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Overhead view of homemade meatloaf on a white plater, sliced into slices.

Meatloaf Recipe

Author: Marsha McDougal
This easy meatloaf recipe is a savory and hearty dish made with simple ingredients. The meat is tender, juicy, and perfect for family dinners!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Meatloaf Sauce

  • 2 - 8 oz. cans of tomato sauce (made with Italian herbs)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Meatloaf

  • 1 ½ lb. lean ground beef* (80% or 85% lean)
  • ½ yellow onion, finely diced
  • ½ green bell pepper, finely diced
  • 1 rib of celery, finely diced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ cup plain breadcrumbs (or crushed saltine or ritz crackers)
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • ¼ cup meatloaf sauce

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl add the canned tomato sauce and brown sugar together. Mix until combined and then set it aside.
  • In a large bowl, add all of the meatloaf ingredients (ground beef, diced onion, diced bell pepper, diced celery, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic and onion powder, black pepper, breadcrumbs, milk, beaten egg, and ¼ cup of the meatloaf sauce). Use a spatula and your hands to mix all of the ingredients together until evenly combined. Be careful not to overmix! You can also wear food safe disposable gloves if you prefer.
  • Place the meat mixture in a baking dish. Shape the meat into a loaf that’s about 8-inches long and 4-inches wide. Loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
  • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the meatloaf from the oven and remove the foil. Evenly pour the rest of the meatloaf sauce over the meatloaf. Then return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake an additional 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with your favorite sides.

Notes

  1. I usually buy a 3lb pack of lean ground chuck and split it in half. Then I freeze the other half and save it for another day.
  2. You can sauté the onion, bell pepper, and celery for 3-4 minutes with 1 tablespoon of oil if you want to soften them a bit. But it’s not necessary.
  3. You can also make a meatloaf sauce with just ketchup and brown sugar if you prefer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 22gFat: 24gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 743mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4g
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Be sure to leave a RATING and COMMENT down below. Your review and feedback is greatly appreciated!