Description
Classic mac and cheese meatloaf casserole delivers comfort food perfection in one hearty dish. Cheese-laden layers combine ground beef, pasta, and creamy sauce for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 3 cups macaroni noodles
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
- 2 cups milk
- 10.5 ounces (298 grams) condensed cheddar cheese soup
Seasoning and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 2 ounces (57 grams) Lipton onion soup mix
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 eggs
- 30 Ritz Crackers
Sauce and Topping Ingredients:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup Sweet Baby Rays Hickory & Brown Sugar barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and lightly coat a 9×13 inch baking vessel with cooking spray.
- Craft a tangy glaze by whisking ketchup and barbecue sauce in a medium bowl. Reserve for later use.
- Combine ground beef with crushed Ritz crackers, Lipton onion soup mix, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Incorporate half the prepared sauce and thoroughly blend ingredients. Transfer the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer. Generously drizzle remaining sauce across the surface.
- Roast the meatloaf for 30 minutes. Simultaneously, cook macaroni according to package instructions and drain completely.
- Whisk milk and condensed cheddar cheese soup until silky smooth. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Fold in cooked macaroni and two-thirds of the shredded cheese.
- Extract meatloaf from oven and carefully spread macaroni mixture over the surface. Scatter remaining cheese across the top. Return to oven and bake 17-20 minutes until cheese melts and develops golden edges. Allow casserole to rest briefly before serving.
Notes
- Customize Meat Blend by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based alternatives for healthier protein options.
- Control Sodium by using low-sodium Ritz crackers and reduced-sodium onion soup mix to make the dish more heart-friendly.
- Enhance Flavor Depth by adding fresh herbs like chopped parsley or thyme into the meat mixture for extra aromatic complexity.
- Make Gluten-Free by substituting Ritz crackers with gluten-free breadcrumbs and checking that all other ingredients are gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 445
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg