Every Cook Should Know the Trick to Making This

Who doesn’t have a meatloaf memory they could share, if called upon? During my childhood, it was one of about three main dishes my mother could actually cook, perfectly, every time. On the nights we had meatloaf, nobody showed up late for dinner!

At one point, there were nine of us at home, so my mother had to make two loaves. She always served it with green bean casserole and good old mac & cheese, right out of the box! If by some miracle there were any leftovers, we might get the added treat of cold meatloaf sandwiches for lunch the next day.

INGREDIENTS

For the Meatloaf:

1 lb. ground beef

½ bell pepper, diced

½ small onion, diced

1 egg

½ cup bread crumbs

½ cup shredded cheese (any kind)

1/3 cup ketchup

1 tsp dry mustard

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

For the Topping:

1/3 cup ketchup plus

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix meatloaf ingredients in a large bowl. Form into a loaf and place on an aluminum foil lined pan. Bake for 45 minutes.

Combine ketchup and brown sugar for topping and spread over the top. Bake for 15 more minutes or until meatloaf is cooked through.

Let it rest 10 minutes before slicing and ENJOY!

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Quick Tip: Once you have this basic recipe in your collection and can turn out the perfect loaf, get creative and start adding little variations that will make it your “signature” meatloaf, an heirloom recipe that you can hand down through the generations. Here are some ideas: Worcestershire sauce, teriyaki sauce, balsamic vinegar, dry dressing or seasoning mixes, additional veggies, such as mushrooms or carrots (diced very fine) – there are limitless possibilities for add-ins! Try topping it with different cream soups or gravies, too. Soon you will have a recipe that is uniquely your own!
Attribution: Recipe courtesy of Brandi Burgess at auntbeesrecipes.com, photo courtesy of foodnetwork.com