Meatloaf Casserole
This meatloaf casserole is my favorite way to use up leftover meatloaf, with layers of tender shell pasta, creamy ricotta and mozzarella, crumbled meatloaf, and meatloaf sauce baked until bubbly. It’s a lot like a meatloaf lasagna, and it’s ready in about 45 minutes.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Meatloaf Casserole
- Serves: 6
- Main Ingredients: crumbled leftover meatloaf, meatloaf sauce, uncooked small shell pasta, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese
- Why You'll Love It: Turn your leftover meatloaf into this quick and easy meatloaf casserole recipe, with delicious layers of pasta, ricotta and mozzarella cheese, and meatloaf sauce.
Most folks I know turn leftover meatloaf into sandwiches, and those are good too, but I’m a casserole person. This one gives you a whole new supper out of last night’s dinner, and if you’re looking for another fun meatloaf twist, try my meatloaf burgers.
A New Supper From Leftover Meatloaf
My husband and I first fell for this casserole made with leftover sloppy joe meat, so one night I decided to try it with meatloaf and meatloaf sauce instead. It was every bit as good as we’d hoped, and it’s been our go-to for leftover meatloaf ever since.
You cook the pasta, stir the cheeses together, and layer everything in a 9×13 dish, so there’s very little hands-on work. It’s a good one to keep in mind whenever you make a big meatloaf like my slow cooker meatloaf, since you can plan for leftovers on purpose.
Ingredients for Meatloaf Casserole
- Leftover meatloaf: Crumble 2 to 4 cups, depending on how much you have. It can go in straight from the fridge, and any meatloaf works, including my Italian meatloaf.
- Meatloaf sauce: Use a can of meatloaf sauce, a can of seasoned tomato sauce, or about 2 cups of homemade sauce made with ketchup, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Small shell pasta: The little shells catch the sauce and cheese. Any small pasta like elbows or ditalini works too.
- Ricotta and mozzarella: Stirred together, they make a creamy layer that holds the casserole together, much like the cheese layer in lasagna.
You’ll find the full amounts in the recipe card below.
Helpful Tips Before You Start
- Don’t overcook the pasta. Cook it just to the low end of the package time, since it’ll soften a bit more in the oven.
- Crumble the meatloaf into small pieces. Smaller crumbles spread more evenly and make the casserole easier to cut and serve.
- Spread the sauce to the edges. Covering the whole top keeps the edges from drying out while it bakes.
- Bake uncovered. That lets the top get bubbly and a little browned in spots.
- Let it rest a few minutes. A short rest after baking helps the layers set, so each serving holds together, the same way you’d let lasagna rest.
How to Make Meatloaf Casserole
1. Cook the Pasta
Cook and drain the pasta according to the package directions.
Spread the pasta in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Mix the Cheeses
In a large bowl, stir the ricotta and mozzarella together until they’re well combined.
3. Layer the Casserole
Spread half of the cheese mixture over the pasta.
Top it with half of the meatloaf sauce, spreading it out to cover the whole top.
Add all of the crumbled meatloaf in an even layer. Mine was straight from the fridge, in case you’re wondering.
Top the meatloaf with the rest of the cheese mixture.
Spread the remaining sauce over the top.
4. Bake
Bake uncovered at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until it’s hot and bubbly.
Scoop out a big serving and enjoy it with a side of fresh green beans and a warm dinner roll.
More Ways to Use Leftover Meatloaf
If you have more meatloaf than you need for this casserole, here are a few other ideas we like.
- Meatloaf sandwiches: Warm a slice in a skillet and pile it on toasted bread with a little ketchup or cheese.
- Mashed potato topping: Swap the pasta and cheese for a layer of mashed potatoes topped with shredded cheddar, bacon bits, and fried onions for a cowboy-style meatloaf casserole.
- Spaghetti sauce: Crumble it into marinara and serve it over spaghetti, a lot like my crock pot spaghetti.
- Breakfast hash: Brown crumbled meatloaf with diced fried potatoes and top it with a fried egg.
- Stuffed peppers: Mix crumbled meatloaf with cooked rice and use it as the filling for stuffed pepper casserole.
What to Serve With Meatloaf Casserole
- Vegetables: fresh green beans, candied carrots, or a simple green salad
- Bread: homemade dinner rolls or garlic bread
- Potatoes: loaded twice baked potatoes if you want a really hearty supper
Storing and Freezing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat them in the microwave. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months, then thaw them overnight in the fridge before reheating.
If you make meatloaf often, my guide to making and freezing meatloaf walks through how to freeze it ahead so you always have some on hand for a casserole like this one.
Meatloaf Casserole FAQs
Can I use any kind of meatloaf?
Yes. Beef, turkey, or a mix all work, and so does a lower-carb version like Susan’s to-die-for low carb meatloaf.
Can I make it ahead?
You can assemble it, cover it, and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Add a few extra minutes to the bake time since it’ll go in cold.
What if I don’t have meatloaf sauce?
Use about 2 cups of seasoned tomato sauce or marinara, or stir together ketchup, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper for a quick homemade version.
