Classic Meatloaf
Classic Meatloaf is seasoned with bell pepper, onion and spices
and topped with made from scratch seasoned tomato sauce.
Watch the video for this recipe!
Classic Meatloaf
Meatloaf is one of those dishes that I never get tired of. This is a simple, classic meatloaf. No need to over complicate things.
Meatloaf takes some practice to get the seasonings exactly the way you want them, but with a little love, it doesn’t take very much to get it right.
So the theme of this blog is intuitive cooking right? And that is the exact skill that I use when cooking dishes such as meatloaf.
Start off slow with the seasonings and then add more as needed. Once your meat becomes fragrant it is well seasoned.
This little trick works perfectly every time. Listen to your senses and intuition.
Ritz crackers were used to bind the meatloaf. Grind them in your hand into small pieces. Because the crackers are fine, they mix well with the other ingredients.
You will need:
- Ground beef
- Seasonings: seasoned salt, garlic salt, onion powder
- Yellow onion- diced
- Green bell pepper- diced
- Ritz Crackers
- Eggs
- Tomato sauce
- Ketchup
Steps to make this recipe:
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, add the beef, garlic salt, onion powder, yellow onion, bell pepper, crushed crackers and eggs mixing together.
Place the ingredients in a loaf pan and cover with foil. Cook the meatloaf for 1 1/2 hours.
To prepare the sauce, mix tomato sauce, ketchup, seasoned salt and onion powder in a bowl. Pour meatloaf sauce over the meatloaf and place meatloaf back in the oven and cook uncovered for 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven, allow to rest for 10-15 minutes prior to cutting/serving.
To mix and bind the meatloaf together, I usually start off by mixing the ingredients with a spoon, but I’m old school, so after a few stirs I get in there with my hands.
A loaf pan was used for this recipe, but you can use a regular pan or pyrex dish and form the meat into a loaf shape.
Enjoy!
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Ingredients
- 9 in 5.3 in x 2.9 inch loaf dish
- 3 lbs of ground beef
- 1 tbsp of seasoned salt
- 1/2 tbsp of garlic salt
- 1/2 tbsp of onion powder
- 1/2 c of yellow onion- diced
- 1/2 c of green bell pepper- diced
- 2 whole eggs
- 10-15
Ritz Crackers - crushed
- For the sauce:
- 1 (8) oz can of tomato sauce
- 1/2 c of ketchup
- 1/2 tsp of seasoned salt
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, add beef, seasoned salt, garlic salt, onion powder, yellow onion, bell pepper, crushed crackers and eggs mixing together.
- Press ingredients together in a loaf pan and cover with foil.
- Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
- To prepare the sauce, mix tomato sauce, ketchup and seasoned salt in a bowl.
- Pour the sauce over the meatloaf.
- Place the meatloaf back in the oven and cook uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving!
I made this recipe but used gluten free crackers since I’m celiac and it was so delicious!! My whole family loved it!! Huge hit:) I even brought it for thanksgiving and everyone raved!
So glad that you all enjoyed it! I’m glad that you were able to make the necessary substitutions for your needs.
Love the addition of ritz crackers instead of bread crumbs!.
Thank you! They really make a difference.
This looks so good! I’ve been looking for a good meatloaf recipe and I think I found one I would like. Thanks!
Cool beans! Thank you!
This is very similar to my recipe, but I have never thought to add bell peppers…definitely trying it next time!
Cool beans! They really take the flavor up at notch!
The Ritz crackers are a nice touch. Will be trying!
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it!
OMG, I never thought to add Ritz cracker…that sounds so good!
Thanks!
My husband does the cooking so I sent it to him. he always is looking for new recipes. Especially meatloaf!
Hey that will work! Thank you!