Rarely is there a dish that transcends generations like meatloaf. It’s an easy staple for any home cook. This Flavor-Filled Meatloaf combines simple ingredients that pack a wallop of flavor.
I grew up eating meatloaf two or three times a month…at least. It was a dish Mom could pull together in the morning, chuck it in the fridge, and pop it in the oven when she got home from work. We ate a lot of hamburger-based dishes in part because hamburger at the time was pretty inexpensive. While Mom wasn’t a fancy cook, and didn’t use a lot of seasonings, she did make an amazing meatloaf….and it always contained, and was topped by, ketchup.
When I got into public school for high school, and started to partake in cafeteria food, I learned that meatloaf could actually be made without ketchup and with brown gravy…WHO KNEW!? Little did I know that this ketchup/no ketchup conundrum can divide the world of meatloaf lovers.
I must confess, I’ve only once tasted a non-ketchup meatloaf that I actually liked. And it was pointed out to me that perhaps I just might be a meatloaf snob. Making a non-ketchup meatloaf is on my list of things to do. And, I think my poor mother will roll over in her grave when that happens! See…this apple didn’t fall far from that tree!
Anywho…here’s a variation on my mom’s meatloaf that loads in some additional ingredients for flavor punch. Enjoy!
PS – try serving this with my Parm Roasted Potatoes. Your taste buds will thank you!
Flavor-Filled Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef I use 80/20
- 1 C diced onions
- 1/2 C diced peppers I prefer red, but green, orange, purple or yellow work!
- 4 cloves garlic, minced small
- 1 T olive oil
- 1/3 C grated parmesan cheese
- 1/3 C quick oats
- 1 large egg beaten well
- 1/2 C ketchup plus additional for top
- 1.5 T Worchestershire sauce
- 1.5 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray, and set aside.
- In a medium skillet, heat olive oil. Saute onions and peppers until they begin to soften. Add garlic. Saute all until soft.
- In a large bowl, add cooked vegetables and all remaining ingredients. Stir together with a fork to combine all ingredients well, being careful to not over-mix.
- Press into prepared loaf pan. Top with a moderate layer of ketchup. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour or until done, removing the foil for the last 15 minutes. Slice and serve.
