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.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

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

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

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 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 extra large 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 medium-low 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

Tried this recipe?Click here to rate and comment on it. We love to hear your story!