The idea of meatloaf type of makes me elevate an eyebrow as a result of, nicely, it’s a loaf of meat. However when it’s executed nicely it’s simply so good. This straightforward meatloaf is so filling, so cozy, and so scrumptious that I look ahead to consuming the leftovers over the subsequent few days (hey meatloaf sandwich, I’m taking a look at you). This straightforward meatloaf recipe is the standard do-it-yourself meatloaf that everyone knows and love—tender, juicy, stuffed with taste, and with the peerlessly tangy tomato glaze on prime. It’s so excellent when paired with mashed potatoes and inexperienced beans. Like a plate of pure consolation!
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“Made precisely per recipe. Was juicy and delish. My husband mentioned this was one of the best meatloaf i’ve carried out, but. Thanks!”
Madeline
There is no such thing as a consolation meals like my well-known meatloaf recipe. With nearly 200 5-star evaluations, it’s certainly one of my favourite recipes on Finances Bytes. It’s a winner each time, and examined (and examined and examined) to ensure it’s fully fool-proof.
This do-it-yourself meatloaf recipe is tremendous easy, but extremely good. Listed here are the components you’ll want:
- Floor Beef: Floor beef is the bottom for this recipe and I counsel utilizing 80/20 (20% fats) floor beef. The fats offers taste and retains the whole lot moist.
- Onion: Onions add a splendidly delicate savory taste.
- Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs absorb moisture from the bottom beef, milk, and eggs because it bakes, protecting the loaf tremendous tender and moist.
- Milk: Milk provides moisture and taste to the meatloaf.
- Egg: Egg acts as a binder so it doesn’t collapse when sliced, plus it provides taste, moisture, and richness.
- Seasoning: I season this straightforward meatloaf merely with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. It’s simply sufficient seasoning so as to add taste with out overpowering the pure beef taste.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce is utilized in each the meatloaf and the glaze or meatloaf sauce. It affords a deliciously savory umami taste with only a trace of sweetness.
- Ketchup: Ketchup is the bottom for the candy and tangy glaze that goes on prime of the loaf.
- Brown Sugar: I add just a little brown sugar to assist stability the ketchup’s acidity and provides the meatloaf sauce its fantastically shiny end.
- Yellow Mustard: Mustard provides depth and savory taste to the glaze.
The Secret to Good Meatloaf
Milk. The key to good meatloaf is milk. It sounds bizarre, however it makes a HUGE distinction. Milk hydrates the breadcrumbs which can be used as a binder, which retains the loaf tremendous moist and tender.
In the course of the testing part for this recipe, I made one with out the milk simply to see if actually made a distinction and I’m right here to say that the distinction was ENORMOUS. The meatloaf with out milk was dense, just a little robust, and notably drier than the meatloaf made with milk. So don’t skip it! P.S. I’m certain that non-dairy milk would have the identical impact.
Loaf Pan or Baking Sheet?
There are two camps on the subject of meatloaf: baking in a loaf pan or on a baking sheet. I’m workforce baking sheet, however I believe in the end it’s going to boil down to private desire. I discover that loaf pans don’t enable for fairly sufficient evaporation so the underside can get just a little soupy. Baking sheets enable for just a little extra evaporation, leaving the meatloaf completely juicy and flavorful.
But when shaping is troublesome for you otherwise you need these excellent sq. edges, you would possibly want a loaf pan.
“I’ve been making meatloaf for years however determined to strive yours yesterday. Omg! I’m by no means wanting again!!! It was moist, juicy and I obtained so many compliments at a buddy’s giving for my son. I added the milk so unsure if that did the trick however greatest meatloaf I made by far!”
Heba A.
Methods to Preserve It from Falling Aside
There are a few methods to creating a meatloaf that holds collectively in good slices. Listed here are just a few of my tried and examined suggestions:
- Use a recipe that has the correct amount of binders (egg and breadcrumbs). That is primarily the glue that holds the meat collectively.
- Use floor beef with a finer grind, or that has been double floor. Actually coarse floor beef gained’t combine as totally with the binders and should crumble when sliced.
- Mince the onion as finely as potential. I discover that enormous chunks of onion stop the loaf from holding collectively as nicely.
Traditional Meatloaf
This straightforward meatloaf recipe is rather like the standard meatloaf grandma used to make. Tender and juicy with the proper tomato glaze!
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Meatloaf
- 1 giant egg ($0.33)
- 1/3 cup milk ($0.06)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce ($0.02)
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs ($0.32)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning ($0.17)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
- 1 tsp salt ($0.01)
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.05)
- 1/2 cup minced onion ($0.22)
- 1.5 lbs. floor beef (80/20) ($5.91)
Glaze
- 1/2 cup ketchup ($0.24)
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar ($0.03)
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce ($0.05)
- 1 tsp yellow mustard ($0.01)
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Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a small bowl whisk collectively the egg, milk, and Worcestershire sauce. In a separate small bowl, stir collectively the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mince the onion.
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Add the bottom beef, egg combination, breadcrumb combination, and minced onion to a big bowl. Use your arms to combine the components collectively till evenly mixed. Keep away from over mixing.
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Place the meatloaf combination on a rimmed baking dish and form it right into a loaf that’s roughly 4-inches extensive, 8-inches lengthy, and 2-inches tall.
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In a separate small bowl, stir collectively the glaze components (ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard). Unfold the glaze evenly excessive and sides of the meatloaf.
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Bake the meatloaf for 50-55 minutes, or till the interior temperature reaches 165ºF. Permit the meatloaf to relaxation for 5-10 minutes after baking, then slice and serve.
See how we calculate recipe prices right here.
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Meat Thermometer
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Small Roasting Pan
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Measuring Cups Spoons
Serving: 1sliceEnergy: 328kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 19gFats: 21gSodium: 676mgFiber: 1g
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Methods to Make Meatloaf – Step by Step Photographs
Collect your whole components.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Begin by pre-mixing a number of the components so there will likely be much less mixing required for the meat (overmixing the meat could make it robust). In a small bowl, whisk collectively ⅓ cup milk, one giant egg, and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce. In a separate bowl, stir collectively ½ cup breadcrumbs, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ tsp freshly cracked pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt.
Mince a few ½ cup onion. Make certain to cut or mince the onion as finely as potential. Chunky onion could make the meatloaf collapse extra simply.
Add the milk combination, breadcrumb combination, and minced onion to 1.5 lbs. floor beef (80/20). Combine along with your arms till the whole lot is evenly mixed. Keep away from overmixing.
Place the meat combination on a rimmed baking sheet or baking dish and form it right into a loaf that’s roughly 8″ lengthy, 4″ extensive, and a pair of″ tall.
Subsequent, mix the components for the glaze or meatloaf sauce. Stir collectively ½ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
Unfold the glaze excessive and sides of the meatloaf.
Bake the loaf within the preheated 350ºF oven for 50-55 minutes, or till the interior temperature reaches 165ºF. Let the it relaxation for about 10 minutes earlier than slicing and serving.
Our well-known Meatloaf recipe was initially printed 9/27/21. We now have up to date it to be one of the best it may be and republished 2/6/25.
