Meat Loaf

This meatloaf recipe is quick and easy to make, and it’s delicious.  

The Story

When my husband requested meatloaf for dinner, I panicked. I didn’t grow up with meatloaf—just knew it involved ketchup and looked like a baked hamburger. How hard could it be, right?

Well… several failed attempts later (and one firm decision to ban bell peppers forever—thanks to a traumatic childhood encounter with my dad’s stuffed pepper experiment), I finally created a version that works.

It’s simple, comforting, and packed with flavor—no peppers, no fuss. Just good, hearty meatloaf for anyone willing to give it a second chance.

Meat Loaf

Annette Law

This meatloaf recipe is quick and easy to make, and it's delicious.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 6 people

Calories 509 kcal

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x1/2x

• ▢ 1 tablespoon good olive oil
• ▢ 3 cups chopped yellow onions 3 onions
• ▢ 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• ▢ 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 1/3 cup canned chicken stock or broth
• ▢ 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• ▢ 2 1/2 pounds ground chuck (80 percent lean)
• ▢ 1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
• ▢ 2 extra­large eggs beaten
• ▢ 1/2 cup ketchup

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan. Add the onions, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook over medium­low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not brown.
• Remove the pan from the heat, then add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste. Allow to cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck, onion mixture, bread crumbs, and eggs, and mix lightly with a fork. Don't mash or the meat loaf will be dense.
• Shape the mixture into a rectangular loaf on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper.
• Spread the ketchup evenly on top. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F and the meat loaf is cooked through. Serve hot.

Notes

• Place a pan of hot water in the oven on the rack under the meat loaf. This will keep the top from cracking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 sliceCalories: 509kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 33gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 134mgSodium: 1215mgPotassium: 662mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 4mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content may vary depending on the brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and other factors.

Keyword hamburger, meat

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