It is entirely possible that every culture had its own recipe for meatloaf. Originally, meatloaf was made in the home kitchen to utilize tough cuts of meat. After grinding whatever meat was available, cooks added their own touch by using regional spices and cooking styles to make each dish unique.
Today, meatloaf is an economical meal that many families enjoy. This recipe is easy to make, fairly inexpensive, and ready in just over an hour. Using ingredients almost all cooks keep in the pantry, this recipe for meatloaf has enough flavor to serve unexpected company.
Although some meatloaf recipes call for two types of meat, such as ground beef and pork or lamb, this recipe is simple and uses only ground beef. Topped with a sweet, spicy sauce and paired with garlic mashed potatoes, it's guaranteed to be a success at the dinner table.
Meatloaf serves 4-6
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped fine
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup dry plain bread crumbs
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup ketchup
- 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Finely chop and saute 1 onion in butter or margarine over low to medium heat until translucent.
- Place thawed ground beef into a large bowl and add sauted onions.
- Add spices: onion powder, garlic powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne and black pepper.
- Add dry bread crumbs and eggs. Mix all ingredients well.
- Place in a loaf pan and press lightly to pack.
- Bake 40-50 minutes at 350 degrees until beef is done through.
- Remove from oven and drain excess grease before topping with sauce.
- Raise heat in oven to 400 degrees.
- Mix together ketchup, brown sugar and 1/4 tsp cayenne. Spread over baked meatloaf and replace in oven at 400 degrees. Bake an additional 15-20 minutes until sauce glazes a bit.
- If a spicier sauce is desired, increase the amount of cayenne. Be careful, as it doesn't take much to raise the level of heat in just one cup of ketchup.
- Serve with garlic mashed potatoes.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 6-8 potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 Tbsp butter or margarine
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1-2 Tbsp milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
- Boil potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Drain water and place in bowl.
- Add sour cream, butter, garlic and milk. Use a mixer or mash with a hand masher until smashed. The longer the mixing, the smoother the texture of potato.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- If using new red potatoes, leave on the skins while cooking for an interesting texture and added nutrients and taste.
Serve the meatloaf with the garlic mashed potatoes and a green vegetable such as peas or green beans. Add a dinner roll or corn bread to complete the meal, and enjoy.
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