Cheesy Loaded Meatloaf Casserole–meatloaf flavored with chili powder and BBQ sauce is topped with mashed potatoes, French fried onions and cheddar cheese.
This dish has meatloaf and mashed potatoes together in one casserole. It’s good home cooking just like Mom used to make. There is a bit of a kick from the chili powder in the meatloaf but nothing too crazy. Instead of using ketchup or tomato sauce in the meatloaf you use BBQ sauce which is a fun twist. The casserole is topped with a crunchy topping of french fried onions and melty cheese. You’re going to love digging into this delightful and hearty dinner.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
Lean ground beef–90/10 works well. You can also use ground turkey.
Dried onion flakes–or a quarter cup of minced fresh onion
Italian seasoning
Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce–or another BBQ sauce of your choice. You can also use ketchup.
Egg
Chili powder–this adds a tiny bit of heat. You can use half as much if you don’t like heat.
Kosher salt
Russet potatoes–you can also use yukon golds or red potatoes.
Butter
Milk
Crumbled bacon–I used real bacon crumbles but you can also fry up bacon and use that
Crispy fried onions–like the kind you put on green bean casserole
Shredded cheddar cheese–or another type of cheese you enjoy
Steps
Mix meatloaf ingredients: In a mixing bowl add the ground beef, onion, Italian seasoning, bbq sauce, egg, chili powder and kosher salt. Mix until combined. (I like to use kitchen gloves for this step and use my hands instead of mixing with a spoon).
Form the meatloaf: Spread the mixture in the bottom of a 7×3 inch pot-in-pot dish. Press it flat with the palms of your hands or the back of a spoon.
Prepare the Instant Pot: Pour 1 ½ cups of water into bottom of Instant Pot. Place the pan on top of a trivet with handles. Lower the pan into the bottom of the pot. Place another trivet over the top of the meatloaf dish and place the halved potatoes on top.
Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 25 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Mash potatoes: Use tongs to move potatoes to a medium bowl. Add butter in with the potatoes. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes. Stir in the milk and bacon. Salt and pepper the potatoes to taste.
Melt the cheese: Spread the potatoes on top of the meatloaf. Sprinkle the fried onions and cheese on top. Use your air fryer lid to melt the cheese for about 2-3 minutes at 400° F. If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can broil in the oven for about 5 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
Serve alongside a side of baked beans and sweet corn. If you want to go all out serve it with cornbread and honey butter.
This has a large potato to meat ratio. If you want, you can cut the amount of potatoes or increase the amount of meatloaf. I am a huge carb lover so it was perfect for me!
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in your 8 quart pot.
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.
Meatloaf seasoned with chili powder and bbq sauce is topped with mashed potatoes, french fried onions and cheddar cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
1 pound lean ground beef (90/10 works well)
1 Tbsp dried onion flakes
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce
1 egg
2 tsp chili powder
3/4 tsp kosher salt
2 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and halved
2 Tbsp butter
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup crumbled bacon
1/3 cup crispy fried onions
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
In a mixing bowl add the ground beef, onion, Italian seasoning, bbq sauce, egg, chili powder and kosher salt. Mix until combined.
Spread the mixture in the bottom of a 7×3 inch pot-in-pot dish. Press it flat with the palms of your hands or the back of a spoon.
Pour 1 ½ cups of water into bottom of Instant Pot. Place the pan on top of a trivet with handles. Lower the pan into the bottom of the pot. Place another trivet over the top of the meatloaf dish and place the halved potatoes on top.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 25 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Use tongs to move potatoes to a medium bowl. Add butter in with the potatoes. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes. Stir in the milk and bacon. Salt and pepper the potatoes to taste.
Spread the potatoes on top of the meatloaf. Sprinkle the fried onions and cheese on top. Use your air fryer lid to melt the cheese for about 2-3 minutes at 400. If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can broil in the oven for about 5 minutes.
*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.
Comments
LORRAINEsays
I AM AN OLD 88 YEAR OLD AND DON’T HAVE ALL OF THESE NEW KINDS OF COOKERS, THIS SOUNDS SO GOOD HOW DO I DO IT IN A 9X13 DISH AND AT WHAT DEGREE IN OVEN, WOULD LOVE TO MAKE WHEN MY KIDS COME OVER
LORRAINE
I’m with you on that I’ve got enough gadgets now that I have to store in my kitchen. I would bake it like you would do a meatloaf in the oven. 80/20 Hamburger 350 for an hour, covered. Hope that helps.
Hi Lorraine! I’m so glad you want to make this for when your kids come over. You can absolutely make it in the oven with a 9×13 pan, and it will turn out great.
Here’s an easy way to do it:
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
In a bowl mix together the ground beef, dried onion flakes, Italian seasoning, BBQ sauce, egg, chili powder, and salt. Spread this mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish and press it down so it forms a flat layer.
Place the peeled and halved potatoes in a pot, cover them with water, and boil them on the stove for about 15–20 minutes until they are fork tender. Drain them, then mash them with the butter and milk. Stir in the crumbled bacon and add a little salt and pepper if you’d like.
While the potatoes are cooking, bake the meat mixture in the oven for about 25–30 minutes.
Take the pan out of the oven and spread the mashed potatoes over the meat layer. Sprinkle the crispy fried onions and shredded cheddar cheese on top.
