After seeing this recipe, I am never making this any other way again!

This recipe combines the savory goodness of meatloaf with the creamy comfort of mac and cheese, creating a hearty and satisfying casserole perfect for a weeknight meal.

Mac and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole: A Delicious Combination

Ingredients:

For the Meatloaf Layer:

Instructions:

1. Preheat and Prepare:

   • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.

2. Sweet and Tangy Sauce:

   • In a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup and barbecue sauce. Set this mixture aside, as you’ll use half now and half later.

3. Meatloaf Mixture:

   • In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, crushed Ritz Crackers, Lipton onion soup mix, eggs, 1/2 cup of the ketchup and barbecue sauce mixture, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix everything well until fully incorporated.

4. Forming the Meatloaf Layer:

   • Press the seasoned meatloaf mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Spread the remaining ketchup and barbecue sauce mixture on top of the meatloaf layer.

5. Bake the Meatloaf Layer:

   • Bake the meatloaf layer in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

6. Cooking the Macaroni:

   • While the meatloaf layer is baking, cook the macaroni noodles according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain the noodles.

7. Cheesy Mac and Cheese Mixture:

   • In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and condensed cheddar cheese soup until smooth and creamy. Stir in the cooked macaroni noodles, 2 cups of the shredded cheese blend, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

8. Assembling the Casserole:

   • Take the baking dish out of the oven after the 30 minutes. Carefully pour the mac and cheese mixture on top of the meatloaf layer, spreading it evenly.

9. Cheese Topping:

   • Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese blend over the top of the mac and cheese layer.

10. Baking to Completion:

• Bake the casserole for an additional 17-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly on top, with a slight golden brown color.

11. Serving:

• Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving. This allows the cheese to set slightly and prevents burning your mouth. Enjoy this delicious combination of meatloaf and mac and cheese!