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This meatloaf recipe doesn’t take long to make at all, and it’s very good!
Get back to basics with this easy meatloaf recipe. It's quick, traditional, delicious, and it's sure to please everyone at your table.
How to Make Meatloaf
You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:
Meatloaf Ingredients
These are the simple ingredients you'll need to make this homemade meatloaf recipe:
· For the loaf: ground beef, an egg, an onion, milk, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper· For the sauce: ketchup, brown sugar, mustard
Tip: You can use crushed crackers in place of bread crumbs if you prefer.
How to Make a Meatloaf at Home
Here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make meatloaf from scratch:
1. Mix the loaf ingredients, then transfer to a loaf pan.2. Mix the sauce ingredients, then pour over the loaf.3. Bake in the preheated oven until the meatloaf is no longer pink in the center.
How Long to Cook Meatloaf
In an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, this classic meatloaf should be fully cooked in about one hour. You'll know it's done when the meat is no longer pink in the center.
What Temperature Is Meatloaf Done?
Use an instant read thermometer, inserted into the middle, to check the doneness of the meatloaf. It's completely cooked and safe to eat at 160 degrees F.
What Goes With Meatloaf?
In need of some serving ideas? We’ve got you covered! Explore our collection of 12 Best Side Dishes for Meatloaf for delicious inspiration. Here’s a preview of what you’ll find:
· The Best Mashed Potatoes· Italian Peas· Roasted Parmesan-Garlic Carrots
How to Store and Freeze Meatloaf
Tightly wrap the meatloaf in plastic wrap or aluminum foil (or place it in an airtight container). Store meatloaf in the refrigerator for three to four days.To freeze meatloaf, wrap it in at least one layer of storage wrap followed by at least one layer of foil. For extra protection, place the double-wrapped meatloaf in a zip-top freezer bag labeled with the date. Store meatloaf in the freezer for three to four months.
Cookdap Community Tips and Praise
"Super great base recipe," according to one Cookdap community member. "I added a lot more spices and tweaked the sauce a little. Tried to go for seconds, but was way too full. Will be making this again!"
"It was simple and quick," says Simpson. "I loved it. I added green peppers and used honey BBQ sauce instead of ketchup. It turned out great."
"Great recipe," raves another Cookdap community member. "Easy to prepare. The directions are easy to follow and produce a great meatloaf. Wonderful flavor and texture!"
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup dried bread crumbs
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
Directions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
Step 2
Combine ground beef, onion, milk, bread crumbs and egg in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Transfer into prepared loaf pan.
Step 3
Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard together in a small bowl until well combined; pour over meatloaf and spread it evenly over the top.
Step 4
Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 1 hour.
Tips
Crushed crackers may be used in place of bread crumbs, if preferred.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
| Calories 372 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat25g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol98mg | 33% |
| Sodium335mg | 15% |
| Total Carbohydrate19g | 7% |
| Dietary Fiber1g | 4% |
| Total Sugars9g | |
| Protein18g | |
| Vitamin C3mg | 13% |
| Calcium81mg | 6% |
| Iron2mg | 13% |
| Potassium343mg | 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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Very Tasty!! For a spicier approach add 2 cloves of minced garlic in the meat mixture, and about 2 tablespoons of Worchestchire Sauce to the Ketchup mixture. Bbest Meat Loaf EVER!!
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My husband and 3 year old son loved this recipe. I found it easy to make without a whole lot of effort.
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I thought this meatloaf was delicious, but my husband didn’t like the sweet sauce. Also the sauce was way too much, I would suggest trying half quantities.
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It was a little too sweet for my liking, but if you are one for sweet meatloaf you’ll love this!
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As the other reviewers have said, this meatloaf is VERY sweet. However, my husband was very excited about the leftovers, and that made it worth the effort! I will make this again sometime.
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I absolutely love this meatloaf. It was so juicy and flavorful.
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This is a good meatloaf. Th on thing that I would do different is cut down on the brown sugar. I would also bake it on a baking sheet rather than putting in a loaf pan. Overall, it was very different but good.
