This is the best meatloaf recipe ever and comes complete with a yummy glaze. It will knock your socks off! My mom never made meatloaf when I was growing up so when I moved out on my own, I started experimenting with different recipes and this is my best creation.
Good old-fashioned meatloaf stands alongside hot dogs and apple pie as iconic American foods. That's not to say any of those dishes actually originated in America, but that hasn't stopped us from embedding them deeply into our culture and lore, and making them our own.
Meatloaf especially is a product of ingenuity and making-do as thrifty, waste-not home cooks combine low-cost ingredients to make a satisfying main dish that will stretch ingredients and feed a family. Yet, as a highly customizable recipe, meatloaf can be found everywhere from classic diners to high-end restaurants, to everyday dinner tables.
Why This Recipe Works
Meatloaf recipes are typically made of ground meats mixed with vegetables, seasonings, and crushed crackers or fine breadcrumbs, and are held together with a binder; usually an egg or two. This top-rated recipe for Best Meatloaf demonstrates how to make a meatloaf using the most simple ingredients and tried-and-tested techniques:
Meat mixtureThis recipe for Best Meatloaf uses extra-lean ground beef, which means the fat-to-meat ratio is about 4 percent fat to 96 percent lean. The low ratio of fat results in a meatloaf with minimal grease. But since fat carries flavor, you'll want to add some back to keep blandness at bay. By adding a touch of sour cream to the mixture, this recipe benefits from that little extra fat plus a hint of tangy flavor at the same time. Note: adding milk is optional and may only be necessary if you're cooking at higher altitudes.
Saut?ed vegetablesCooking minced aromatics (a fancy term for the onion and garlic) in butter before adding it to the meat mixture mellows the flavors and ensures you won't bite into the sharp taste of onion and garlic.
Flavor boostersThere's nothing shy about the taste of Worcestershire sauce, and adding it to the mix along with tomato sauce brings sweet and savory flavor to every bite. A top glaze of tomato sauce and ketchup creates a delectable sauce to finish the dish.
Baking techniqueHow long to cook meatloaf depends on the size of the loaf and the temperature of the oven. Ideally, you want to fully cook the inside to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). This recipe for Best Meatloaf gives you a clever 3-step approach: You'll bake the meatloaf for 40 minutes at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to fully cook the inside, and then increase the heat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 15 minutes to give the outside a tasty crust. Finally, you'll brush the meatloaf with tomato sauce and ketchup, and bake it for 10 more minutes to caramelize the glaze.
Tips for Success
Don't overwork the mixCombine the ingredients until they just come together, otherwise you'll end up with a dense, compacted meatloaf.
Think smallI'm talking about the size of the solid add-ins. Cut the onions and garlic (or any other vegetables you might add) into very small, uniform pieces before saut?eing them. Crush the crackers and crumble the breadcrumbs until they're very fine. This helps make a more uniform meatloaf texture.
Let it rest before slicingJust like with any roasted meat, meatloaf needs to sit for a bit (about 10 minutes) so it can reabsorb the juices before you slice and serve.
Read more: 5 Secrets for Making Better Meatloaf
Cookdap Community Tips and Praise
Home cook Brandi’ Smith raves, “This was the first meatloaf I have ever made and the only real change I made was to use Italian breadcrumbs and a dash of Italian seasoning, and it was phenomenal! I didn’t have a meat thermometer, but the timing was perfect! My husband took one bite and said it tasted like his mom’s! I think next time I will use half ground sirloin and half ground pork as another suggested…”
“I made this tonight for my family and it was a great meatloaf! The only thing I changed on this recipe was I used ground turkey instead of ground beef. Anyway…this turkey meatloaf was absolutely fantastic! Oh yeah…one other thing I did was use a cup of seasoned bread crumbs instead of the sliced bread. My whole family said this was ‘the best meatloaf I have ever made.'” —JoJo
Mandy says, “My husband and I (who are NOT big meatloaf fans) loved the heck out of this recipe. It was painfully simple and simply delicious. I might add some seasonings (perhaps an Italian blend) the next time around just to experiment with the taste a little. It was very moist and a certain keeper in my recipe box. Thanks for sharing it!”
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup minced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds extra-lean ground beef
- 3 slices bread, toasted and crumbled
- 7 buttery round crackers, crushed
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 3 ½ tablespoons sour cream
- 1 ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce, divided
- ¼ cup milk, or as needed (Optional)
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
Directions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Gather all ingredients.
Step 2
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, and cook onion and garlic until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and season with salt and pepper.
Step 3
Combine onion and garlic mixture, beef, crumbled bread, crushed crackers, egg, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/2 can tomato sauce in a large bowl. Mix until well combined. Gradually stir in milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until mixture is moist, but not soggy.
Step 4
Transfer the mixture to a 5×9-inch loaf pan.
Step 5
Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Continue baking 15 minutes, to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
Step 6
Mix the remaining tomato sauce and ketchup in a small bowl. Pour over the top of the meatloaf, and continue baking for 10 minutes.
Step 7
Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings Per Recipe 12 | |
Calories 213 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat12g | 15% |
Saturated Fat5g | 24% |
Cholesterol76mg | 25% |
Sodium649mg | 28% |
Total Carbohydrate9g | 3% |
Dietary Fiber1g | 3% |
Total Sugars3g | |
Protein18g | |
Vitamin C4mg | 19% |
Calcium39mg | 3% |
Iron3mg | 14% |
Potassium335mg | 7% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
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source by allrecipe
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- by: Cookdap Member
- 20 years ago
This recipie was great, I did change it around alittle. I used italian bread crumbs instead of the bread and crackers,and I used garlic powder and onion salt instead of cooking garlic and onion in butter. I also forgot to use the milk. The meat was pretty moist I didn’t need it anyway. This was great will use it again. Thanks
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- by: TONIQ
- 18 years ago
I finally found a meatload receipe that my son will eat. The only changes I made was that I removed the minced onion and added onion powder to the mixture since my son dislikes onions. I also increased the toasted bread since I used Pepperidge Farm sandwich bread. I had to double the bread to 6 slices. I did not have to use the whole 1/4 cup of milk, only a few teaspoons did the trick. It worked perfectly. I served it with McCain’s Mashed Potato Tater Tots for a quick side dish. It worked perfectly! Thanks Justin and Tracy. You should check out my receipe at Allrecipes.com, it’s called Sweet Potato Pudding. I used it as a side dish for Thanksgiving but Allrecipes.com lists it under desserts.
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- by: TONIQ
- 18 years ago
I finally found a meatload receipe that my son will eat. The only changes I made was that I removed the minced onion and added onion powder to the mixture since my son dislikes onions. I also increased the toasted bread since I used Pepperidge Farm sandwich bread. I had to double the bread to 6 slices. I did not have to use the whole 1/4 cup of milk, only a few teaspoons did the trick. It worked perfectly. I served it with McCain’s Mashed Potato Tater Tots for a quick side dish. It worked perfectly! Thanks Justin and Tracy. You should check out my receipe at Allrecipes.com, it’s called Sweet Potato Pudding. I used it as a side dish for Thanksgiving but Allrecipes.com lists it under desserts.
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- by: Jehovah's Servant
- 18 years ago
ooh my goooooodness, this truly is the best meatloaf I have ever tasted in my life. My husband and two little children loved it. My daughter is a really picky eater especially when it comes to meat, but she ate it all down to the last drop. I absolutely recommend this recipe to every one. I will most definitely be making this again. I can not wait to have a get together so that I can share it with others. I gave this recipe 5 stars only because that was the highest option available. It was greeeaaaattttt!!!!!!!
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- by: Jehovah's Servant
- 18 years ago
ooh my goooooodness, this truly is the best meatloaf I have ever tasted in my life. My husband and two little children loved it. My daughter is a really picky eater especially when it comes to meat, but she ate it all down to the last drop. I absolutely recommend this recipe to every one. I will most definitely be making this again. I can not wait to have a get together so that I can share it with others. I gave this recipe 5 stars only because that was the highest option available. It was greeeaaaattttt!!!!!!!
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- by: Brandy
- 18 years ago
This was the first time I ever made meatloaf and I was very pleased with how it came out. It was moist and flavorful and just delicious. Even my picky 2 year old liked it. I froze some of the leftovers for later and it worked quite well. I will definitely be making this one again.
Update: I used ground sirloin the last time I made this and it was to die for!
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- by: Brandy
- 18 years ago
This was the first time I ever made meatloaf and I was very pleased with how it came out. It was moist and flavorful and just delicious. Even my picky 2 year old liked it. I froze some of the leftovers for later and it worked quite well. I will definitely be making this one again.
Update: I used ground sirloin the last time I made this and it was to die for!
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- by: OSHUNS
- 17 years ago
super duper meatloaf. my husband is saying ‘4 and a quarter stars’ and he is hard to please! i thought it was very tasty, especially with the topping. moist and yummy and i didnt mind doing the work. recipe says ‘serves 12’ and that makes for VERY small portions, so if you are watching what you eat, watch the size of your slice if your aim is to stay true to the nutritional content provided. will make again!
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- by: OSHUNS
- 17 years ago
super duper meatloaf. my husband is saying ‘4 and a quarter stars’ and he is hard to please! i thought it was very tasty, especially with the topping. moist and yummy and i didnt mind doing the work. recipe says ‘serves 12’ and that makes for VERY small portions, so if you are watching what you eat, watch the size of your slice if your aim is to stay true to the nutritional content provided. will make again!
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- by: Mikey
- 17 years ago
I followed the baking instructions exactly, but not the ingredient list. I added onion powder, garlic powder, left out the bread, and added something I learned from an old roomate: horseradish! While there is no accounting for taste (no such thing as ‘too’spicy or ‘too’ many onions), the baking process seemed to be spot on, especially in regard to turning it up to 400…. thanks.
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- by: Mikey
- 17 years ago
I followed the baking instructions exactly, but not the ingredient list. I added onion powder, garlic powder, left out the bread, and added something I learned from an old roomate: horseradish! While there is no accounting for taste (no such thing as ‘too’spicy or ‘too’ many onions), the baking process seemed to be spot on, especially in regard to turning it up to 400…. thanks.
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- by: JONNIKER
- 17 years ago
The base recipe for this is absolutely excellent. In lieu of the homemade breadcrumbs, I used 1/4 cup of Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (Progresso).
The sauce as written is a little bland as well, so I spiced it up with a mixture of ketchup, 1/2 teaspoon each of red pepper flakes and garlic, and 2 T Worcestershire sauce.
All around, however, this really was the best meatloaf I’ve ever had or made. Superb.
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- by: JONNIKER
- 17 years ago
The base recipe for this is absolutely excellent. In lieu of the homemade breadcrumbs, I used 1/4 cup of Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (Progresso).
The sauce as written is a little bland as well, so I spiced it up with a mixture of ketchup, 1/2 teaspoon each of red pepper flakes and garlic, and 2 T Worcestershire sauce.
All around, however, this really was the best meatloaf I’ve ever had or made. Superb.
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- by: Kim
- 17 years ago
This was– in a word– AWESOME!!! The only things I changed were 1) used Garlic-Herb bread crumbs instead of bread/ crackers, and 2) decreased the amount of tomato sauce on top a bit. We LOVED it! It was moist and sooo flavorful, and held together perfectly. I can’t wait to eat the leftovers! We had company for dinner, and every single person at the table gave this a “10”!
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- by: Kim
- 17 years ago
This was– in a word– AWESOME!!! The only things I changed were 1) used Garlic-Herb bread crumbs instead of bread/ crackers, and 2) decreased the amount of tomato sauce on top a bit. We LOVED it! It was moist and sooo flavorful, and held together perfectly. I can’t wait to eat the leftovers! We had company for dinner, and every single person at the table gave this a “10”!
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- by: Brandi' Smith
- 17 years ago
This was the first meatloaf I have ever made and the only real change I made was to use Italian Breadcrumbs and a dash of Italian Seasoning and it was phenomenal! I didn’t have a meat thermometer, but the timing was perfect! I was so impressed with myself!! ;o) My husband took one bite and said it tasted like his mom’s! I take that as a compliment! I think next time I will use 1/2 ground sirloin and 1/2 ground pork as another suggested–it sounds good, but otherwise, it was incredible!
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- by: Mandy
- 17 years ago
My husband and I (who are NOT big meatloaf fans) loved the heck out of this recipe. It was painfully simple and simply delicious. It’s not too ketchupy, which I really like. I might add some seasonings (perhaps an Italian blend) the next time around just to experiment with the taste a little. It was very moist and a certain keeper in my recipe box. Thanks for sharing it!
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- by: Desarae Atnip Janszen
- 17 years ago
This is a great recipe. I didn’t have any crackers, so I used 1/4 breadcrumbs instead of the 3 slices of bread and crushed a handful of cheddar goldfish instead of the buttery round crackers. Also, I didn’t have any Worcestershire sauce, so I used A1 sauce. It was a fabulous meatloaf! It was even better as leftovers the next day. Very yummy. Thanks for the recipe.
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- by: Desarae Atnip Janszen
- 17 years ago
This is a great recipe. I didn’t have any crackers, so I used 1/4 breadcrumbs instead of the 3 slices of bread and crushed a handful of cheddar goldfish instead of the buttery round crackers. Also, I didn’t have any Worcestershire sauce, so I used A1 sauce. It was a fabulous meatloaf! It was even better as leftovers the next day. Very yummy. Thanks for the recipe.
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- by: Elise
- 16 years ago
This really IS the best meatloaf ever, but it was a wee bit bland. I’ve since adjusted the recipe by adding more onion, more garlic, a little more black pepper, and some red pepper flakes. I also give the glaze a dash of tabasco. The milk is overkill, as well — the loaf is plenty moist without it.
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- by: Elise
- 16 years ago
This really IS the best meatloaf ever, but it was a wee bit bland. I’ve since adjusted the recipe by adding more onion, more garlic, a little more black pepper, and some red pepper flakes. I also give the glaze a dash of tabasco. The milk is overkill, as well — the loaf is plenty moist without it.
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- by: TENNISMOM
- 16 years ago
Very good recipe (I would rate 4 1/2 stars if I could). It is actually the “best I’ve ever made”, but you have to understand my other meatloaf recipes would receive three stars. My family enjoyed this meatloaf and there were no leftovers. The butter crackers and sour cream were unexpected additions but made a difference. Use only LEAN ground beef, otherwise I would think it would be swimming in grease. Thanks for sharing.
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- by: TENNISMOM
- 16 years ago
Very good recipe (I would rate 4 1/2 stars if I could). It is actually the “best I’ve ever made”, but you have to understand my other meatloaf recipes would receive three stars. My family enjoyed this meatloaf and there were no leftovers. The butter crackers and sour cream were unexpected additions but made a difference. Use only LEAN ground beef, otherwise I would think it would be swimming in grease. Thanks for sharing.
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- by: Kareng
- 16 years ago
I made this recipe exactly as printed, and am giving it 4 stars mainly because of it’s incredible moistness. It tasted good too, but I thought it was rather bland; next time I think I’ll add mushrooms and diced bell peppers, maybe adding a little more sour cream to keep the ‘solids to liquids’ ratio. I also thought it was too salty, with the crackers and added salt. Now,my personal preference remarks aside, this is a great recipe, which I will make often, with adjustments to suit my own taste!
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- by: Kareng
- 16 years ago
I made this recipe exactly as printed, and am giving it 4 stars mainly because of it’s incredible moistness. It tasted good too, but I thought it was rather bland; next time I think I’ll add mushrooms and diced bell peppers, maybe adding a little more sour cream to keep the ‘solids to liquids’ ratio. I also thought it was too salty, with the crackers and added salt. Now,my personal preference remarks aside, this is a great recipe, which I will make often, with adjustments to suit my own taste!
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- by: Michelle Mccormick
- 16 years ago
Last night was the second time I’ve made this. The first time I made a mistake and didn’t add enough breadcrumbs and it fell apart. This time though, I made it with ground turkey (it still turns out excellent) and added enough Italian seasoned breadcrumbs and it was absolutely amazing! Not a single bit left in the pan.
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- by: Michelle Mccormick
- 16 years ago
Last night was the second time I’ve made this. The first time I made a mistake and didn’t add enough breadcrumbs and it fell apart. This time though, I made it with ground turkey (it still turns out excellent) and added enough Italian seasoned breadcrumbs and it was absolutely amazing! Not a single bit left in the pan.
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- by: Nomoredrama31
- 16 years ago
OK, maybe I shouldnt do a review, as I changed this quite a bit to suit or healthier way of eating. I used 90/10 hamburger, fresh minced garlic & onion (so I didnt use the butter), I used 1/8 c of fiber and 1 tbsp flax seed, ground together and used in place of crackers. Used 2 pieces of toasted diet wheat bread, sugar free ketchup in place of tomato sauce, FF sour cream, FF milk, egg beater in place of egg. I left recipe pretty much in tact I guess, I just used low cal and lowfat versions of the ingredients. We really enjoyed this, BTW, too! 🙂
very moist and flavorful -
- by: Nomoredrama31
- 16 years ago
OK, maybe I shouldnt do a review, as I changed this quite a bit to suit or healthier way of eating. I used 90/10 hamburger, fresh minced garlic & onion (so I didnt use the butter), I used 1/8 c of fiber and 1 tbsp flax seed, ground together and used in place of crackers. Used 2 pieces of toasted diet wheat bread, sugar free ketchup in place of tomato sauce, FF sour cream, FF milk, egg beater in place of egg. I left recipe pretty much in tact I guess, I just used low cal and lowfat versions of the ingredients. We really enjoyed this, BTW, too! 🙂
very moist and flavorful -
- by: Jojo
- 16 years ago
I made this tonight for my family and it was great meatloaf!! The only thing I changed on this recipe was I used ground turkey instead of ground beef (huge beef recall happening right now…don’t want to chance the Mad Cow thing!). Anyway…this turkey meatloaf was absolutely fantastic!! Oh yeah…one other thing I did was use a cup of seasoned bread crumbs instead of the sliced bread. My whole family said this was “the best meatloaf I have ever made.” So I’m thinking you titled this recipe perfectly! 🙂 Will make this again!!
Buon Appetite! -
- by: DK
- 16 years ago
Very very good. I left out the sour cream and added breadcrumbs instead of crackers and it was so amazing I am trying the recipe as is even though I dont like sour cream.
Also added a little bit of brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. I plan to add diced peppers and hot sauce next time.
I used 85% lean chop meat and let the meatloaf cook in its own juices, I highly recommend it. The meat was so tender its unbelievable.
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- by: DK
- 16 years ago
Very very good. I left out the sour cream and added breadcrumbs instead of crackers and it was so amazing I am trying the recipe as is even though I dont like sour cream.
Also added a little bit of brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. I plan to add diced peppers and hot sauce next time.
I used 85% lean chop meat and let the meatloaf cook in its own juices, I highly recommend it. The meat was so tender its unbelievable.
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- by: Alan Ellis
- 16 years ago
This was the first meal I made in my new house! I’m just getting into cooking so figured this was the perfect thing to try and boy was I right! I used 2 slices of bread on the bottom before putting mixture into the loaf pan, to soak the excess liquid up, and it came out great. Only thing I plan on trying next time is BBQ sauce instead of ketchup/tomato sauce. That’s how I normally like my meatloafs and I think this will be great with it!
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- by: Alan Ellis
- 16 years ago
This was the first meal I made in my new house! I’m just getting into cooking so figured this was the perfect thing to try and boy was I right! I used 2 slices of bread on the bottom before putting mixture into the loaf pan, to soak the excess liquid up, and it came out great. Only thing I plan on trying next time is BBQ sauce instead of ketchup/tomato sauce. That’s how I normally like my meatloafs and I think this will be great with it!
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- by: Housholder
- 16 years ago
It was really good and super moist! I have never had a meat loaf that was moist and did not fall apart before so that was a plus. I did a few things differently, i add about a cup of bread crumbs (probably a little less) And only added a half of a clove of garlic, i am pregnant right now and garlic tends to make me sick, it would have been really good with the full amount but was good without. i only used 3 teaspoons of milk and i ran out of sour cream so only added about 3 tablespoons. all in all it was a great dish! and the cooking times were right on it came out perfect!
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- by: Housholder
- 16 years ago
It was really good and super moist! I have never had a meat loaf that was moist and did not fall apart before so that was a plus. I did a few things differently, i add about a cup of bread crumbs (probably a little less) And only added a half of a clove of garlic, i am pregnant right now and garlic tends to make me sick, it would have been really good with the full amount but was good without. i only used 3 teaspoons of milk and i ran out of sour cream so only added about 3 tablespoons. all in all it was a great dish! and the cooking times were right on it came out perfect!
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- by: Elyseholly
- 16 years ago
This meatloaf truly is delicious. Plus, it can be tweaked to fit your own tastes. In my family, we love garlic, so I add an extra clove or two. I also leave out the crackers and add just a little more tomato sauce.
You really can’t mess this one up! We make it alot in my house 🙂 -
- by: Elyseholly
- 16 years ago
This meatloaf truly is delicious. Plus, it can be tweaked to fit your own tastes. In my family, we love garlic, so I add an extra clove or two. I also leave out the crackers and add just a little more tomato sauce.
You really can’t mess this one up! We make it alot in my house 🙂 -
- by: CAM
- 16 years ago
This was so good. ***Attention those of you that cook wild game!!**I seldom cook with ground beef, I use ground elk and this recipe was perfect for the lean, sometimes dry, elk. The sour cream did amazing things to the texture of the meat. I will make this again and share it with my elk-cooking friends! Thanks for the recipe!
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- by: CAM
- 16 years ago
This was so good. ***Attention those of you that cook wild game!!**I seldom cook with ground beef, I use ground elk and this recipe was perfect for the lean, sometimes dry, elk. The sour cream did amazing things to the texture of the meat. I will make this again and share it with my elk-cooking friends! Thanks for the recipe!
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- by: Eayers
- 16 years ago
This turned out great! I did make quite a few changes, although the actual recipe for the meatloaf itself was nearly same (I used Italian bread crumbs instead of crushed crackers, and eliminated milk, because it was perfectly moist without). I cooked mine in a slow cooker. Meatloaf in a slow cooker is quite easy. Line the slow cooker with 2 sheets of foil, so they cross at the base and there is extra foil hanging over the sides (you will use the foil to pull out the loaf when finished). Then you shape your meat into a loaf, place inside the slow cooker, cover with sauce and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours. The sauce I used included the other half can of tomato sauce, 1/2 cup water, about 1 T of worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp prepared mustard, and a bit of brown sugar.
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- by: Eayers
- 16 years ago
This turned out great! I did make quite a few changes, although the actual recipe for the meatloaf itself was nearly same (I used Italian bread crumbs instead of crushed crackers, and eliminated milk, because it was perfectly moist without). I cooked mine in a slow cooker. Meatloaf in a slow cooker is quite easy. Line the slow cooker with 2 sheets of foil, so they cross at the base and there is extra foil hanging over the sides (you will use the foil to pull out the loaf when finished). Then you shape your meat into a loaf, place inside the slow cooker, cover with sauce and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours. The sauce I used included the other half can of tomato sauce, 1/2 cup water, about 1 T of worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp prepared mustard, and a bit of brown sugar.
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- by: John
- 16 years ago
I enjoyed the final product but the original recipe could use a little tweaking. I used less tomato sauce and ketchup on the top of the loaf so it would get dried and crunchy. Also, I like to bake the loaf in a broil pan as to keep it from sitting in its own fat. The recipe is great if you tweak it to your taste.
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- by: John
- 16 years ago
I enjoyed the final product but the original recipe could use a little tweaking. I used less tomato sauce and ketchup on the top of the loaf so it would get dried and crunchy. Also, I like to bake the loaf in a broil pan as to keep it from sitting in its own fat. The recipe is great if you tweak it to your taste.
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- by: Jennifer
- 16 years ago
My family loved this recipe. We all thought it was the best meatloaf we’d ever had. I did make a couple changes though. Like a few others, I used garlic and onion powder instead of fresh ingredients, but then I also used Dale’s Steak seasoning instead of the worcestershire and threw in some chopped roasted red peppers I got out of a jar from the grocery store. The roasted red peppers added a tangy sweetness that complimented the recipe really well.
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- by: Jennifer
- 16 years ago
My family loved this recipe. We all thought it was the best meatloaf we’d ever had. I did make a couple changes though. Like a few others, I used garlic and onion powder instead of fresh ingredients, but then I also used Dale’s Steak seasoning instead of the worcestershire and threw in some chopped roasted red peppers I got out of a jar from the grocery store. The roasted red peppers added a tangy sweetness that complimented the recipe really well.
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- by: Courtney
- 16 years ago
Amazing! I cook varied styles of meatloaf (Italian, BBQ, etc) once a month, but after tasting this, my family voted to up it to once a week… in place of the all-time favorite spaghetti! Only variation: I use 1lb ground beef and 1lb ground pork in everything that normally would call for beef to cut $$. I did so here as well, and that works fine. Thanks for sharing!
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- by: Courtney
- 16 years ago
Amazing! I cook varied styles of meatloaf (Italian, BBQ, etc) once a month, but after tasting this, my family voted to up it to once a week… in place of the all-time favorite spaghetti! Only variation: I use 1lb ground beef and 1lb ground pork in everything that normally would call for beef to cut $$. I did so here as well, and that works fine. Thanks for sharing!
