The Meat ‘N Mash Casserole really gets down to the heart of what warming, joyful home cooking is all about: hearty meals with all your favorites! This is essentially a meatloaf casserole, with the juicy, savory meatloaf serving as the base and fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes on top. Sharp cheddar and crispy bacon make up the top, because can it really be a favorite if it doesn’t include cheese and bacon? We don’t think so either! Meat ‘N Mash Casserole will warm your heart and make your tastebuds truly happy! There are fewer better experiences in life!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1/4 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2/3 cup seasoned dry breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper, divided
- 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup bacon bits, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –In a large bowl, combine the beef, the onion, the breadcrumbs, the milk, the egg, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper.
Step 3 –Press the meat mixture into a 9×9-inch baking dish.
Step 4 –Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
Step 5 –Drain the excess fat from the baking dish.
Step 6 –In a large pot, cover the potatoes with just enough water (about 1 inch of water over them) and bring to a boil over high heat.
Step 7 –Cook the potatoes until fork tender, about 15 minutes.
Step 8 –Drain the water and add the milk, the butter, the remaining salt, and the remaining pepper, mashing it all together until creamy.
Step 9 –Spread the mashed potatoes over the meatloaf base.
Step 10 –Top the mashed potatoes with the bacon and the cheddar cheese.
Step 11 –Bake until the bacon is sizzling, the cheese is bubbly, and the mashed potatoes are slightly crispy on top, about 15 minutes.
Step 12 –Serve.