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Quick and easy!!! It was very moist and tasty. I didn’t have any brown sugar so I used about 1/4 cup of pancake syrup. My daughter hates onions, so I used onion soup mix instead and I also added a few dashes of worcestershire sauce. Hubby and I both loved it. Daughter not too crazy over it(she hates meat loaf anyway!)
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The meatloaf was super. Very easy to make and just delicious.
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Good recipe. Used less onion and only 1/2 brown sugar topping but it was still very sweet. My husband thought it was great.
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The flavor of the brown sugar made this meatloaf so delicious. This was so delicious it was hard not to stop eating the whole meatloaf!
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My Husband and I are both very picky and never liked our mothers meatloaves or anyone eles for that matter. I tried this & it was excellent!! I will definetly make it again!!!
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This meatloaf is the BEST! I’ve already made it a few times. It is on the sweet side but that’s what makes it great. EXCELLENT for meatloaf sandwiches. The topping seems to keep all of the juices inside. IT’S GREAT !!! AAA+++
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I only used 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar and it ws still too sweet for us.
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This recipe was quick and easy to make and taste ohhhh so good very different from plane old meatloaf the family really loved it
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This recipe was really delicious and easy to make. But if you are watching your weight or blood sugar, please be sure to check the nutrition label!
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My boyfriend loved this. He said it was the best meatloaf he’s ever had!
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My husband who doesn’t even like the thought of meatloaf actually liked this one. I reduced the brown sugar to 1/3 cup because we don’t like sweet food and it was still a little sweet for us but the glaze did do a wonderful job of keeping the meatloaf moist. I also increased the mustard and think that definitely added a little kick. Overall, a good recipe and made really great cold meatloaf sandwiches for lunch!
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It is very good! But, I don’t use as much brown sugar as the recipe calls for.
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very tasty….yummy. my kids loved it have to make two loaves just to satisfy the whole family.
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My husband had a “moment” when he took his first bite of this. It is fabulous!
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My 8 year old son made this one night for dinner, so as far as being easy to make, this is the one for you. Everyone liked it but next time I will probably add less brown sugar
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too much brown sugar…
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I doubled this recipe, thats 2 whole pounds of ground beef and my family of 6 (2 toddlers) ate the entire loaf, except for one slice that I saved for myself for lunch the next day, but it too got ate by the kids for lunch.
My family loved this recipe.
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I didn’t add nearly the amt of brown sugar called for and it was very good.
We are serious meatloaf eaters in this house and they asked me to make this one again.
The meatloaf itself was very moist and tasty.
Just tone down on the sugar. -
All in all everyone loved it. The topping seals in the moisture really well. This is a perfect recipe for those who like moist meatloaf! Will certainly be an addition to the menu.
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I’ve made this several times and change it a little each time to suit my family’s tastes. i.e. I leave out the mustard and add extra ketchup. And I’ve fooled around with how much topping I use. I’ve made it for my parents and they enjoyed it. Thumbs up!
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I’ve never been a fan of meatloaf (could be the name!) but I make it occasionally for my family. They were WILD about this recipe. They loved the sauce, not too sweet, not too sour. It’s only been two days since I tried the recipe and they’ve already asked me to make it again.
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I haven’t made meatloaf in years and wanted to try it. This was a little sweet because of the amount of brown sugar, but overalls, very good and economical. It WAS easy to make.
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While a servicable meatloaf, the recipe called for too much onion and brown sugar. Additionally, cleanup was near-impossible.
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This meatloaf was excellent. I only used one cup of light brown sugar and 1/2 of an onion. It wasn’t too sweet with the reduced amount of brown sugar. We loved it!
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I wasn’t sure if I would like this recipe with brown sugar on top but I did! It was a hit with my hubby too. I made a batch of 4 and froze. They only got better after freezing them.
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Just be sure and line the baking dish with foil!!
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I would not recommend anyone to make it. The brown sugar was way to much, the syrupy mixture destroyed the loaf.
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good, to much sugar!!
It must be 2tbs not 2 cups, take my advice, do not put 2 cups of sugar it will choke you down! -
AHHHHHH! I wish I had read everyone else’s reviews first! The meatloaf itself was very tasty and moist but the glaze was WAY too much. It should read 1/2 cup brown sugar NOT 2 cups brown sugar. Once we scraped off some of the glaze the meatloaf was very good. WARNING- DO NOT USE TWO CUPS OF SUGAR! I even doubled the recipe to 2 1/2 pounds of hamburger and the glaze was still way too sweet!
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Whoops! The recipe submission lists 2 tablespoons brown sugar, not the 2 cups we published. We have revised the recipe to include the correct amount. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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Kids and adults alike enjoyed this savory meatloaf!
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This recipe is just like my mom used to make, thought that it would be easy enough to log on here and see what I could find to make some thing different then the norm. We just like plain old ketchup on it though, and it ABSOLUTELY NEEDS ONIONS!! lol we had ran out of onions and I thought that i could get by without them, but they make the whole dish and gives it GREAT flavor!! :o)
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This was the best!!!! I think the milk was the secret to keeping it moist. The mustard was a great twist. I used dijon mustard. You must try it!
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MMMMM good! My Grandkids loved it. I especially like the ease of preperation. All in all a good recipe
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Very good. Lots of flavor. Made it with Garlic bread crumbs which added even more flavor.
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Most of the easiest and best meatloaf recipes ever! Its basic and just great!
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When I made this meatloaf, my husband told me it was the best meatloaf I’ve made yet.
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I made 100 servings of this recipe for the clients of our agency. They loved it, I found the recipe easy, and I even had other staff members asking for the recipe. I’ve never made a meatloaf with a glaze, but I thought it added a nice touch.
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This was delicious! I didn’t use an onion as my husband doesn’t like thme, but subsituted a little onion powder for flavor. My 6-year-old even asked for leftovers for her lunchbox!
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This is the best meatloaf I ever tasted! So simple, yet so perfect. The only thing I changed, was that I browned the onions in butter before mixing them in. It gives them a slight sweetness, and takes away the crunch. I also used less mustard on top. Thanks for sharing!
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very bland
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This recipe was very very good! This is the first time I made meatloaf, and it tasted even better than my moms. Next time I will change the amount of bread compared to the amount of meat, this had too much meat I think, but it still turned out wonderful. Reheated well too!
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This was nice and easy. We enjoyed the sweet topping and my son ate it right up- always a good thing! Thanks for sharing.
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I thought this recipe wasn’t that great but okay. It was kind of bland. I even added garlic powder and a lot of salt and pepper. I want to find a meatloaf bursting with flavor.
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this was the first time I’ve ever made meatloaf and it turned out sooooo good. I did change it a little though. I took 1/3 cup of spicy BBQ sauce and 3 kinds of bell peppers and added it to the meat mixture. and itstead of the ketchup topping I used spicy BBQ sauce. Now my dad is said to be the Chef in our family and he thought it was excellent and so did every one else. Thank You.
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Wonderful! This meatloaf was very easy and my son and husband loved it. I used seasoned breadcrumbs and minced onion instead of a fresh chopped onion(time crunch). Next time I will probably make double the amount of the ketchup and brown sugar topping.
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Great base recipe, I added a bit of worchestershire sauce in and some Adobo seasoning. My breadcrumbs were seasoned too. The mixture for the top is WONDERFUL!!! Nest time going to make some extra and really smother it!! THANK YOU, I finally got meatloaf right with my hubby.
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It was good but it kind of fell a part more than usual for meatloaf. Kind of bland but like I said pretty good.
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wonderfully juicy! i added worchestire sauce and thyme, and everyone loved it!
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This recipe is wonderful! The glaze is terriffic as well; it adds a bit of zip to it. I didn’t have an onion, so I used Onion powder which worked rather well. I also added “One Step Seasoning for Beef” to give it another little bit of zest. My 18 month old son loves this meatloaf! Thanks again:-)
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I used this recipe for my first meatloaf. It was wonderful! I loved the glaze on top. No extra ketchup needed. Kudos to you!
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This was absolutely delicious! It’s so moist and the topping really makes it! Thanks! OK, this last review was 9/11/03 and it’s now 5/5/05. I must review again because I’ve been making this for over a year now and I have to say This is the best meatloaf recipe, really! My husband flips over this. He says, ” I love the way you make your meatloaf, I’ve never had better!” This is the best compliment, considering the fact that his Mom is an excellent cook, ( in my opinion as well as his.). That means, my meatloaf is better than Mom’s, Thanks to you! Don’t change a thing – the recipe is perfect as is!
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Followed the recipe to a tee…..We found the texture unappetizing and generally did not like the end result. Would definitely mot make again. Sorry about that. Dolly
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I really enjoyed this recipe because of the glaze. Next time I will double the glaze and use only half an onion. YUMMY!
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This was the first meatloaf I’ve ever made or ate, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to. It tasted good to me, but more importantly, my husband loved it.
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We really loved this meatloaf! From now on this will be the recipe I will use. Maybe it was just my oven, but I had to cook it an extra 10-15 minutes. Also, I did saute the onions in butter as others had suggested, and it worked perfectly. Finally, I used a glass 9×13 dish instead of a loaf pan, which made glazing the meatloaf, cutting it, and cleaning up easier, in my opinion. Thank you!
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Easy and very good. I used onion powder (unfortunetly no onions eaten by this family) also kicked it up a knotch with a little powdered ginger, seasoned bread crumbs, celery salt and a little balsamic vinegar in sauce. What is everyone in the reviews talking about ” too sweet”?—“Two cups BS”,the recipe reads 2T BS!
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Delicious! I did customize it a little. For moinstness, I added one torn piece of white bread. Also, minced a garlic clove into the recipe and sprinkled a little parsley into the mix. I also addedthe topping in the final half hour or so of cooking, that way I can better monitor the doneness of the meatloaf. My family loves it!
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Very quick, easy and tasty
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ive tried this recipie twice and its great!the brown sugar makes it sweet!!!
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The sauce alone makes this recipe fabulous. Next time I will make twice as much. I did add half a package of Lipton Onion soup mix which gave it some extra flavor!
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I cook this for me and some friends about once a month and everyone raves about it. People actually request that I make this meatloaf. It has become a local favorite 🙂
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Loved it! Very easy to make. Wasn’t sure about the brown sugar at first, but it was actually really good.
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Good recipe, very easy. I used lean ground turkey instead of beef and it came out great. Added the worchestire as others did and sauteed the onions. I added 1 tbsp of BBQ sauce and the kids liked that. I think I like ketchup only better!
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THIS IS THE BEST MEATLOAF IN THE WORLD…. OR IN OHIO ANYWAY!
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A pretty good, basic meatloaf. I had to cook mine *twice* as long as the recipe said, though, and there was an awful lot of liquid in the pan; I don’t know if this is typical of all meatloaves, or if it’s the recipe, or if I’m just a lousy cook (a completely plausible explanation). Once it finally cooked, and I drained it, though, it was quite yummy!
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Excellent meatloaf my boyfriend loved it and it’s perfect to use what you have around the house.
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Good and easy, Have found it a little better if you add a handful of vegies.
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This is a very good basic recipe! Like others, I added worstershire, and sauteed the onions with a little bit of garlic. Had to bake about fifteen minutes extra. Won’t be using brown sugar next time, but that’s just our personal preference.
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Great recipe! Only complaint is it comes out a bit greasy. Also used saltines when I didn’t have bread crumbs and it was just as good!
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…I thought the glaze would help add flavor but it turned out so bland! It was definitely greasy and lacked flavor. Don’t think I’ll be using the recipe again. 🙁
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Will DEFINITELY keep in my permanent recipe file! My husband couldn’t stop talking about it. It’s just the two of us and we usually have leftovers but this was gone in a matter of minutes.
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Excellent recipe. I used garlic and herb flavored bread crumbs. I also waited a little closer to the final cook time before I added the glaze. I like many other cooked the onions in butter prior to putting mixture. This gave great flavor and also kind of helped hide them from the kids. 2 year old and 4 year old ate it up. Saved this one to my recipe box. thanks submitter
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This is the meatloaf recipe I have been looking for. Very leasy to make, moist, and not too chunky with peppers and onions and such. The sauce on top gives it just the right extra flavor. This should be a very kid friendly dish. I say “should” because unfortunately I couldn’t get my one or two year old to even try one bite. They are exceptionally picky though so it’s not a refletion on this recipe…I thought it was very good! Carol
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This meatloaf was pretty good, but I added A1 to the sauce because I think it gives it a better taste.
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This was my first meatloaf and it was easy like the title said. Some people complained of it being too greasy. I used 93-percent lean ground beef and there was no grease at all after baking. I followed others’ advice and added worchshire sauce, parsely and a sprinkle of ginger, and garlic powder and Lowrey’s seasoned salt. I also added some carrot and green pepper. I would think this recipe would be pretty bland without some adjustments. But overall, it’s a great base for creating a meatloaf to your liking. Like others, I liked the sauce, too.
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This recipe was easy to do. Next time, I will puree half the onion first and chop the other half very fine. I will also consider adding a few ingredients that others have mentioned. Overall a good base recipe.
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My husband BEGS for this at dish every week! It’s a sure fire winner at your dinner table, I highly reccomend it! The meatloaf always comes out very moist and flavorful, although I use about double the glaze, and bake it for maybe 20 minutes longer than the recipe says. Serve this with mashed potatoes, biscuits, and a vegetable for the best comfort meal ever.
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This is the best meatloaf ever! When I make it, I double the recipe for the brown sugar topping. I also have to cook it for about 20 minutes longer than the recipe states, or I up the temperature to 400 degrees and cook for an hour. I make this meatloaf atleast once a month! Everyone loves it.
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Has quickly become a family favorite!
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Very good and easy recipe. You can’t mess it up! My only two complaints were that the meatloaf was a little bland and the sauce was a little too sweet for my taste. Next time I’ll add a little worsteshire sauce to the loaf and cut the brown sugar in the sauce.
Thanks for the recipe! -
My daughter who doesn’t like meatloaf, was very dissapointed to find out what was for dinner! But she loved it and asked for seconds. I used ground turkey instead of beef and still was very good. It’s a keeper!!
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If you are looking for a quick and easy meatloaf
this is the one ! With mashed potatoes, side veggie and
a biscuit …you have a yummy comfort meal !
This recipe is a keeper in my box ! -
I love to try new recipes for meatloaf and this one was so good. Very moist and delicious. My children are picky eaters and they loved it.
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Delicious! added a bit of worcestershire (1 tablespoon) some parsley (2 tablespoons) and a bit of garlic salt,as some reviews suggested. Oh and doubled the sauce recipe, which i am glad i did because it’s so good. Everyone absolutely loved it
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Was very easy and delicious. Added a green pepper, little lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, ketchup and garlic powder. Just to change it up a bit. Loved it, husband loved it. Will make again. Had to bake 1.5 hours.
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Very good, Wife loved it
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Loved this!! It was similiar to mine but the topping gave it a new taste. Very easy, had everything in the house and even the kids loved it!
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It tastes just like what mom used to make and my husband and kids love it. I did double the topping recipe for more sauce.
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My hubby loved this one! He told me to make it again soon.
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My hubby loved it!
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So easy to make and fabulous flavor. I made the bread crumbs from leftover potatoe bread, they added a sweetness.
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Followed recipe to a T and it turned out yummy! Made great meatloaf sandwiches the next day with leftovers!!
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