J.R. Stevens - Meatloaf Mania: In Search of the Perfect Meatloaf Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour & 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground beef
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 6 garlic cloves chopped (approximately 4 teaspoons)
• 2 red peppers, seeded, diced into small pieces
• cup basil leaves, chopped
• 2 onions, medium, diced
• 4 eggs, medium
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups Parmesan, grated
• 1 cups breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons parsley leaves, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F/175 C in advance.
2. Over medium heat in a medium saut pan; heat approximately cup of olive oil and then add in the garlic. Saut for a minute & then add in the onions & peppers; saut for couple of minutes, until just soft. Remove the pan from heat and let cool at room temperature.
3. Whisk basil together with eggs & parsley in a small size bowl; then add black pepper & salt to taste. Combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan in a separate bowl, preferably small size.
4. Using your hands, thoroughly mix the meat with eggs & herbs, breadcrumbs & Parmesan, the Worcestershire, vinegar & the leftover olive oil in a large bowl, ensure you dont over mix the ingredients.
5. Lightly coat loaf pan with oil and pack meat mixture into it. Top with the marinara and ensure you spread the mixture evenly on the top.
6. Bake until an instant-read meat thermometer reflects 160 F, when inserted in the middle, for an hour or little less. Remove the loaf pan from oven & let rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Slice & serve.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour & 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 can Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup (10 ounces)
• cup plain bread crumbs, dry
• 1 envelop of dry onion soup, (approximately 1 ounce) recipe & dip mix
• cup water
• 1 egg, beaten

Directions

1. Carefully mix the beef with onion soup mix, cup of tomato soup, egg & bread crumbs in a bowl, preferably large size. Place the mixture into a baking pan, preferably 13x9x2 & firmly shape the mixture into a loaf, preferably 8x4.
2. Bake at 175 C/350 F until the meatloaf is cooked through, for an hour or little longer. Let stand for 8 to 10 minutes, before slicing the meatloaf into pieces.
3. Now, over medium heat in a 1-quart saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of pan drippings with water & leftover tomato soup until the mixture is hot & bubbling, stirring every now and then. Serve this soup mixture, preferably hot with the cooked meatloaf.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

For the Meatloaf:

• 10 slices of thin/regular Bacon
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/3 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley, fresh & minced
• 4 whole eggs, beaten
• 1 cup (heaping) parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 6 white bread slices
• teaspoon seasoned salt
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 3/4 teaspoons Salt

For the Sauce:

• 1 teaspoon mustard, dry
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup ketchup
• Tabasco to taste

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F/175 C in advance. Soak the bread slices in milk for couple of minutes.
2. Place bread soaked in milk, the ground beef, Parmesan, parsley, salt, black pepper & seasoned salt in a mixing bowl, preferably large size. Add in the beaten eggs as well.
3. Mix all the ingredients in the mixing bowl using clean hands, until combined well. Line the bottom of the pan with foil & form the mixture into a loaf shape on a broiler pan.
4. Lay the bacon slices on the top, dont forget to tuck them below the meatloaf.
5. Now, prepare the sauce: add brown sugar together with ketchup, hot sauce & mustard in a large size mixing bowl; stir everything together. Pour approximately 1/3 of mixture on top of the bacon. Spread the evenly using a large spoon.
6. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes & then pour 1/3 of more sauce on the top. Bake for 15 more minutes. Slice & serve with the leftover sauce.
7. Serve the cooked bacon pieces with the mashed potatoes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour & 15 minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground pork
• cup milk
• 1 egg, large
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 1 pound ground beef, extra-lean
• cup ketchup
• 1 cup pepper & onion relish or red pepper, divided
• Dash of cayenne pepper
• 1 cup soft bread crumbs, fresh

Directions

1. Lightly coat a loaf pan, preferably 9x5x3 with the cooking spray & preheat your oven to 350 F/175 C.
2. Combine the pork together with ground beef, egg, milk, bread crumbs, pepper, salt & cup of relish; gently mix until combined well. Loosely pack the mixture into already prepared loaf pan. Mix the ketchup with the leftover relish & refrigerate.
3. Bake the meatloaf for an hour or little longer, then top it with the ketchup mixture.
4. Put the meatloaf to the oven again & bake for 10 to 15 more minutes.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
• 2 pounds ground beef