There are many different ways to make meatloaf recipe, but I think this one is one of the best. It’s simple, affordable, and delicious! A traditional meatloaf may also include chopped vegetables, including mushrooms, onions, and green bell peppers. This mixture is often formed into the shape of a bread loaf and baked in an oven until the meat is thoroughly cooked.

What is Meatloaf Recipe?

Meatloaf is a savory dish prepared primarily from ground meats such as beef, pork, or turkey, along with binders and fillers such as eggs, bread crumbs, crushed crackers, oatmeal, and other grain cereals.

There are a number of different recipes for meatloaf, many of which incorporate regional or cultural ingredients such as Italian dry spices or a Midwestern ketchup-based glaze. Some recipes for meatloaf call for a single source of ground meat, commonly ground hamburger beef, while others call for a proportional blend of ground beef, ground pork, and/or ground turkey.

The fillers and binders used to extend the ground meat can also vary from region to region. Bread crumbs, sometimes soaked in red wine or beef stock, are popular fillers, as are crushed soda or saltine crackers. Other extenders include oatmeal and wheat germ. Raw eggs are often added to the raw meatloaf mixture as both an extender and a binder to prevent crumbling.

Ingredients of Meatloaf Recipe Simple

The most common reason why your meatloaf recipe simply may fall apart is that it doesn’t have enough binding agents, like eggs and breadcrumbs. These ingredients are key because they’re what make the meat mixture stick together and stay together while it cooks.

1 pound ground beef
1 cup breadcrumbs (you can use store-bought, or make your own by grinding up some stale bread in a food processor)
1 small onion, chopped finely
2 eggs, beaten well with a fork until smooth and creamy
3 tablespoons milk (can be skim/nonfat)

Preparation for Making Meatloaf Recipe

Mix together the ground beef, egg, milk, breadcrumbs, and seasonings in a large bowl.
Shape into a loaf and place in a baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine Ground Beef, bread crumbs, 1/2 cup ketchup, onion, egg, Worcestershire, garlic, thyme, pepper, and salt in a large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape beef into an 8 x 4-inch loaf on a rack in an aluminum foil-lined broiler pan.
Place on upper oven rack in 350°F oven. Bake 45 to 55 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center, registers 160°F; brush with remaining 1/4 cup ketchup during the last 10 minutes, if desired. Let stand for 10 minutes. Cut into slices.

Meatloaf Recipe Simple Cooking Times

Cooking times depend on the type of meat and how much fat is in it. If you want to cook it faster, use leaner meat. If you want to cook it slower, use fatty meat.
You can also cook it in the oven or on a grill if you prefer not to use a pan on your stovetop (which will take up precious space).

A standard meatloaf cooking temp is 350°F. At 350°F, 35 to 45 minutes per pound of meatloaf is a fairly accurate rule to follow. The best way to not overcook or undercook your meatloaf is to use a meat thermometer to check the meatloaf’s internal temperature. The ideal meatloaf internal temp is 160°F.

A Simple and Affordable Meatloaf Recipe

This meatloaf recipe simple and affordable, but still has all the flavor you love. It’s made with ground beef, onions and bell peppers (green or red), eggs, bread crumbs, and ketchup. The ingredients are combined in a bowl before baking in the oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 Celsius).

Safe Handling Tips About Meatloaf Recipe Simple

Wash hands with soap and water before cooking and always after touching raw meat.
Separate raw meat from other foods.
Wash all cutting boards, utensils, and dishes after touching raw meat.
Do not reuse marinades used on raw foods.
Wash all produce prior to use.
Cook steaks and roasts until temperature reaches 145°F for medium rare, as measured by a meat thermometer, allowing to rest for three minutes.
Cook Ground Beef to 160°F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this meatloaf recipe simple and affordable. If you try it out, please let me know how it goes! The next time you’re planning dinner and wondering What to Serve With the Meatloaf, look no further – I’ve got everything you need for a great family meal right here! All of our favorite mincemeat side dishes plus some surprising sides that go great with this main course!