Description
Mac and cheese meatloaf casserole is the ultimate comfort-food mashup with seasoned beef and creamy homemade mac baked under a golden cheese topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lb Ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1 cup Bread crumbs (Plain or Italian)
- 1 large Egg (Binder)
- 1/2 cup Milk (For moisture)
- 1 small Onion (Diced)
- 2 cloves Garlic (Minced)
- 2 tbsp Ketchup (Flavor + moisture)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (Umami)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Dried oregano
- 1 lb Elbow macaroni (Cook al dente)
- 4 tbsp Butter
- 1/4 cup All-purpose flour (Roux)
- 3 cups Whole milk (For sauce)
- 3 cups Cheddar cheese (Shredded)
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese (Shredded)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese (Shredded)
- Crispy fried onions (Optional crunch topping)
- Bread crumbs (Optional extra crunch)
Instructions
- Cook ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink; drain excess grease.
- Add diced onion and minced garlic; cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in breadcrumbs, egg, milk, ketchup, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and oregano; cook 5 minutes, then set aside.
- Cook macaroni in salted water 2 minutes under package time; drain and reserve 1 cup pasta water.
- Melt butter in a pot; whisk in flour and cook 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in milk; cook 4–6 minutes until thickened.
- Remove from heat; stir in cheddar + mozzarella until smooth; season with salt, garlic powder, pepper.
- Add macaroni to sauce and stir until creamy; loosen with a splash of pasta water if needed.
- Grease a 9×13 dish; spread half the beef on bottom, add all mac and cheese, top with remaining beef.
- Sprinkle 1 cup cheddar over the top (add crispy onions/breadcrumbs if using).
- Cover with foil; bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, uncover and bake 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Rest 10 minutes before slicing to help it set.
Notes
- Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg