Marg is just one of those gals that instinctively knows how to host. Before you walk in, she’s got the candles lit, the house cleaned, and all the tasty things baked. You know what we mean? She loves a good dinner party, too. Not one of those fancy, stuffy ones, though. More like the relaxed, all are welcome, Southern charm kinda ones. Her go-to dish is her Marg’s Meatloaf Casserole and we understand why, from experience. It’s hearty, meaty, veggie-filled, and topped with creamy mashed potatoes… yum! She’s mastered it and it tastes better and better each time she serves it. Now you’ll understand why we always want to be invited over to her house, and she loves to have us, so it’s a win-win! Whenever you have a dinner party on the calendar, you can count on Marg’s Meatloaf Casserole to make you look like the host or hostess with the most-est, without ever trying too hard!
Ingredients
For the mashed potatoes:
- 1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch-thick cubes
- cold water, to taste
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup freshly chives, chopped
- 2 large egg yolks
For the meat mixture:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- fresh parsley, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 2 1/2-quart baking dish.
Step 3 –In medium pot with a lid, add the potatoes and top with enough of the water to just cover them.
Step 4 –Place the lid on the pot and bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat.
Step 5 –Uncover the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low.
Step 6 –Simmer the potatoes until they are tender, about 15 minutes.
Step 7 –Strain the potatoes and return them to the pot.
Step 8 –Mash the potatoes until they are soft.
Step 9 –Stir the half-and-half, the butter, 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt, the minced garlic, and the chives into the mashed potatoes until it is fully combined.
Step 10 –Stir the egg yolks into the mashed potatoes until they are completely incorporated. Set it aside.
Step 11 –In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil until it is shimmering.
Step 12 –Add the onion, the bell pepper, and the celery to the oil and sauté over medium-high heat until they are completely soft, about 8 minutes.
Step 13 –Add the ground beef to the veggie mixture and cook, while crumbling the beef, until the meat is no longer pink.
Step 14 –Add the remaining salt, the tomato sauce, the breadcrumbs, the Worcestershire sauce, and the tomato paste to the beef mixture and stir to combine.
Step 15 –Evenly spread the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 16 –Add the mashed potatoes over the beef mixture and carefully spread them out over the entire surface.
Step 17 –Bake the meatloaf casserole for 25 minutes.
Step 18 –Serve the meatloaf casserole garnished with the parsley.
