Meatloaf is one of those foods that you either love or hate. I used to hate it but now I love it!! C still hates it and will not touch it with a 10 foot pole, so when I make this, it gets taken to a family dinner. I had searched for a good, easy meatloaf recipe that resulted in a firm, dry loaf because I did not want it to be too wet and sticky.
This quick and easy recipe is perfect! It was given to me by my co-worker, K, who is a great cook. If you like a dense, solid meatloaf that has just the right amount of moisture in it, try this one. I think you will love it.
P.S. It also makes great leftover sandwiches. You just can’t beat two pieces of white bread with a warm slice of meatloaf in between them. Yummy!
1 lb ground beef
8 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2/3 cup crushed saltine crackers
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tbsp brown sugar
pepper to taste
Please ignore the sleeping dog in the above photo!! Ha, ha! Ellie has such a hard life! Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet. Since I didn’t want the meatloaf to sit in the juices while it was cooking, here is what I did. Put a piece of foil on a baking sheet to catch the drips. Take a baking rack that is smaller than the sheet pan and cover it with foil. Punch a bunch of holes in the foil on the rack to allow the juices to drain. This results in a slightly drier meatloaf which is how I like it. If you want it wetter, just skip this step.
Combine the beef, tomato sauce, onion, and cracker crumbs in a large bowl. I just use my hands to mash it all together. Season with salt and pepper. Shape into a loaf and place it on the rack.
Cook for one hour. Just before the hour is up, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and a little black pepper. Spread this mixture on the top of the meatloaf and cook for 10 more minutes. Enjoy!!
Picture Perfect Cooking 