Description
Comfort meets innovation in this mac and cheese meatloaf casserole, blending hearty midwest flavors with creamy pasta goodness. Cheesy layers promise a satisfying meal that brings families together around the dinner table, delivering pure culinary comfort in every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 3 cups macaroni noodles
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
- 30 Ritz Crackers, crushed
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup Sweet Baby Rays Hickory & Brown Sugar barbecue sauce
- 2 ounces (56 grams) Lipton onion soup mix
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
Binding and Creamy Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 10.5 ounces (298 grams) condensed cheddar cheese soup
Instructions
- Prepare the tangy glaze by blending ketchup and barbecue sauce, setting it aside for later use.
- In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground beef with crumbled crackers, onion soup mix, and eggs, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer the meat mixture into a greased baking dish, gently pressing to create an even layer.
- Drizzle half of the prepared ketchup-barbecue glaze over the meatloaf, coating the surface evenly.
- Slide the baking dish into a preheated 350°F oven and bake for 30 minutes until the meat is partially cooked.
- Meanwhile, cook macaroni in boiling water until al dente, then drain completely.
- Create a creamy sauce by whisking cheddar cheese soup with milk, incorporating salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder for robust flavor.
- Fold the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce, ensuring each pasta strand is generously coated.
- Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese into the macaroni mixture, stirring to distribute evenly.
- Spread the cheesy macaroni layer over the partially baked meatloaf, creating a uniform covering.
- Top with remaining cheese and finish with the reserved ketchup-barbecue glaze.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 17-20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter, healthier version that reduces saturated fat intake.
- Crush gluten-free crackers to make the recipe celiac-friendly and accommodate gluten-sensitive diets.
- Add finely diced vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini to the meat mixture for extra nutrition and hidden veggie boost.
- Use low-sodium onion soup mix and reduced-fat cheese to create a more heart-conscious meal without sacrificing flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg