This Family Style Meatloaf is your new go-to. It's hearty and easy to make for a no-fuss meal any day of the week. The best part about this dish is the leftovers!
I feel like meatloaf is one of those recipes where everyone has their own set of fond memories or family stories to tell, or where they know someone who makes ‘the best’ version of it. For example, I remember my brother Michael saying a while back over dinner “Cath, mom used to make the best meatloaf, didn’t she? I’ve never had meatloaf like she used to make.”
While I don’t remember how or why that came up, I do remember, oddly, that we weren’t eating meatloaf, and for some reason, it’s just stuck with me ever since. Now, every time I have meatloaf, I remember my brother Mike saying how mom used to make it the best. That’s always the first thing that comes to mind, and then I think of my mother’s version of the recipe. It’s a pleasant duality of memories wrapped inside a single, simple recipe.
While preparing today’s post, I called my son into the kitchen and asked him – “Meatloaf, quick, what’s the first thing you think of?”
“Super Storm Sandy,” he replied without a moment’s worth of hesitation.
The three word answer took a moment to sink in as I continued working my chop meat, and then I just sort of paused and glanced back at him in blank wonderment. “A hurricane? You think of a hurricane? What am I missing?”
“Remember after the storm while we were staying at Uncle Bob’s? And Aunt Janice made meatloaf that one night? I thought of Uncle Bob sitting down to eat, looking at his plate, and then motioning at Aunt Janice as he said ‘Jan makes the absolute best meatloaf. I can’t wait for you taste this. This is real comfort food.’”
And so, like I started off saying, it’s just one of those rare recipes where everybody has either a fond family memory or knows someone who makes ‘The Best.’
And now we come to today’s meatloaf. Be sure to let me know in the comments if what follows is a contender for ‘The Best.’
For today’s meatloaf, we start off by placing diced bread, chopped celery, carrots, eggs, parsley, tomato paste, grated cheese, peas, olive oil, milk and the seasonings listed below in a large bowl, toss it a few times, and then set it aside to soak for about ten minutes.
After the mixture has soaked, add in the ground beef, and mix it thoroughly by hand. Once that’s done, lightly coat a large cast iron frying pan with olive oil (or a baking dish if you prefer), and set the ground beef mixture in the pan, and form it into a loaf as pictured below. Set it aside.
Once that’s done, coat a second cast iron frying pan with olive oil, and set it over a gentle heat for about three minutes. Then add in sliced onion, crushed chopped garlic, halved cherry tomatoes, a few dashes of salt, black pepper, dried oregano and a pinch of sugar.
Let this mixture sauté in the frying pan, keeping the heat relatively low, and mixing every so often. Continue to sauté until the tomatoes soften and the onions are slightly golden, and then top this over the meatloaf.
Finally, bake the loaf at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 90 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Then let it rest for about fifteen minutes before slicing and serving.
Prep and Pairing Pointers:
The Meat Matters: Just like the cliché that “Everything is better with Butter,” when it comes to meatloaf “The flavor is in the fat.” Generally, you want ground beef that’s somewhere just south of 80% lean. Not only will the fat give it flavor, but it will also help the loaf hold its form better during cooking.
Mixes Don’t Match: While it might be tempting to tear open a meatloaf, burger, or meatball mix for a quick fix of flavor, I sincerely advise against this. First and foremost, you want to learn how tailor the spice quantities to your own, unique palate, as opposed to the “One Load of Salt Fits All” method that tends to be par for the course on mixes. Besides, juggling the spices is the easiest area to be creative with any recipe.
What Goes Great With This Recipe:
1) Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice - I’ve always liked cauliflower with meatloaf, so I really hope you’ll give this one a try as a side.
2) Potato Leek Soup - A standard side to meatloaf, this hardy soup adds an extra layer of warmth and comfort to the meal.
3) Split Pea Soup - Though a delicious soup on its own, a pairing like split pea soup and meatloaf is one that needs no further explanation.
4) Macaroni and Cheese Italian Style - While we’ve all had the standard yellow mound of pasty cheese over macaroni at some point in our lives, and while that might be the go-to pairing for meatloaf, I really think you should give this less-than-orthodox take on macaroni and cheese a try.
5) Cabernet Sauvignon. If you want a wine to pair with your meatloaf, I have two suggestions for you.
First, our guest-posted Sauvignon Guide, which gives a nice rundown on prices, tastes, and varieties.
Second, a nice merlot would also pair excellently. For my personal favorite, check out my review on Decoy Winery’s Sonoma Valley Merlot
PrintFamily Style Meatloaf
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 meatloaf 1x
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. ground beef
- 3 eggs
- 3 stalks celery - chopped
- 3 medium sized carrots - chopped
- 5 slices bread - diced
- 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley - stems removed and chopped
- 1/2 cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup peas
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 tbs. tomato paste
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 tbs. Olive oil
For the Tomato and Onion Topping:
- 1 sweet onion - sliced
- 1-pint cherry tomatoes - halved
- 2 cloves garlic - chopped
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tsp. sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl place, the diced bread, celery, carrots, eggs, parsley, tomato paste, grated cheese, peas, olive oil, seasonings, milk and toss. Let this mixture soak for a few minutes.
- Add the ground beef and mix with your hands thoroughly.
- Lightly coat a large cast iron frying pan with olive oil and place the mixture in the pan and form into a meatloaf. Let this sit while preparing the tomato and onion topping.
- Place a tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan and gently heat. Add the sliced onion, garlic and halved tomatoes and seasonings.
- Let this mixture sauté until the onions slightly golden and the tomatoes soften.
- Top the meatloaf with the tomato and onion mixture.
- Bake for 1½ hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.. Make sure that the food thermometer is inserted into the center of the meatloaf for the most accurate reading.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 10 – 15 minutes before slicing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
And that’s a wrap.
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Enjoy with Love!
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angiesrecipes says
This looks so hearty and delicious...perfect for freaking cold weather we have here.
Catherine says
Thank you Angie, it is real cold here too. I really cannot wait for spring this winter seems so long. Keep warm and cozy. xo
mimi rippee says
I make meat loaf for my husband when I have to leave town. It's one thing he can heat up in the microwave without problems! But I really love the topping you created here! It changes things completely!!!
Catherine says
Thank you Mimi, it really gives it a little more oomph. I hope you enjoy it, if you try it. Thanks for visiting. xo
Stacie says
That looks AH-mazing! I make meatloaf all the time, and my current recipe is getting old. I can't wait to try this new one.
Catherine says
Wonderful, I hope that you enjoy it. Thank you for visiting Stacie.
DAVID J MYERS says
Catherine, Your meatloaf is very attractive but I'll be loyal to my better half's spicy all meat version topped with a lot of Parmesan/Romano shredded cheese which browns up nicely. Veggies on the side. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Catherine says
Hi Dave, Laurie's recipe sounds absolutely delish!!
Hang Around The World - Paolo says
It looks all so healthy and yummy!! Maybe I cook this recipe one of the next days ahaha Thanks 😉
Catherine says
Thank you. Let me know if you do try it and how you enjoy it. xo
Maggie Unzueta says
Oh wow! This Meatloaf looks soooo delicious. I should try this one at home.
Catherine says
Thank you Maggie. Let me know how you enjoy it, if you try this. Thank you for visiting. xo
Reeni says
I've never seen a meatloaf recipe with so many veggies in it! I love it! Meatloaf is one of my favorite things and leftovers are the best for making a sandwich the next day. This is definitely a contender!
Catherine says
Hi Reeni! So glad to hear from you!! This made my evening! Meatloaf is one of my favorites too. My mom used to make the absolute best!! I wish I could come close, but I keep on trying. lol. xoxo
Sara says
Meatloaf was the first recipe I ever made and it's still one of my favorite foods! Yours looks nothing short of amazing!
Catherine says
Thank you Sata, that is very kind of you to say and always gives me encouragement. Thank you for visiting. xo
Dominique Brooks says
There are a lot of veggies in this meatloaf -- that's new for me. I don't make a lot of meatloaf -- I have a family with weird palates who doesn't want to eat meatloaf that often. Maybe I will try this to see if this changes their minds!
Catherine says
The veggies cook down, just dice the carrots small enough. The veggies give the meatloaf a nice texture and moisture. I hope you enjoy it if you do give it a try, and remember any recipe you can make your own with your own adjustments. Thank you for visiting. xo
Ria Amber Tesia says
Although I very rarely eat meatloaf, this sounds and looks like a great recipe. I am exploring a plant-based lifestyle and wondered if you had any vegan recipes you'd like to share?
Catherine says
Dear Ria, Thank you for visiting. I am sorry, but I don't cook vegan, however I do have vegetarian recipes.
Have a wonderful day. xo
Sue-Tanya Mchorgh says
This meatloaf looks so tasty. Oh my goodness. I would love to try this.
Catherine says
Thank you! I hope that you give it a try and if you do let me know how you like it. Thank you for visiting. xo
sara lafountain says
One of my sons loves meatloaf. I made this for him last night and he said it was the best meatloaf I ever made!
Catherine says
Oh dear Sara, that makes me feel wonderful and I appreciate you telling me and of course trying my recipe.
Thank you for visiting. xo
Marysa says
I've never cooked a meatloaf, but it's a great meal idea. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I need to get more organized this year and do some meal planning.
Sophia says
I love meatloaf and the one you made looks really good.
Jasmine Hewitt says
this has me wanting to make a meatloaf soon. i have never tried carrots though, interesting
Preet says
My kids would absolutely love these. This would disappear in no time at our house! This is my kind of weekend treat.
Helen Neale says
Wow, I love this recipe it is so delicious and look so easy to prepare. I will def try to make this for the whole family.
Catherine says
Thank you Helen, let me know how you enjoy it. xo
Courtney says
Omg can we say yum?!?! I just live meatloaf. One of my hubby’s favorite meals. I will have to give your recipe a try