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- by: Beth
- 15 years ago
I followed the recipe exactly, however in the last 10 min. of cooking I merely coated the top of the loaf with ketchup. It was already swimming in juice and if I had added as much tomato sauce as the recipe called for I would have had meatloaf soup. Upon first taste I thought this was fine, but certainly not the best I’d ever had. The real beauty of this recipe is in the leftovers. Because is is SO moist, leftovers are delicious – even 3 days after the fact. In fact, I’d say the longer you let it sit in your fridge the better it gets. If you like a nice crust on your meatloaf this is *not* the recipe for you but if you are looking for many days of yummy meatloaf sandwiches, try this one.
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- by: Beth
- 15 years ago
I followed the recipe exactly, however in the last 10 min. of cooking I merely coated the top of the loaf with ketchup. It was already swimming in juice and if I had added as much tomato sauce as the recipe called for I would have had meatloaf soup. Upon first taste I thought this was fine, but certainly not the best I’d ever had. The real beauty of this recipe is in the leftovers. Because is is SO moist, leftovers are delicious – even 3 days after the fact. In fact, I’d say the longer you let it sit in your fridge the better it gets. If you like a nice crust on your meatloaf this is *not* the recipe for you but if you are looking for many days of yummy meatloaf sandwiches, try this one.
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- by: Patty F
- 15 years ago
This recipe was one of the best I’ve made and believe me I’m old enough to assure you that I’ve made plenty. I debated whether or not to try it but I certainly am glad I did. If your looking for that one good keeper of a meatloaf recipe believe me give this one a shot. I really don’t like when everyone gets on there horses and say oh by the way I changed this and that and then it was wonderful but I did change the toast and crackers to crushed seasoned croutons simply because i didn’t want to make toast and did not have buttery crackers but this recipe is definately wonderful…. thanks for sharing…
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- by: Patty F
- 15 years ago
This recipe was one of the best I’ve made and believe me I’m old enough to assure you that I’ve made plenty. I debated whether or not to try it but I certainly am glad I did. If your looking for that one good keeper of a meatloaf recipe believe me give this one a shot. I really don’t like when everyone gets on there horses and say oh by the way I changed this and that and then it was wonderful but I did change the toast and crackers to crushed seasoned croutons simply because i didn’t want to make toast and did not have buttery crackers but this recipe is definately wonderful…. thanks for sharing…
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- by: Sunnybyrd
- 15 years ago
This is really good. I cooked mine on a sheet pan instead of in a loaf pan – I think it helps to keep it from getting too greasy or mushy. I followed the rest of the recipe pretty closely, except for doing a bbq/ketchup/horseradish sauce on the top – the guys like the sauce sweet & spicy and I didn’t know how the plain tomato & ketchup would go over. Thanks for the recipe! 😀
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- by: Sunnybyrd
- 15 years ago
This is really good. I cooked mine on a sheet pan instead of in a loaf pan – I think it helps to keep it from getting too greasy or mushy. I followed the rest of the recipe pretty closely, except for doing a bbq/ketchup/horseradish sauce on the top – the guys like the sauce sweet & spicy and I didn’t know how the plain tomato & ketchup would go over. Thanks for the recipe! 😀
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- by: Baby Potsticker
- 15 years ago
These were great. I didnt follow the original recipe though…I didnt have butter crackers so I smashed up some homemade garlic croutons. I also didnt use tomato sauce. I mixed bbq with liquid smoke, honey, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup and formed them into meatballs. Came out great.
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- by: Baby Potsticker
- 15 years ago
These were great. I didnt follow the original recipe though…I didnt have butter crackers so I smashed up some homemade garlic croutons. I also didnt use tomato sauce. I mixed bbq with liquid smoke, honey, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup and formed them into meatballs. Came out great.
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- by: Liz Hood
- 15 years ago
I just tried this tonight and my only complaint is that I got full too fast, because I just wanted to keep stuffing my face with it. As my husband put it, the reason this is so amazingly good is because with most people’s meatloaves the only really great part is the top with the sauce and the rest just tastes like old hamburgers- this one is great all the way through and the part with the sauce is so good it’s better than dessert. I didn’t have enough tomato sauce to put half for the loaf and the other half for the sauce- so I just used what I had (8oz) in the loaf and used plain ketchup on the top. I also didn’t use the milk and didn’t use any salt (cutting back) and about half the pepper (my husband doesn’t like a lot of pepper). Anyway- super recipe and I will DEFINITELY be making this again and probably making double batches next time!
