Mom’s meatloaf is a special recipe. If you have never had meatloaf before, what are you doing!!? Meatloaf is the epitome of comfort food, soaring above mac and cheese (for me). Nothing was better than coming home from a day of high school and seeing that a meatloaf was baking in the oven alongside some veggies and mashed potatoes. It just made any day better and I knew my mom made it because I loved it. Which is what moms do best.
There shouldn’t be diet substitutes for meatloaf. Just eat a salad if you’re trying to be healthy tonight. One time my mom tried a different recipe and it just was not the same – my sister and I were pretty vocal about it. This recipe has been passed down from my nana, and who knows where it came before that. Don’t mess with the classics – Mom’s meatloaf is just a handful of ingredients.
Equipment needed to make mom’s meatloaf
You don’t need much at all. A standard loaf pan (8 x 4 or 9 x 5) works perfectly, like what you use to make banana bread. You also need a large mixing bowl. Parchment paper is great too to line your pan for easy cleanup and less sticking. That’s it!
Ingredients for mom’s meatloaf
Here’s what to add to your grocery list:
- lean ground beef – you need about a pound. It doesn’t quite matter what percentage fat you get, but I typically get extra lean beef with 4% fat.
- 1 yellow onion – eyeball it. If it’s a wide onion, just use half of it.
- 1 cup of breadcrumbs – you can use Italian bread crumbs or any kind you’d like. I’ve also used Trader Joe’s organic breadcrumbs.
- milk – skim, whole or 2% works fine. I have also made this with almond milk.
- ketchup – get organic ketchup with minimal additives. Look for real sugar instead of corn syrup! Heinz makes A LOT of healthier ketchup alternatives, and the sweetness will help for this loaf.
- 1 egg
How to make Mom’s meatloaf
Let’s make it together!
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease your pan with oil or butter. In a separate bowl, combine the chopped onion, breadcrumbs, milk, ketchup and egg.
Step 2
Stir in the ground beef and combine thoroughly.
Step 3
Shape the mixture into a loaf with your hands and carefully transfer it into the pan.
Step 4
Bake for 1 hour in the oven. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and enjoying! Make some mashed potatoes for the perfect meal.
Storage and Leftovers
Meatloaf can survive a few days in the fridge, so just cover your pan with foil and keep it chilled. Reheat a slice of meatloaf in the microwave. Or stick the pan in the oven at 250°F, and bake the meatloaf in the oven for 20 minutes with foil covering it to prevent it from drying out.
Other recipes to try
If you liked my Mom’s meatloaf recipe, check out these other comforting recipes:
Easy Homemade Meatballs for Spaghetti
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Mom’s Meatloaf
Equipment
- standard loaf pan (8 x 4 or 9 x 5)
- large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef (like ground sirloin)
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
- ½ cup milk (almond milk works too)
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease your pan with oil or butter.
- In a bowl, combine the chopped onion, breadcrumbs, milk, ketchup and egg.
- Stir in the ground beef and combine thoroughly.
- Shape the mixture into a loaf with your hands and carefully transfer it into the pan.
- Bake for 1 hour in the oven. Enjoy!