Put the pan back in the oven for about 10 minutes, just until the cheese melts and everything is hot. If you want the top a little golden, you can turn on the broiler for 2–3 minutes, but keep an eye on it.
Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then scoop and serve.
I hope you and your family enjoy it when they come over. And Lorraine, I love that you’re still cooking for your kids at 88 years old—that’s wonderful. 😊
This was so good, and miraculously, and my picky eater who refuses to eat anything called “meatloaf” actually ate it and liked it! I did call it “meat and potato cowboy casserole”, so I guess I was a little sneaky, but sometimes you have to be…… 🙂
My instant pot is fairly new to me so when I’m reading a recipe I’m not sure what exactly you mean by a pot in pot. It came with a sort of metal basket that has holes in the bottom so I’m not sure if I’m able to use that instead of the 7×3-in pot you’re referring to ( mine did not come with that) also when it says to put the water in the bottom is that in the main basin of the pot or is that in the big silver pot that comes inside of it? I know these questions might seem silly but I’m trying to learn as best I can and so far I’m loving using it. But with recipes like these I’m not sure about the different compartments etc. I’ve only made things where it all goes into the one pot.
Hi! I just bought the 7-in-1, 8 quart instant pot and haven’t used it yet. What is the 7×3 pan in pan dish? And are there trivets or other inserts sold specifically for the instant pot? Thanks in advance
I AM AN OLD 88 YEAR OLD AND DON’T HAVE ALL OF THESE NEW KINDS OF COOKERS, THIS SOUNDS SO GOOD HOW DO I DO IT IN A 9X13 DISH AND AT WHAT DEGREE IN OVEN, WOULD LOVE TO MAKE WHEN MY KIDS COME OVER
LORRAINE
I’m with you on that I’ve got enough gadgets now that I have to store in my kitchen. I would bake it like you would do a meatloaf in the oven. 80/20 Hamburger 350 for an hour, covered. Hope that helps.
Hi Lorraine! I’m so glad you want to make this for when your kids come over. You can absolutely make it in the oven with a 9×13 pan, and it will turn out great.
Here’s an easy way to do it:
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
In a bowl mix together the ground beef, dried onion flakes, Italian seasoning, BBQ sauce, egg, chili powder, and salt. Spread this mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish and press it down so it forms a flat layer.
Place the peeled and halved potatoes in a pot, cover them with water, and boil them on the stove for about 15–20 minutes until they are fork tender. Drain them, then mash them with the butter and milk. Stir in the crumbled bacon and add a little salt and pepper if you’d like.
While the potatoes are cooking, bake the meat mixture in the oven for about 25–30 minutes.
Take the pan out of the oven and spread the mashed potatoes over the meat layer. Sprinkle the crispy fried onions and shredded cheddar cheese on top.
Put the pan back in the oven for about 10 minutes, just until the cheese melts and everything is hot. If you want the top a little golden, you can turn on the broiler for 2–3 minutes, but keep an eye on it.
Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then scoop and serve.
I hope you and your family enjoy it when they come over. And Lorraine, I love that you’re still cooking for your kids at 88 years old—that’s wonderful. 😊
I am making this now. Looking forward to eating it.
This was so good, and miraculously, and my picky eater who refuses to eat anything called “meatloaf” actually ate it and liked it! I did call it “meat and potato cowboy casserole”, so I guess I was a little sneaky, but sometimes you have to be…… 🙂
yes that is a good little trick! So glad even the picky eater loved it.
I don’t have a pan in pan, do you think it should work without it? Haha because I just made it and it’s cooking, without the pan in pan..
Let me know how it went!
How do I convert this to a Slow Cooker recipe?
I would like this information as well.
My instant pot is fairly new to me so when I’m reading a recipe I’m not sure what exactly you mean by a pot in pot. It came with a sort of metal basket that has holes in the bottom so I’m not sure if I’m able to use that instead of the 7×3-in pot you’re referring to ( mine did not come with that) also when it says to put the water in the bottom is that in the main basin of the pot or is that in the big silver pot that comes inside of it? I know these questions might seem silly but I’m trying to learn as best I can and so far I’m loving using it. But with recipes like these I’m not sure about the different compartments etc. I’ve only made things where it all goes into the one pot.
The water goes into the silver pot. these will help you:
What is pot in pot: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/pot-in-pot-method-explained/
Beginners: https://youtu.be/EJd6dC5d62U
Awesome
Thanks Kathy!!
Do you know how this can be made without an insta pot?
Hi! I just bought the 7-in-1, 8 quart instant pot and haven’t used it yet. What is the 7×3 pan in pan dish? And are there trivets or other inserts sold specifically for the instant pot? Thanks in advance
Yes there are! You can find some great accessories here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCPoOWKlSpc
Hey I got tatartot hot dish almost the same? Good stuff!😋
Question…….on the 1/2 recipe, what does the 4 1/2 after the lean ground beef mean??? I’m confused!
Sometimes the 1/2 and 2x button don’t work the best. Use a half pound of 90/10 beef.
Is this on the hi pressure setting? Just says manual/pressure cook setting
yes on high 🙂
The Daddio pan that you cook the meatloaf in, can it stand broiler heat? I don’t have a fryer lid.
Yes it does fine
Is the pan with the meatloaf mixture covered or uncovered?
I left mine uncovered