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- by: Liz Hood
- 15 years ago
I just tried this tonight and my only complaint is that I got full too fast, because I just wanted to keep stuffing my face with it. As my husband put it, the reason this is so amazingly good is because with most people’s meatloaves the only really great part is the top with the sauce and the rest just tastes like old hamburgers- this one is great all the way through and the part with the sauce is so good it’s better than dessert. I didn’t have enough tomato sauce to put half for the loaf and the other half for the sauce- so I just used what I had (8oz) in the loaf and used plain ketchup on the top. I also didn’t use the milk and didn’t use any salt (cutting back) and about half the pepper (my husband doesn’t like a lot of pepper). Anyway- super recipe and I will DEFINITELY be making this again and probably making double batches next time!
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- by: Patce
- 15 years ago
What did I do wrong ? After following the recipe & adding 1 Tbl dry steak seasoning, it ended up a sloppy mess.When I turned it out of pan,it fell apart, just hunks of gr beef. The taste was ok, but I reviewed the recipe & found I’d followed it exactly as posted. Quie an expensive mess.
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- by: Patce
- 15 years ago
What did I do wrong ? After following the recipe & adding 1 Tbl dry steak seasoning, it ended up a sloppy mess.When I turned it out of pan,it fell apart, just hunks of gr beef. The taste was ok, but I reviewed the recipe & found I’d followed it exactly as posted. Quie an expensive mess.
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- by: ~Norcal Mom~
- 15 years ago
This meatloaf was good, the consistency was great, good sandwiches the next day, definitely satisfied the meatloaf craving I had. However, I have managed to make it better in previous meatloaf renditions. I did like the toasted crumbled bread, and will use in the future, usually I use breadcrumbs or crackers.
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- by: ~Norcal Mom~
- 15 years ago
This meatloaf was good, the consistency was great, good sandwiches the next day, definitely satisfied the meatloaf craving I had. However, I have managed to make it better in previous meatloaf renditions. I did like the toasted crumbled bread, and will use in the future, usually I use breadcrumbs or crackers.
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- by: RAISIN1
- 15 years ago
A bit on the bland side but not bad if you are not looking for an overpowering dish. My meatloaf kind of feel apart. I used crumbled italian bread and probably would of had a denser meatloaf if I used a denser breadcrumb such as a country style bread or dinner roll. I will try it this way next time to see if I am more successful. Also, don’t add any milk, it will work against you.
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- by: RAISIN1
- 15 years ago
A bit on the bland side but not bad if you are not looking for an overpowering dish. My meatloaf kind of feel apart. I used crumbled italian bread and probably would of had a denser meatloaf if I used a denser breadcrumb such as a country style bread or dinner roll. I will try it this way next time to see if I am more successful. Also, don’t add any milk, it will work against you.
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- by: Lafemme
- 15 years ago
This is a VERY good meatloaf recipe – stayed very moist and was not too dense – I was a little concerned about that with all of the ingredients, but very well balanced. This one is definitely one to try. EDIT: Wow – you know how dry and icky meatloaf gets when you reheat the leftovers – NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS ONE! After having it for lunch, it almost makes me want to make it, then throw it in the fridge just for the leftovers! Even better than just cooked!!!
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- by: Lafemme
- 15 years ago
This is a VERY good meatloaf recipe – stayed very moist and was not too dense – I was a little concerned about that with all of the ingredients, but very well balanced. This one is definitely one to try. EDIT: Wow – you know how dry and icky meatloaf gets when you reheat the leftovers – NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS ONE! After having it for lunch, it almost makes me want to make it, then throw it in the fridge just for the leftovers! Even better than just cooked!!!
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- by: Windwalker
- 15 years ago
A very tasty meatloaf thoroughly enjoyed by all the family. I baked for 40 mins then removed loaf from tin onto foil tray. Mixed 1/2tsp dry mustard, 1 tbs brown sugar, 1/4 cup tomato sauce and 1/2 tsp curry powder – glazed the loaf and baked at 180deg C for another 30 mins. Thanks for sharing it tracy, is in the ‘keeper’ file.
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- by: Windwalker
- 15 years ago
A very tasty meatloaf thoroughly enjoyed by all the family. I baked for 40 mins then removed loaf from tin onto foil tray. Mixed 1/2tsp dry mustard, 1 tbs brown sugar, 1/4 cup tomato sauce and 1/2 tsp curry powder – glazed the loaf and baked at 180deg C for another 30 mins. Thanks for sharing it tracy, is in the ‘keeper’ file.
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