Ah, comfort food. It's just
so...comforting. No matter what's going on in the world you can count on a
home-cooked meal to set things right. Maybe it's the memories of a simpler time
that are conjured up when you serve a thick, steaming slice of meatloaf made
from grandma's meatloaf
recipe.
Or maybe it's just nice to put aside the problems of the day and lose yourself
in the moment while enjoying a relaxing dinner with your
family. Whatever the reasons, you can't deny what a difference a meal of plain
and simple American cuisine will make.
The Quintessential Loaf: A Meatloaf
Recipe for Your Every Mood
Meatloaf has risen to the top of the
go-to recipes list because it's easy to make and the inexpensive ingredients
are staples that are usually on hand on your pantry shelves. Meatloaf
has undergone a few evolutions since Grandma made it, but whether you're making
a basic meatloaf recipe or dressing it up, you can always count on an
uncomplicated yet satisfying meal.
Easy
and Delicious Meatloaf
Wherever you got your basic meatloaf
recipe, they are all essentially the same. This easy recipe gets its roots from
the basic meat, egg, breadcrumb formula, but with a few contemporary changes
that give it a little extra that will make it your new favorite meatloaf
recipe.
Ingredients
·
2
lb. lean ground beef
·
1
pkg. (6 oz.) stuffing mix for chicken
·
1
cup water
·
2
eggs, beaten
·
1/2
cup barbecue sauce, divided
Directions
·
Heat
oven to 375 degrees.
·
Place
meat, stuffing mix, water, eggs and 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in bowl.
·
Mix
just until blended
·
Shape
into loaf in 13 X 9-inch baking dish.
·
Top
with remaining barbecue sauce. Bake 1 hour or until done (160 degrees).
Solve the dinner choice dilemma of
whether to have Italian or American by serving up this appetizing meatloaf with
an Italian twist. Pasta on the side with garlic bread will compliment the meal
nicely.
Ingredients
·
1
pkg. (6 oz.) stuffing mix for chicken
·
1
jar (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce, divided
·
1
tsp. dried oregano leaves, divided
·
1-1/2
lb. extra-lean ground beef
·
1
cups chopped zucchini
·
1
cups sliced fresh mushrooms
·
3/4
cup shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions
·
Heat
oven to 375 degrees.
·
Mix
stuffing mix with half each of the spaghetti sauce and oregano. Add
meat; mix well. Pat into 13 X 9-inch baking dish.
·
Mix
vegetables and remaining spaghetti sauce and oregano. Spoon over meat mixture;
cover.
·
Bake
25 min. Top with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10 min. or until meatloaf is done
(160 degrees).
Spice things up – and give your
meatloaf a new look to boot – when you make these fun and flavorful meatloaf
minis. Go all out with Mexican rice and refried beans to make a weeknight
fiesta for the family.
·
1
lb. ground beef
·
1/2
cup finely chopped onions
·
1
egg
·
12
saltine crackers, finely crushed (about 1/2 cup)
·
1-1/2
cups Mexican style finely shredded four cheese blend, divided
·
1
cup thick 'n chunky salsa, divided
Directions
·
Heat
oven to 400 degrees.
·
Mix
first 4 ingredients with 1 cup cheese and 1/2 cup salsa.
·
Press
into 12 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray. Use back of spoon to make
indentation in center of each. Place muffin pan on foil-covered baking sheet.
·
Bake
20 to 25 min. or until meatloaves are done (160 degrees). Top with remaining
salsa and cheese; bake 3 min. or until cheese is melted.
Bacon 'n Cheese Meatloaf
Bacon 'n Cheese Meatloaf
Channeling another comfort favorite,
this meatloaf recipe uses the makings of a bacon cheeseburger to create a
delicious meal that is almost effortless. The hard part is saving leftovers for
a bacon cheese meatloaf sandwich for lunch tomorrow.
Ingredients
·
1
lb. extra-lean ground beef
·
1
egg, beaten
·
1
cup shredded cheddar cheese
·
1/4
cup milk
·
1/4
cup dry bread crumbs
·
1
Tbsp. finely chopped onions
·
1/2
tsp. each garlic powder and dried oregano leaves
·
1/8
tsp. cracked black pepper
·
4
slices cooked bacon
Directions
·
Heat
oven to 400 degrees.
·
Mix
all ingredients except bacon.
·
Shape
into loaf in 9 X 5-inch loaf pan; top with bacon.
·
Bake
45 min. or until done (160 degrees). Let stand 5 min. before removing from pan
and slicing to serve.
Quick Tips
·
Cook
meatloaf until the middle is no longer pink or until an instant-read
thermometer inserted into the center part of the loaf reads 160 degrees
Fahrenheit.
·
Try
using ground turkey, pork or veal as tasty substitutes for beef; it’ll give
your meatloaf a unique flavor.
·
Make
mixing mess-free by putting all the ingredients into a gallon-size reseal-able
plastic bag. Press the air out of the bag before zipping it closed, then
squeeze and mash until all the ingredients are mixed. You can even shape the
meat into a loaf inside the bag before transferring it to the baking dish.