Homemade Meatloaf

Sometimes there is nothing better than a good homemade meatloaf recipe. For me, homemade meatloaf that has been what I have so often wanted as my comfort meal.

Homemade meatloaf with ketchup sauce served with mashed potatoes and carrots

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When I was growing up I loved meatloaf. I loved how my Grandfather would make a meatloaf and he would make this ketchup topping. When I was young I thought it was meatloaf icing, it wasn’t, it was just ketchup.

His meatloaf was amazing. It had only simple ingredients with just one type of meat, beef. He would prepare this with mashed potatoes, and some other vegetables that had just come out of the garden. This was a meal that I fell in love with when I was growing up.

This recipe is very simply made. I use ground chuck, eggs, milk, and we saute our vegetables before we add them. I think by cooking the vegetables beforehand the onions, carrots, and celery get the chance to caramelize in the pan, and this really yields some wonderful flavors.

I also use Italian breadcrumbs for this recipe. This adds some additional flavor. This meatloaf recipe is fairly simple, but I think cooking the vegetables makes all of the difference.

In the video, I use a special meatloaf pan. You don’t have to. I like to use this type of pan because it has a tray that sits within the pan so the meatloaf can cook. This helps to separate the juices that develop while this meatloaf is cooking. This means your special meatloaf recipe will come out a little leaner.

Again, the pan isn’t required at all, but if you like cooking meatloaf a lot, this may be a good option for you: USA Pans Meat Loaf Pan with Insert, 10 in x 5 in

Meatloaf Recipe Variations

Instead of using ketchup, Heinz 57 sauce is amazing on a meatloaf.

You may also want to add some chopped garlic to your vegetables when you saute them.

You could also add in some green bell peppers when you saute your vegetables.

If you don’t have Italian seasoned bread crumbs, you could use plain bread crumbs or even some cracker crumbs in the place of the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs.

How not to make a meatloaf

I have to be honest. Meatloaf for me isn’t a dish that I love. It all stemmed from experience when I was in high school. We had moved to Texas and my Mom had a very small kitchen. It is difficult in moving from a large kitchen to one that is very small.

She stored baking pans under the kitchen sink. This will soon become significant. My Mom used the sink one day to store cleaning water in. Pinesol was the cleaner of her choice. This will also become significant.

My Mom was known for making a really good meatloaf. She would put all sorts of special ingredients in there; herbs, spices, and she always topped it with ketchup. It was always a great meal.

One day it wasn’t so great. She made her special meatloaf. We all sat down for dinner to enjoy this delight. You might wonder what Pinesol tastes like. I am here to tell you it tastes exactly like it smells.

When I took a bite, the flavor was horrific. It wasn’t until everyone took a bite of the meatloaf that my horror was realized.

Apparently, the Pinesol dripped from the sink and into the pan and had dried. I must say for years after, this was a dish that I couldn’t eat no matter how much I tried. It took until I was in my 20’s until I was able to try meatloaf again.

meatloaf, carrots, and mashed potatoes on a grey plate

Do you love meatloaf? Be sure to check out these meatloaf recipes

homemade meatloaf with ketchup sauce

Homemade Meatloaf

You have never had meatloaf that was so easy to make. 
5 from 5 votes
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Meatloaf
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 342kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup chopped carrot
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup chopped white onion
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 pounds ground chuck
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup ketchup

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute vegetables in butter over medium heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the vegetables. When the onions are translucent and the remaining vegetables are soft turn off the heat. Combine in a bowl ground chuck, 2 beaten eggs, milk, vegetables, and seasoned bread crumbs to the bowl. Stir to mix well. Add salt and pepper to meatloaf mixture and blend seasonings in well. Pat meatloaf into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 60 minutes. Remove meatloaf from oven. Add ketchup to the top of the meatloaf and spread out evenly. Bake for another 15 minutes so the ketchup caramelizes on the top.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 613mg | Potassium: 393mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1330IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2.6mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. StephyM

    5 stars
    Ha Ha Ha, loved the pinesol meatloaf story. That sounds like the kind of stuff that happens to me.
    I can’t wait to try your recipe, I know what’s for dinner tomorrow now.

  2. fantasy01

    Not knowing what pine of mashed potatoes were I typed it in and “Nothing’. Are you going to list the recipe?

    • stephaniemanley

      I don’t recall saying anything about pine of mashed potatoes, I did mention my Mom’s meatloaf tasted line Pinesol the cleaner.

  3. fantasy01

    Thats the same pan I purchased off the internet. No pan preping is required. Just place the meatloaf in the pan and bake. It slips out of the pan like butter. The pan is worth every penny I paid.

    • stephaniemanley

      Lydia, it is definitely a favorite of mine. I love it when it is served with a pine of mashed potatoes.

    • stephaniemanley

      Great suggestion Leela! I never thought about using crushed tomatoes. I will have to give this a try.

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