The best blend of fresh ingredients makes the Best Traditional Meatloaf Recipe moist and tasty in every bite. A tried-and-true homemade meatloaf recipe that retains the legacy of this local delicacy is essential for every family.
This dish is a family favorite since it makes delicious leftovers that are easy to reheat when I pick up my kids from soccer practice. Everyone enjoys creating this mouthwatering meatloaf recipe and consistently asks for seconds.
The Components of Meatloaf
- Use 90% pure ground beef for best results.
- In addition to adding taste, bread crumbs help hold your meat mixture intact.
- The meatloaf seasoning and other herbs and seasonings give your food a delectable flavor and elevate it to the top tier.
- Using a sweet and sour sauce to bind all the ingredients, the glazed meatloaf recipe gives the dish its final touch.
Pro tip: You may use Italian-style bread crumbs instead of the additional Italian spice if you have them.
How Can You Make Meatloaf From Scratch?
- If you’ve never made a tasty meatloaf because you’re worried it’ll be too dried out or won’t taste well, I’m here to change everything for you. Keep the following in mind when you prepare this simple meatloaf recipe:
- In a big bowl, only stir until everything is combined; otherwise, the meat mixture will be very dense.
- Lean beef is the best meat to eat.
- After it comes out of the oven, let it sit for a while before serving to ensure it stays juicy.
Expert Tips & Methods for Making the Best Meatloaf Every Time
- Don’t overlook the wet ingredients, which give your ground beef meatloaf dish moisture and give it flavor and a thick texture. If you want to enhance the recipe’s flavor, add a few drops of Worcestershire sauce.
- Try a bite; if you’re not sure about the flavor, heat up a small amount to taste it and see whether it satisfies your requirements.
- To give it room and allow for the development of caramelized edges, choose a meatloaf pan that is a little bit larger.
- Prepare in advance. Even the meatloaf mixture can be prepared beforehand. Wrap a loaf pan in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator.
- Before putting it into the oven while it’s heating up, let it reach room temperature.
- When using a food thermometer, the ideal core temperature for a loaf is around 160° F. Quick thermometers are a great alternative if you have one.
- Allow the juicy meatloaf to cool for ten minutes after removing it from the oven before slicing. It will aid it in keeping its shape if it sleeps.
How Long Does a Meatloaf Cook Per Pound?
You have to cook your bread at 375°F in a standard oven. It should be observed that cooking durations will vary according to the size, but a decent average is between 35 and 45 mins per lb.
How Long Does a Meatloaf Take to Cook?
- To begin, preheat your oven to 375°F. Next, combine all of the meatloaf ingredients in a large bowl.
- The next step is to press the meat mixture into an 8-inch loaf pan without any grease and then bake it for 40 minutes at around 375°F.
- After that, take it out of the oven and equally distribute 1/4 cup of ketchup on top.
- After that, bake it for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a meat thermometer you placed in the middle of the loaf registers 160°F.
How Long Should a Meatloaf Cook at 375 Degrees, Covered or Uncovered?
- First, preheat your ovens to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Then combine the ingredients in a large basin before transferring them to a baking dish. Do not overmix it since it won’t turn out well.
- Spread the topping over your meatloaf when you’ve finished mixing it.
- Your meatloaf should be baked for roughly an hour or until it reaches 165 degrees.
- Lastly, drain it or take it out of the pan and start serving.
- A 2 lb meatloaf should be cooked for how long at 375 degrees?
- At a minimum, in my oven, a 1 1/2 pound meatloaf would typically take 50 minutes to cook completely in a normal size loaf pan if you preheat it to 375 degrees.
How Can the Meatloaf Stay Moist?
It would help if you used the proper combination of ingredients in the right amounts to make the meatloaf moist. It’s crucial to use adequate amounts of foods that add moisture, such as sauces, eggs, and condiments.
To add moisture to the bread, use high-fat ground beef. When cooking, fats do not dry up as quickly as protein does.
Leaner meats may provide certain health benefits, but they dry up more quickly.
While cooking, keep the meat covered. By doing so, the tastes and moisture will be sealed in, preventing unneeded drying out.
Can Meatloaf Be Frozen?
Meatloaf can be kept frozen for up to six months. Please put it in a sealed container in the refrigerator after it has warmed to room temperature.
Before reheating it, let it defrost in the refrigerator for the night.
How is Meatloaf Reheated?
Meatloaf can be warmed up in the oven, the microwave, or the stove. Make sure you reheat only the amount you intend to eat.
In the oven, you may reheat a bigger piece. It should be covered in tinfoil and set in a baking dish with a thin water coating on top-20 to 25 minutes of further heating at 250 °F.
When reheating meatloaf in the microwave or on the stove, it is preferable to do it by the slice. Slice it thinly and cook it in a pan over low heat, turning it over when one-half is heated.
Pieces should be microwaved for 20 seconds, checked for doneness, and repeated if required.
Tips for Serving Meatloaf
Authentic meatloaf can’t be given by itself, of course! The dish needs some sides to be finished it off. No Southern meatloaf recipe is ever complete without mashed potatoes.
That right there is the pinnacle of comfort! Creamed spinach, garlic-sautéed broccoli, and slow-cooked garlic potatoes are all delectable options that pair nicely together.
Why Does My Meatloaf Fall Apart?
Meatloaf needs eggs and bread crumbs to hold it together. Similarly, take care not to overdo it.
If you follow this recipe, your meatloaf will turn out perfectly!
How Can the Crumbling of Meatloaf Be Avoided?
The right proportions of eggs and crumbs are used in this dish to keep the meatloaf from crumbling when there aren’t enough to keep it together. Meatloaf requires a specific amount of cooking time because if you overcook it, it will shatter.
Timeline For Cooking Meatloaf
You can use the table we’ve created below as a guide while preparing meatloaves of various sizes.
- 1-pound meatloaf cooks for 25-35 minutes at 375 degrees.
- 2-pound meatloaf cooks for 45-50 minutes at 375 degrees.
- 3-pound meatloaf cooks for 75-85 minutes at 375 degrees.
- 4-pound meatloaf cooks for 110-120 minutes at 375 degrees.
- 5-pound meatloaf cooks for 140-150 minutes at 375 degrees.
A delicious lunch for the family can be made quickly and easily. Once the baking process has begun, it will take 45 minutes for your meatloaf to be done.
So bear in mind the variables that will impact the cooking time and the ideal oven temperature. I wish you had fun reading it and learned how long meatloaf should bake at 375 degrees.
