Five Easy Meatloaf Recipes

Meatloaf is an easy family-friendly, budget-friendly main dish.
There are many different recipes you can try to see which your
family enjoys most. I have included five different recipes for
you to try.

You can make meatloaf with ground beef or ground turkey. Ground
turkey is a healthier, lowfat alternative to ground beef.
Meatloaf is also a great way to use ground meat you pick up on
sale.

Several meatloaves can be made at one time. You can freeze them
either before or after they are baked. To bake a frozen, uncooked
meatloaf, bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 1/2 hours (do
not thaw out first). To bake a frozen, cooked meatloaf, bake at
350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool completely before freezing.

Basic Meatloaf Recipe

1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
3 slices bread
1 large egg
1 c. milk
1/4 c. onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. sage
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 c. catsup OR barbeque sauce OR chili sauce
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all the ingredients except
the catsup together. Spread the meat mixture into an ungreased
loaf pan, 9 x 5 x 3-inches or shape into a loaf in an ungreased
baking pan. Spoon catsup onto the loaf and bake, uncovered, for 1
to 1 1/4 hours or until done. Drain off the excess fat and serve
sliced on a heated platter.

Olive Meatloaf

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 c. chopped onions
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 bacon slices, halved
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. each: basil, oregano and salt
1 can (6 oz.) pitted black olives, drained
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce

In large bowl, mix all ingredients except olives, tomato sauce
and bacon. Mix in olives, reserving 5 for garnish. In a 9x12-inch
baking pan, shape mixture into a 4x12-inch rounded loaf. Pour
tomato sauce over loaf. Lay bacon slices across loaf. Bake in 350
degree oven 1 hour and 15 minutes. Garnish with reserved olives.

Turkey Meatloaf

2 lbs. ground turkey
1 env. Lipton onion soup mix
1/4 c. ketchup
1/2 c. bread crumbs
4 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 c. ketchup

Mix first 4 ingredients. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking
spray. Divide the meat loaf in half. Place half in the pan and
put grated mozzarella cheese on top of the mixture. Place the
rest of mixture on top of cheese and seal edges. Spread 1/2 cup
ketchup over the top. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45
minutes or until done.

Italian Style Meatloaf

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 (6 oz.) hot Italian sausage or spicy bulk sausage
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) Italian style stewed tomatoes
1 c. fresh bread crumbs
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped green pepper
1 egg, beaten

Combine all ingredients; mix well. Place in loaf pan (4 1/2x
8-inch). Bake at 350 degrees 1 hour; drain.

Crock Pot Meatloaf

2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 lb. sausage
2 med. onions, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, chopped
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 c. sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 c. bread or cracker crumbs
1 1/2 c. milk

Soak bread or cracker crumbs in milk. Mix meat, seasonings, and
soaked crumbs thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix sour cream and
mushroom soup. Make meat mixture into loaf and pour the sour
cream-soup mixture over top. Bake in crock pot 10 to 12 hours on
low.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of
What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick
easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, gardening, organizing tips,
home decorating, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative
Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com/.