Sheet Pan Meatloaf with Smiley Potatoes

Share

Sheet Pan Meatloaf with Smiley Potatoes is a fun and easy family dinner recipe made with seasoned ground beef, tangy barbecue ketchup sauce, shredded cheddar cheese and crispy frozen smiley potatoes.

This kid-friendly meatloaf bakes right on a sheet pan, so you get cheesy meatloaf and golden potatoes all cooked together in one pan.

The sweet and smoky sauce adds tons of flavour, while the smiley potatoes make this dinner extra playful without any extra work.

This 50 minute ground beef dinner is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something hearty, simple and guaranteed to get smiles at the table.

Why This Recipe is a Winner!

• Kid-friendly comfort food: The smiley potatoes make this dinner fun enough to win over picky eaters.
• Everything bakes on one pan: The meatloaf and potatoes cook together on a sheet pan for an easy weeknight dinner.
• Perfect for busy nights: With just 15 minutes of prep, this recipe is simple enough for school nights.
• Great for feeding a family: This hearty ground beef dinner serves 6 to 8 people.
• Fun twist on classic meatloaf: It has all the cozy meatloaf flavour, but with a playful potato topping that makes it feel extra special.
• No fancy ingredients needed: This recipe uses simple grocery store staples like ground beef, bread crumbs, ketchup, BBQ sauce, cheddar and frozen potatoes.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Lean ground beef The base of the sheet pan meatloaf. Using lean ground beef helps keep the meatloaf hearty and flavourful without too much excess grease.
• Eggs Eggs help bind the meatloaf mixture together so it holds its shape once baked.
• Milk A little milk adds moisture to the meat mixture and helps keep the meatloaf from turning out dry.
• Italian seasoned bread crumbs These help bind the meatloaf while also adding built-in seasoning and flavour.
• Chopped garlic Garlic gives the meatloaf a savoury boost and adds lots of flavour to the ground beef mixture.
• Dehydrated minced onion Minced onion adds classic meatloaf flavour without needing much chopping. Fresh onion can also be used if you prefer.
• Salt and pepper Simple seasonings that help bring out all the flavours in the meatloaf.
• Ketchup Ketchup forms the base of the sweet and tangy sauce spread over the meatloaf.
• Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory and Brown Sugar BBQ sauce This adds smoky, sweet barbecue flavour to the topping and pairs perfectly with the cheddar cheese.
• Yellow mustard A little mustard balances the sweetness of the ketchup and BBQ sauce with a tangy kick.
• Shredded cheddar cheese Cheddar melts over the saucy meatloaf and adds a rich, cheesy layer under the potatoes.
• Frozen smiley potatoes These bake right on top of the meatloaf until golden brown, making this dinner fun, crispy and kid-friendly.

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.

Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don't miss out on any important tips and tricks!

Step By Step Instructions

 STEP 1: 

I put the ground beef, eggs, milk, bread crumbs, garlic, onion, salt and pepper into a large mixing bowl.

 STEP 2: 

I used my hands to combine all of the ingredients well.

 STEP 3: 

I sprayed an 11 x 17 inch baking sheet well with cooking spray.

I transferred the meat mixture to the baking sheet and spread it out evenly, making sure to leave a gap all around the edges of the pan to leave space for the grease to run off.

 STEP 4: 

I poured ketchup, bbq sauce and mustard into a small mixing bowl and stirred them together well.

 STEP 5: 

I the sauce mixture over the meatloaf on the baking sheet and spread it out evenly.

 STEP 6: 

I sprinkled on shredded cheddar cheese and then topped the meatloaf with frozen smiley potatoes.

 STEP 7: 

I placed the baking sheet in the oven and baked the meatloaf until it was cooked through and the potatoes on top were golden brown.

Every bite is saucy, cheesy and loaded with classic meatloaf flavour, with the crispy smiley potatoes adding the perfect fun little crunch on top.

This is the kind of easy family dinner that disappears fast because it feels comforting, playful and just a little bit ridiculous in the best way.

If you are looking for a fun and easy family dinner perfect for weeknights, then you need to try this Sheet Pan Meatloaf with Smiley Potatoes!

