A Christmas Story Meatloaf is old fashioned meatloaf and mashed potatoes made at the same time in your Instant Pot! Just like the dinner served in the movie “A Christmas Story.”
A Christmas Story Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Have you ever seen the movie “A Christmas Story?” You know the movie. The one where the kid wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas and everyone tells him that he’ll shoot his eye out? When I was growing up we would watch this every Thanksgiving weekend at my Grandma’s house. It would come on TV and all of us cousins loved it.
It is such a silly movie that has so many memorable parts. One of the scenes is the mother trying to feed her family dinner and the young brother, Randy, refuses to eat the meatloaf. “Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf. I hate meatloaf.” The mother finally gets her son to eat by asking her son to be a piggie. “Now, show me how the piggies eat. This is your trough. Show me how the piggies eat. Be a good boy. Show Mommy how the piggies eat.” Randy, snorting, eats the food by putting his face right in his plate (no fork necessary). It is a gross but effective way to get her son to eat dinner.
Today’s recipe is a throwback to the old days when meatloaf and mashed potatoes made a regular appearance on the dinner table. I actually love meatloaf and this dinner did not disappoint. I love how creamy the mashed potatoes were too. You’re going to love how you can make both the potatoes and meatloaf together in the same pot. So cool!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Russet potatoes–or yellow or red potatoes
- Kosher salt
- Bay leaf
- Garlic cloves
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Milk
- 85/15 ground beef–or 90/10
- Dehydrated onion flakes–or a quarter cup of diced onion
- Garlic powder
- Worcestershire sauce
- Egg
- Black pepper
- Saltine crackers–or you can use breadcrumbs
- Ketchup
Steps
- Add potatoes into bottom of pot: Place potatoes in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add in the bay leaf, 1 tsp kosher salt and garlic cloves. Pour in the water. Place the trivet on top of the potatoes with the handles facing up.
- Mix the meatloaf ingredients: In a bowl add the ground beef, onion flakes, garlic powder, Worcestershire, egg, kosher salt, pepper, saltine crumbs and ketchup. Mix lightly but thoroughly.
- Form the meatloaf: On the top of a piece of non-stick foil form the meat mixture into a oblong shape that will fit inside your Instant Pot. Carefully transfer the foil and the meatloaf on top of the trivet.
- Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 20 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Glaze the meatloaf: Lift the foil and place on a pan. Baste the top of the meatloaf with some ketchup and place under the broiler in your oven for 2 minutes.
- Mash the potatoes: Remove the trivet. Discard the bay leaf. Drain all the water out of the pot. Add in the butter, sour cream and milk. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Slice the meatloaf and serve with the potatoes.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with corn or green beans.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in an 8 quart pot.
- If you’d like to make more meatloaf I suggest 1.5x-ing the recipe. This will ensure that the meatloaf cooks all the way through. If you double the recipe you’ll need to increase the pressure cooking time by 5-10 minutes. Check the meatloaf for doneness with a thermometer. The internal temperature should be 160 degrees F.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Another recipe you can make with saltine crackers is Instant Pot Amish Poor Man’s Steak.
More Instant Pot Meatloaf Inspired Recipes
Instant Pot Pepperoni Pizza Meatloaf
A meatloaf made quickly in your electric pressure cooker that is inspired by pepperoni pizza! Mozzarella and diced pepperoni are combined with lean ground beef to make a flavorful combination that kids and adults both love.
Instant Pot Taco Meatloaf
If you love tacos and you love meatloaf then you’ll love this Instant Pot Taco Meatloaf. Ground beef is combined with crushed tortilla chips, salsa, and taco seasoning. With only 5 ingredients and the help of your Instant Pot dinner will be on the table in no time!
Mac and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole
Mac and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole–two favorite dinners combined into one amazing dish! Meatloaf is baked with macaroni and cheese on top. The Instant Pot speeds up the prep process. Pin this recipe for later! Mac and Cheese Meatloaf Casserole Don’t knock it until you try it! This mac and cheese meatloaf casserole was there one
Instant Pot Tennessee Meatloaf
A southern meatloaf recipe that will become your family’s favorite recipe! The sauce is to so addicting. You can make this recipe in the Instant Pot or the slow cooker.
Instant Pot Boarding House Meatloaf Bites
A perfect bite of southern meatloaf with a tangy sauce. An easy and tasty recipe to make with a pound of ground beef! Variations include a whole meatloaf, a slow cooker version and in muffin tins in the oven.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
A Christmas Story Meatloaf
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 3–4 servings 1x
Description
Old fashioned meatloaf and mashed potatoes made at the same time in your Instant Pot!
Ingredients
For the potatoes
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 2 Tbsp milk
For the meatloaf
- 1 pound 85/15 ground beef
- 1 Tbsp dehydrated onion flakes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 8 saltines, crushed
- 1/4 cup ketchup + more for the glaze
Instructions
- Place potatoes in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add in the bay leaf, 1 tsp kosher salt and garlic cloves. Pour in the water. Place the trivet on top of the potatoes with the handles facing up.
- In a bowl add the ground beef, onion flakes, garlic powder, Worcestershire, egg, kosher salt, pepper, saltine crumbs and ketchup. Mix lightly but thoroughly.
- On the top of a piece of non-stick foil form the meat mixture into a oblong shape that will fit inside your Instant Pot. Carefully transfer the foil and the meatloaf on top of the trivet.
- Cover Instant Pot. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 20 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Lift the foil and place on a pan. Baste the top of the meatloaf with some ketchup and place under the broiler in your oven for 2 minutes.
- Remove the trivet. Discard the bay leaf. Drain all the water out of the pot. Add in the butter, sour cream and milk. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Slice the meatloaf and serve with the potatoes.
- Category: Beef
- Method: Instant Pot
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
A really nice basic recipe which comes together easily and comes with a story sure to make everyone at the table smile. Served up with an extra side (I chose green beans) and roll a roll. the plates were clean and clean up was a breeze. Will definitely make again.
★★★★★
Thank you for the 5 stars! So glad to hear you loved it 🙂
can you give instructions for just the meatloaf, omitting the potatoes
Just pour 1.5 cups of water into bottom of pot. Place a trivet in the pot. Make the meatloaf as stated in the instructions. Pressure cook the same time in the recipe card.
Hi just wondering do you use 1/12 cups of water in the 3 quart instant pot for the meatloaf and do you do the same time as the 6 quart for the 3 quart
You could just use 1 cup water for the 3 quart. And yes use the came cooking time.
cover with foil while cooking
Do you wrap the meatloaf in foil or leave it uncovered in the instant pot?
I wrapped it around the meatloaf
Excellent!
★★★★★
Thanks David!