Description
A hearty comfort food classic—juicy meatloaf layered with creamy mac & cheese and topped with golden melted cheddar.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef (or a mix of beef & pork)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 lb elbow macaroni (or cavatappi)
- 4 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups milk (warm)
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (for topping)
- Fresh thyme or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven – Heat to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13” baking dish.
- Make Meatloaf Base: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, egg, milk, ketchup, Worcestershire, and seasonings. Mix gently until combined (don’t overmix). Press mixture evenly into the bottom of the baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Cook Pasta: While meatloaf bakes, cook macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter. Whisk in flour to form a roux. Slowly whisk in warm milk until smooth and thickened. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, Dijon, salt & pepper until creamy.
- Assemble Casserole: Mix cooked pasta with cheese sauce. Spread half of the mac & cheese over baked meatloaf base. Add remaining mac & cheese on top. Sprinkle with extra cheddar cheese.
- Bake: Return to oven and bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbly. For extra crispiness, broil 2–3 minutes at the end.
- Rest & Serve: Let casserole rest 10 minutes before slicing into squares. Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add some diced jalapeños to the meatloaf mixture.
- Feel free to substitute the cheeses based on your preference.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 50–55 min
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg