Meatloaf is one of those comfort food that reminds you of the taste of home. It is also one of our dinner staples as it requires very little preparation. Ground beef is usually used to make meatloaf but ground turkey is a very good alternative and is also a favorite in our household. You can likewise use a mix of ground beef and ground pork.
My meatloaf recipe uses finely chopped onions, carrots and celery that is cooked together with seasonings before being added to the ground meat. This ensures a moist and fool proof finished product.
To make, finely chop 1 medium onion, 2 medium carrots and 2 celery stalks. Saute these vegetables in a little bit of olive oil until softened. Then add a couple of tablespoons of worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup beef broth, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper and 1 tsp of thyme. Cook for about 5-8 minutes and let the mixture cool down to room temperature.
Take about a pound of ground beef then add your vegetable mixture, together with 1 egg and 1/4-1/2 cup breadcrumbs. Mix everything with your hands until well combined. Shape your meatloaf into a rectangular shape and place it on a foil covered baking sheet. Note: I make my meatloaf freeform and has never used a meatloaf pan. Mix together 1/2 cup catsup, 1-2 tbsp yellow mustard and 2 tbps brown sugar and spread this evenly on top of your meatloaf.
Bake in a 350F oven for about an hour or until juices run clear.
I served this with steamed green beans and pan roasted baby potatoes.
