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Simple and Easy Traditional Beef Meatloaf

Close up. Meatloaf on a brown rectangle platter with a couple sliced pieces in front. Baby Baked Potatoes and cooked Green beans in background.
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EatSimpleFood.com

Get ready to settle in with this classic beef meatloaf recipe.  So easy to make and consistently blows my mind with how simple and satisfying it is.

Ingredients

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Ingredient List Meatloaf:

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2/3 cup onion, finely diced
  • 2/3 cup celery, finely diced
  • 2 lb ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • 2/3 cup breadcrumbs or pulverized instant oatmeal for gluten free
  • 1 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Ingredient List Sauce:

  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp dijon mustard

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375F.

For the sauce:

  • mix the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard in a bowl and set aside.

For the meatloaf: 

  • In a small pan: cook the onions and celery in a touch of warm olive oil for 4-6 minutes or until soft.  Cool ingredients for 5-10 minutes.
  • Mix together all meatloaf ingredients.
  • Place meatloaf in a baking dish or form on a sheet pan in a rectangle shape. (see notes below if you don't have a baking dish)
  • Bake the meatloaf  for ~45 minutes or until juices run clear.  
  • Slather with sauce and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until sauce is bubbling and browning.  Broil on low for a couple minutes if sauce is not browning but watch carefully.
  • Rest 15 minutes before slicing.  Serve with extra sauce on the side.  Happy Eating!  Beckie

Notes

  • Make little mini meatloafs instead of one large one.  They are so cute in individual serving sizes and will cook faster.  Check them after 35-40 minutes to see if they are done.
  • Don't have a meatloaf pan?  Form an "even" loaf with your hands and place on an aluminum lined baking sheet - 13 x 18 and two of them to boot.  Perfect for roasting any vegetable. (no oil needed).  You don't want the loaf to be tapered at the end as it will not cook evenly.

Find it online: https://eatsimplefood.com/classic-meatloaf/