Meatloaf and Sweet Potato Casserole

I really wish it weren't a bazillion degrees outside right now.

If it were cooler outside then I could make this scrumptious casserole for dinner again. I made it a week or so ago and it was really, really good.

Really.

But....as it stands, the sun is out to turn me into a pile of sweaty goo if I do anything more than open the fridge door. Therefore I will share the pretty pictures with you, and the recipe, and hopefully it is cool enough where you are that you can turn your oven on to make this.

Me? I'm waiting for fall now, thank you very much.

Meatloaf and Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb lean ground beef

3/4 cup onion, finely chopped

1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup BBQ sauce

1 egg

2 tsp chili powder

salt & pepper

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 TBSP butter

1 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 can French's French Fried Onions (I think about 1 cup)

1/2 cup aged cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Spray an 8 X 8 baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

Wash the sweet potatoes and prick all over with a fork. Place in microwave and microwave until cooked - about 10 - 15 minutes. Peel the sweet potatoes and mash until no lumps remain. Mix in minced garlic. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine beef, onion, bread crumbs, BBQ Sauce, egg, chili powder and salt and pepper until well mixed. Gently press into bottom of baking dish.

 Bake uncovered for 20 to 30 minutes, or until cooked through. Carefully pour off any excess fat if needed.

Turn oven to broil.

Stir the evaporated milk, butter, bacon, and fried onions into the mashed sweet potatoes. Spread evenly on top of meatloaf and sprinkle with cheese.

Broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is lightly browned and sweet potatoes are heated through. Serve hot with additional BBQ Sauce.

I don't know if it is just me...but.....I love eating orange food. It just looks so cool.

That being said - if you don't share my love of orange food, you can make this with regular, boring white potatoes.

This is a great way to present the usual "meat & potatoes" in a different way.

One note about this - I put 2 medium sweet potatoes in the ingredients because I wasn't sure how much I was going to use. I didn't end up using all of it. You just want enough for about an inch layer on top of the the meatloaf. You can, of course, do it thicker, but it will need more time to heat through in the oven.

I just froze the leftover mashed sweet potato for a later use.

For some more great ideas visit - Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.