast.

Can You Freeze Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole?

Absolutely. You can freeze it fully baked or assembled and unbaked. Wrap it tightly in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge before baking or reheating. I made a double batch in December and the frozen one saved us during a snowstorm week.

How Do You Keep Meatloaf Casserole From Falling Apart?

Three things matter here. Use the egg and bread crumbs as your binders, don't skip the cottage cheese, and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after baking. Cutting into it too soon is the number one reason it crumbles. I was impatient the first time and paid the price with a very sloppy (but still delicious) plate.

What Should You Serve With Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole?

Since this dish is rich and hearty, I like something fresh on the side. A simple green salad, steamed green beans, or roasted broccoli all work great. In colder months, a small bowl of my homemade vegetable soup makes it a full spread without much extra effort.

Recipes You May Like

• Salisbury Steak with Rich Mushroom Gravy - another hearty beef dinner with that old school comfort feel
• Creamy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes - if the potato layer was your part of this recipe, you'll love these
• Tender Slow Cooker Beef Stew for Comforting Nights - set it in the morning and dinner is done

Conclusion

This Loaded Potato and Meatloaf Casserole really is the best of both worlds. Juicy meatloaf on the bottom, creamy potatoes in the middle, and cheddar and bacon on top. It's simple, it's homemade, and it brings everyone to the table without complaints.

In my kitchen, that's the whole point. Real food, made with love, that actually fits into real life.

I hope you give this one a try soon. Let me know how it turns out for you in the comments, and don't forget to save it to Pinterest so you can find it again on your next meatloaf night!