Can I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta?
Cottage cheese works if that’s what you have. The cheese layer will just be a little looser.
More Ground Beef and Casserole Recipes
Meatloaf Casserole
Ingredients
- 2-4 cups crumbled leftover meatloaf
- 1 can meatloaf sauce or 2 cups homemade meatloaf sauce
- 2 cups uncooked small shell pasta
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Place in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.2 cups uncooked small shell pasta
- In a medium bowl, stir together both types of cheese until well combined.2 cups ricotta cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Top pasta in the casserole dish with half of the cheese mixture. Spread half the meatloaf sauce over the top. Top with the crumbled meatloaf mixture. Add remaining cheese and top with remaining sauce, spreading to cover the top.1 can meatloaf sauce, 2-4 cups crumbled leftover meatloaf
- Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Dear Ms. Christy,
These are wonderful thoughts. Hope you don’t mind that I forwarded them to a local group here in lovely Lago Vista TX, commenting that these good thoughts come “from a woman who looks way too young to be as wise as she is”. (Of course I ended the forward with an invitation to all to check out your website.)
Gratitude is what makes life go from bearable to splendid in the space of one thought. Thank you!
Your fan, friend, and sister-woman,
Mrs. Welch
Dear Mrs. Welch,
I’m deeply honored that you would consider something I wrote to be worthy of forwarding, thank you so very much for giving me such a wonderful gift.
When I hit send on todays post, I did it with a little bit of trepidation. I had something in my heart and needed to speak it but I try to be careful with y’all’s time and was hoping I didn’t get too high up on my soap box as I tend to do when I feel passionately about something.
My ancestors taught me that things like gratitude and blessings are always something to feel passionate about.
Your comment came into my phone while I was out with my daughter getting some ingredients to make cookies and as soon as I read it I just had to stop and hug her.
I am likely the most talkative person I know, but I’m unable to tell you what a gift you gave me today.
Grateful to have such wonderful people in my life,
Christy
The recipe looks good and it follows my philosophy in life. Use it up, make do, take it in , let it out. cut it up, sew it up and on and on. I was raised in a different generation than most of your readers and we had five kids and a low income but we were happy and I never once felt deprived. Maybe a little jealous when I saw saddle shoes on my friends feet and I had brown oxfords because they were long wearing, but even then I knew my mom and dad were doing their best for us and loved us wholeheartedly.I have always felt a sense of accomplishment that I could manage on what I had because of life’s lessons learned early. I still don’t like to waste and if I can’t use something I try to pass it on to someone who can instead of today’s throw away society. I am not wanting to go back to “old times” but I have to admit when I watch Walton’s Mountain or Little house reruns I wish some of those values would once again prevail. I just learned this week that my grandkids were asking for laptops and ipods for Christmas and while it is not my business and I don’t interfere, it saddens me to see that in kids who should be thinking babydolls and baseball bats. By the way leftover meatloaf is good in spaghetti sauce or I make a hash with leftover cubed meatloaf , diced potatoes, and onions all fried together.
The recipe looks good and it follows my philosophy in life. Use it up, make do, take it in , let it out. cut it up, sew it up and on and on. I was raised in a different generation than most of your readers and we had five kids and a low income but we were happy and I never once felt deprived. Maybe a little jealous when I saw saddle shoe son my friends feet and I had brown oxfords becasue they were long wearing, but even then I knew my mom and dad were doing their best for us and loved us wholeheartedly.I have always felt a sense of accomplishment that I could manage on what I had because of life’s lessons learned early. I still don’t like to waste and if I can’t use something I try to pass it on to someone who can instead of today’s throw away society. I am not wanting to go back to “old times” but I have to admit when I watch Walton’d Mountain or Little house reruns I wish some of those values would once again prevail. I just learned this week that my grandkids were asking for laptops and ipods for Christmas and while it is not my business and I don’t interfere, it saddens to see that in kids who should be thinking babydolls and baseball bats. By the way leftover meatloaf is good in spahetti sauce or I make a hash with meatloaf ,potatoes, and onions all fried together.
AMEN to the story!! you are a fabulous writer(and cook of course)
Thanks for the recipe-looks and sounds deelish!!
Joey, you are too good to me! thank you!
I love writing…even more than I love talking! lol To have folks actually read what is in my heart means the world to me.
Thank you so much for that.
Hope you are all set for a fabulous week!
Gratefully,
Christy 🙂
Thank you, sometimes when times change and things get rough, we forget to be thankful for what we have.
I love your receipes-please keep them coming.
Thank you so much, Kathi. I’ll keep ’em coming as long as good people like you are kind enough to read!
Gratefully,
Christy 🙂
Amen, sister! Preach it!
Yes, sir!
I’m first! Loving that recipe Christy. The story is dead on in todays world.
Thank you so much, Cherrill. I kinda feel relieved that I finally got it out of me! lol
Gratefully,
Christy
I JUST LOVE UR WEBSITE… ITS GREAT.. I JUST LOVE YOU’RE RECIPES..