Cowboy Meatloaf and Potato Casserole.

You know you're a fat chick when... you look salivatingly forward to a certain dinner and pray for leftovers. Seriously. When I put this on my menu, I couldn't WAIT for it. It kept staring me in the face; Saturday: Cowboy Meatloaf and Potato Casserole. I thought about it all week long. Pathetic, I know. But honest. I've learned to take some shortcuts with this recipe for a number of reasons. First, I can rarely find the potatoes it asks for in the original recipe. Second, I substitute ground turkey. Third, I use dried parsley. Fourth, I use pre-cooked bacon to save time. I've done this recipe in its original form and it tastes the same to me either way. If it can taste just as good AND save me time, I'll do it. There's a witty comment there, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Anyway, on to the recipe!

First we're gonna gather our ingredients. 

Two things about this photo, 1. There is no margarine in it, I was using it as a prop, and 2. That ugly thing on the right, in the foreground is an onion. It looks like a potato.

To a bowl add two pounds ground turkey, 1 1/4 cup chopped onion, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs, 1/2 cup barbeque sauce and 1 teaspoon salt.

Mix it well by hand. Doesn't that look sexy?

Spray a 9X13 pan with nonstick cooking spray and press your meatloaf mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 40 minutes at 375 degrees.

About ten minutes before your meatloaf is done, make your potatoes. Using three envelopes of instant potatoes, add FIVE cups warm water and microwave for 5 minutes on high. No. Do NOT add six cups of water.Yes. I know that's what it says. Trust me dammit.

Take your bacon out of the package and chop it up.

Take your potatoes out of the microwave when they're done and add 2/3 cup evaporated milk, 2 teaspoons dried parsley, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1/2 cup canned crispy fried onions and your chopped bacon. Mix it well and take a taste. Or three, like I did.

SO GOOD.

BEEP! Or DING! Your meatloaf is done. Drain off any fat. Mine didn't have any. Thank you ground turkey. Whoop! Whoop! Holla!

Spread your potatoes over your meatloaf.

Top with 1 1/2 cups reduced fat Mexican cheese blend.

Put that sucker back in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve it with extra barbecue sauce if you want. Eat it with a giant mixing spoon. Eat it from a trough if you'd like.

Just eat it!

Look at THAT. Meat and potatoes and cheese and everything good.

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Cowboy Meatloaf and Potato Casserole  (This is doubled and serves 8-10)

• 2 pounds ground turkey
• 1 1/4 cups chopped onion
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cups seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup barbeque sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 packages Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Instant Mashed Potatoes
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 package pre-cooked bacon
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1/2 crispy canned fried onions
• 1 1/2 cups reduced fat Mexican cheese blend

1. Heat oven to 375. Spray a 9X13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Mix ground turkey, chopped onion, bread crumbs, eggs, barbeque sauce and salt in a bowl by hand until well mixed. Press mixture into bottom of pan and bake for 40 minutes.
3. Ten minutes before meatloaf is done, add your instant potatoes to a bowl with 5 cups of warm water and microwave on high for 5 minutes. While potatoes are in the microwave, take your bacon out of its package and chop it up.
4. When potatoes are done, add to them the evaporated milk, chopped bacon, parsley, garlic powder, and crispy canned fried onions. Mix well.
5. When your meatloaf is done, drain any fat from pan.
6. Spread potato mixture evenly over meatloaf and top with 1 1/2 cups reduced fat Mexican cheese. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
7. Serve with extra barbecue sauce if desired. (It's REALLY good on top too.)

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I found the original recipe at: http://www.oreida.com/Recipes/C/Cowboy-Meatloaf-and-Potato-Casserole#.U5OoD3JdUfU

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

~ Nation