• Use lean ground beef. Lean ground beef works best for this recipe because the meatloaf bakes flat on a sheet pan and you don’t want too much grease pooling around the edges.
• Press the meat mixture out evenly. Try to keep the meatloaf layer an even thickness across the pan so it cooks through at the same time.
• Leave space around the edges. Don’t spread the meat mixture all the way to the sides of the baking sheet. Leaving a border gives the grease somewhere to go while it bakes.
• Spray the pan well. A good coating of cooking spray helps keep the meatloaf from sticking to the sheet pan.
• Stir the sauce before spreading. Mixing the ketchup, BBQ sauce and mustard together first gives you a smooth, evenly flavoured topping.
• Don’t skip the cheese layer. The cheddar melts between the sauce and the smiley potatoes, making the whole thing extra rich and delicious.
• Place the smiley potatoes in a single layer. Give the potatoes a little room so they can brown instead of steaming.
• Check that the meatloaf is cooked through. The meatloaf should reach an internal temperature of 160F before serving.
• Let it rest for a few minutes. Letting the meatloaf sit briefly after baking makes it easier to slice and serve.

Substitutions and Variations

• Swap the potatoes. If you can’t find smiley potatoes, use frozen tater tots, potato crowns, waffle fries or hash brown patties instead.
• Change the cheese. Shredded mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack or a Tex Mex cheese blend can be used in place of cheddar.
• Use a different BBQ sauce. Any sweet, smoky or spicy barbecue sauce will work in the topping, so use your favourite bottle.
• Make it spicy. Add a little hot sauce, cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to the ketchup BBQ sauce for some heat.
• Try fresh onion. Fresh finely diced onion can be used instead of dehydrated minced onion. Just keep the pieces small so they cook evenly.
• Switch up the breadcrumbs. Plain breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers can be used, but you may want to add extra Italian seasoning if using an unseasoned option.
• Use a different ground meat. You can use ground turkey, ground chicken or a ground beef and pork blend, but cooking time may vary slightly.
• Add bacon. Sprinkle cooked crumbled bacon over the cheese before adding the smiley potatoes for an extra loaded version.
• Make it extra saucy. Drizzle a little extra BBQ sauce over the potatoes before serving.
• Add more seasoning. Garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika or steak seasoning can be mixed into the meatloaf for a stronger flavour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use fresh onion instead of dehydrated minced onion?

• Yes. Finely diced fresh onion can be used in place of dehydrated minced onion. Just make sure the pieces are small so they soften while the meatloaf bakes.

Can I use a different kind of frozen potato?

• Yes. If you can’t find smiley potatoes, frozen tater tots, potato crowns, waffle fries or hash brown patties would all work well on top of this sheet pan meatloaf.

How do I know when the meatloaf is fully cooked?

• The meatloaf is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 160F. A meat thermometer is the easiest way to check without guessing.

Can I make this meatloaf ahead of time?

• You can mix and press the meatloaf onto the baking sheet ahead of time, then cover it and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. For best results, add the sauce, cheese and frozen potatoes right before it goes into the oven.

How should I store leftovers?

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat portions in the oven or air fryer if you want the potatoes to crisp back up.

Can I freeze leftovers?

• Yes, you can freeze leftover cooked meatloaf, but the potatoes may soften once thawed and reheated. For best texture, reheat in the oven or air fryer instead of the microwave.

Sheet Pan Meatloaf with Smiley Potatoes

Yield: Serves 6-8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Sheet Pan Meatloaf with Smiley Potatoes is a fun and easy family dinner recipe made with seasoned ground beef, tangy BBQ ketchup sauce, cheddar cheese and crispy frozen smiley potatoes all baked together on one pan.

No Ratings

Print

Ingredients

• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons dehydrated minced onion ( or fresh )
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ cup ketchup
• ½ cup Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory and Brown Sugar BBQ sauce
• ½ tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 18 smiley potatoes, frozen

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. Drop the ground beef, eggs, milk, bread crumbs, garlic, minced onion, salt and pepper into a mixing bowl. Combine all of the ingredients well.
3. Spray an 11 x 17 inch baking sheet well with cooking spray.
4. Pour the meat mixture out onto the baking sheet and press it out evenly making sure to leave space around all of the edges of the pan for the grease to run off.
5. Pour the ketchup, bbq sauce and mustard into a small bowl and stir them together well.
6. Spread the sauce mixture evenly over the meat mixture on the baking sheet.
7. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top.
8. Place the potatoes on top.
9. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the meatloaf until it is cooked through and the potatoes on top are golden brown. About 35 minutes.
10. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1037Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 15gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 197mgSodium: 1171mgCarbohydrates: 126gFiber: 10gSugar: 25gProtein: 59g

This post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

~ Follow on Instagram ~ ~ Follow on Pinterest ~ ~ Follow on TikTok ~

Share