Easy Meatloaf Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion (grated, or finely chopped)
• 1 cup breadcrumbs (I used Panko)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 small carrot (shredded or finely chopped)
• 1 stalk celery (finely diced)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1/4 cup parsley (fresh, chopped)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 pound ground beef
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
• 1/2 cup ketchup (or BBQ sauce)

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven: Heat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet or a baking dish with aluminum foil.

2. 2

   Prepare meatloaf mixture: Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl and mix well using your clean hands. Do not over mix the ingredients to avoid creating a dense loaf.

3. 3

   Shape loaf: Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the prepared baking sheet or baking dish. Shape it into a loaf roughly 9 inches by 5 inches. If using a loaf pan, just pat the meatloaf mixture into the pan.

4. 4

   Add ketchup: Spread ¼ cup of the ketchup mixture over the meatloaf and reserve the other ¼ cup for later.

5. 5

   Bake: Bake the meatloaf for 45 minutes, then spread with the remaining ¼ cup of ketchup. Bake the loaf for another 10 to 15 minutes (about 1 hour total), until the middle of the loaf registers at least 155°F on an instant-read thermometer.

6. 6

   Cool before slicing: Let the loaf cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. If you baked your meatloaf in a loaf pan, carefully drain off the liquid fat before transferring the meatloaf to a cutting board. Cut into thick slices and serve.