1-Pound Classic Meatloaf Recipe • A Weekend Cook® (2024)

Mom’s Meatloaf recipe is easy, flavorful, and the ultimate comfort food. No formal recipe is needed for this comfort food classic. There are so many recipes that it’s truly overwhelming. My easy 1-pound meatloaf is classic and simply the best. The recipe can also be doubled for sharing.

Favorite comfort food dinners include a slow cooker ham steak , the perfect roasted cornish hen, tasty 1-pound pot roast, pan-fried ham steak. If you have some leftover ground beef then try this easy cowboy stew recipe or the best homemade mini lasagna

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Many times I don’t cook with recipes, I go into the kitchen and throw together tasty meals with whatever ingredients I have on hand.

Everyone has a meatloaf recipe that Mom made; this one is mine. Make this a few times then start adding or subtracting ingredients to create your own special Meatloaf recipe.

Main Ingredients

• Ground Beef: An 80/20 has enough flavor and just enough fat to give you a great flavor.
• Eggs & Breadcrumbs: These ingredients really keep the meatloaf together
• Sauce: A simple combination of Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce is all you need for that classic meatloaf flavor.
• Seasonings: Onions, salt, and pepper. I also like to sprinkle in a little garlic powder.

Which Ground Beef is good for making meatloaf?

Use regular ground beef which is usually a ground Chuck. Fat adds flavor, so don’t use anything too lean; I use an 80% lean.

Do you use milk in meatloaf?

I don’t, but some recipes call for using milk or another liquid. The milk softens the bread crumbs, but I never had any issues, so why add more ingredients than you need? I prefer my milk in mashed potatoes. :-).

Drum roll Please! Mom’s Meatloaf Recipe instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
• In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup of the ketchup and 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, mix together, and set aside for later basting.
• Throw 1 pound of ground beef with an 80% Lean/20% Fat content into a big bowl. Break up the beef into chunks and salt and pepper. Just give the salt shaker a couple of good shakes and a little more with the pepper. If you like garlic, shake in a bit of garlic powder, NOT garlic salt.
• Dice up ½ a medium onion and toss into the bowl.
• Squirt in ketchup, probably about ¼ cup to start.
• Shake in the Worcestershire sauce until it just smells right, about 1 tablespoon. It’s a personal preference with the amount. If you really have no idea how much to use then give the bottle a couple of good shakes to start.
• In a small bowl, lightly beat two eggs and mix into the ground beef mixture
• Pour in a ½ cup of plain bread crumbs.
• Use a wooden spoon to get everything mixed up nicely. Compress into a big ball.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Plop the meatloaf onto the lined baking sheet and mold it into a rectangle. You can also bake in a small loaf pan.

• Put the meatloaf into the oven and bake for about 15 minutes then baste with the ketchup Worcestershire sauce. Continue cooking for a total of 60 minutes. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees to ensure it’s fully cooked.
• I like a little crispy to the sides; place it under the broiler at the end for a couple of minutes. Watch it so you don’t burn the top.
• Refrigerate the leftovers for cold meatloaf sandwiches. Yum!

You can also divide the uncooked meatloaf into smaller loaves and freeze them for later.

Serve the Meatloaf with classic mashed potatoes, or for a change, bake a couple of potatoes and top with sour cream and chives.

Mom’s Meatloaf will become your go-to comfort food dinner. if you enjoyed this meatloaf, then you might like my small batch Sunday Roast Dinner recipe, or this amazing baked beef stew for one.

• If you enjoy this recipe then make sure to check out my classic salmon patties .
• Try https://aweekendcook.com/lemon-coffee-cake/ for a light dessert after a hearty comfort food meal.

More Classic Comfort Foods