Meatloaf Casserole

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Don’t waste your leftover meatloaf! Turn it into this quick and easy meatloaf casserole recipe instead, with delicious layers of pasta, ricotta and mozzarella cheese, and meatloaf sauce.

Close-up of ladle filled with meatloaf casserole.

Today’s meatloaf casserole recipe is a delicious use for leftover meatloaf. Most folks I know just recycle it into meatloaf sandwiches but I’m a casserole person myself. This is a casserole my husband and I really enjoy with leftover sloppy joe meat, so I decided to give it a go with meatloaf and meatloaf sauce instead. It was every bit as good as we hoped it would be and then some.

Very much like a meatloaf lasagna, ingredients include pasta, a delicious blend of ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese (because you can never have too much cheese), crumbled meatloaf, and sauce. An interesting and delicious twist that is sure to please.

Together with those simple ingredients, there are only a few simple steps to follow to make your meatloaf casserole. Once we cook our pasta, all that’s left to do is layer our casserole. We do layers of cheese, meatloaf sauce, and leftover meatloaf. Then it’s time to bake and in 30 minutes your meatloaf casserole is ready. This quick and easy recipe is great for a weeknight supper when you’re craving some good ol’ comfort food.

Labeled ingredients for meatloaf casserole.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Small shell pasta
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Meatloaf sauce
  • Crumbled leftover meatloaf

How to Make Meatloaf Casserole

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Cook and drain your pasta according to the package directions.

Place cooked pasta in baking dish.

Place in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.

Combine both types of cheese in a mixing bowl.

Combine both types of cheese in a large bowl and stir until they’re combined.

Spread half of the cheese over the pasta.

Spread half of your cheese mixture over your pasta in the casserole dish.

Top cheese with half the can of sauce.

Top that with half the can of meatloaf sauce.

Spread sauce.

Spread it a little to make it go over the whole top.

Add crumbled meatloaf next.

Top that with all of your crumbled meatloaf mixture. Yum!

(My meatloaf was straight from the fridge, in case anyone is wondering).

Add remaining cheese.

Top that with the rest of your cheese mixture.

Spread remaining sauce on top.

Spread the remaining tomato sauce over it.

Meatloaf casserole ready for the oven.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Ladle removing a portion of meatloaf casserole from baking dish.

There you have it. Your meatloaf casserole is ready in no time at all (told ya it was easy peasy).

Portion of meatloaf casserole on plate.

Hand a good serving of this out and watch your husband’s eyes bug out of his head!

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the microwave. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the microwave.

Recipe Notes

  • You can make your own meatloaf sauce or use my favorite seasoned tomato sauce from Hunt’s. You’ll need about two cups or so either way you go. To make homemade meatloaf sauce, you’ll need ketchup, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper.
  • Another idea is to make what they call a cowboy meatloaf casserole or a loaded potato meatloaf casserole. Your topping would be either homemade mashed potato or instant mashed potato. To go with the loaded potato theme, top your mashed potatoes with bacon bits, shredded cheddar cheese, and fried onions. You could substitute the other cheese mixture and just use the cheddar cheese if you like. Mashed potato meatloaf casserole… it does sound good, right?

You may also like these recipes:

Meatloaf Burgers

Italian Meatloaf

Sloppy Joes Casserole

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Chicken Noodle Casserole

Meatloaf casserole

Meatloaf Casserole

Turn your leftover meatloaf into this quick and easy meatloaf casserole recipe, with delicious layers of pasta, ricotta and mozzarella cheese, and meatloaf sauce.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: casserole, meatloaf
Servings: 6

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 9x13 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.
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66 Comments

  1. Christy,

    I love what you wrote. I read every comment on here, they’re so touching. I feel so blessed to be part of a group of people from all over this country and beyond who seem to have much in common although I will probably never meet any of them. I just feel like I’m part of something so wonderful when I read the comments. The recipes are always great.

    May God bless each and every one of you.

  2. Ooh! Casseroles always say comfort food.

    Usually, I do the same with my leftovers, or sometimes toss them in a batter with some corn and make some corn fritters.

    Thanks for sharing this, as well as your thoughts on the good we can find in these tight times.

  3. Christy,
    Once again you have won my heart. The Bible says that what Satan meant for harm, God made good when you are His child. NOW I’m preaching! Working with Angel Food Ministries, I have seen so much of what you are saying. Everything we go through has a reason, to help us or to help us help someone else. Thanks for all you do to help families economize and come closer together. Wanna come and make muscadine jelly this weekend?

  4. Christy~
    I love this post.You said exactly what’s been in my heart for a long time.thank you!
    We never have left over meatloaf around here(lol!) but next time I’m going to put some back to try this recipe!
    Amy`

  5. Christy,
    Forgive me if it is inappropriate to call you by your first name but, ever since my mother-in-law introduced me to your site about 6 months ago, I feel as though you are a member of my family. I look forward everyday to your e-mails. I can’t wait to try the recipes you send. Reading the things you write is one the highlights of my day. They make me smile, laugh, and on occasion even cry because they remind me of days past with my own mother, who past away about 8 years ago. Your post today is one of those days.
    I made homemade apple butter in a crockpot the other day and my family LOVED it, but not as much as I enjoyed making it for them. You help me to remember that it’s the little things you do that make a difference. I just wanted to say, THANK YOU. Thank you, for being you and for what you do…YOU are a true blessing and I hope that someday when you go to a Nashville Quilt show that I will be there with my mother-in-law too so that we might both have the privlege of meeting such a gem as you.

  6. When I read your comment about the empty oatmeal containers, It reminded me of when me and my sisters were younger and would play “Store”. We would save different containers and set them up In our pretend shop. I was the big store owner and my sisters were the customers. lol We incorporated this Into playing “House” when our cousins or friends came over and played/stayed all night with us.

    By the way, I know I can’t be the only guy who played “House” when he was younger! lol

    I love this leftover recipe Christy! I always wonder what to do with my leftover meatloaf at times and this would be a great way to get rid of those leftovers! (Meatload sandwiches get old after awhile! hehe) I bet It taste just as good as It looks! 🙂

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