There is nothing tastier than a plate of mashed potatoes and gravy and a thick slice of meatloaf. Trying to find someone that has not had meatloaf is like finding a person that has never owned shoes. Meatloaf made with the lean beef is high in protein. Nobody really knows where meatloaf came from but we are just glad it did. There are many different types of meatloaf recipe; many American households will have a meatloaf recipe that has been handed down for generations and each will have their own little nuances either according to tradition or what was available at the time. Being so versatile, meatloaf recipes are also easily adaptable.

Easy Italian Meatloaf

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ lbs lean ground beef or chuck.
• 2 peppers, green or red, finely chopped.
• 1 16 ounce can diced tomatoes.
• 1 sweet onion, diced.
• 4 slices of bacon.
• 1 ½ cups Italian breadcrumb.
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated.
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic.
• ½ teaspoon basil.
• 1/3 teaspoon oregano.
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley chopped (do not substitute).
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt or beef bouillon powder.
• 2 large eggs.
• 1/3 teaspoon ground black powder.
• 1/3 cup ketchup (or more as needed).
• Onion and garlic powder to taste.

 

Preheat oven to 375˚ F.

In large bowl, combine meat, eggs, seasonings and remaining ingredients except ketchup and bacon. This is best done by washing your hands thoroughly and mixing the ingredients with your hands. Have the breadcrumbs ready and pour into the mixture. Continue to mix with your hands. This is the way you get a feel if the mixture is to dry or wet. If dry add a tablespoon of olive oil; if wet add more breadcrumbs. The mixture is correct when it will hold a ball shape. Shape into a loaf and place in a nonstick loaf pan making sure the top is domed shape. Put ketchup, salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder on the top. Cover meatloaf with bacon. Bake uncovered 1 ½ hours.

There is nothing better than something that you can quickly put together and serve hot.

Oatmeal Meatloaf is one of those dishes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup tomato juice.
• ¾ cup Quaker oats.
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup diced onion.
• ½ teaspoon salt.
• ¼ teaspoon pepper.
• 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef.

Preheat oven to 350 ˚

In large bowl mix all the ingredients except the beef. Again use freshly washed hands to mix the beef in to the wet mixture. Thoroughly mix until it forms a ball in the bowl. If too dry add some ketchup; if too wet add a little more oats. Press into an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan. Bake 1 hour. Drain any grease off and let stand for 5-10 minutes.

To add extra taste to it, substitute the onion for a red onion to give it a milder sweeter taste.

Any meatloaf recipe is great as a main course but the real treat of it comes the next day. For leftover meatloaf, make sandwiches. A thin sliced piece of meatloaf with a spread of ketchup makes a fulfilling and nutritious snack the next day.