Meatloaf Recipe with the Best Glaze
Amazing homemade Meatloaf Recipe. The meatloaf is so tender and juicy on the inside with a sweet and tangy glaze that adds so much flavor to the meatloaf. Serve the easy meatloaf with mashed potatoes and a side of asparagus.
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Hey, hey! Valentina with Valentina’s Corner sharing our Meatloaf recipe.
Meatloaf Recipe:
Ground beef mixed with onion, Panko breadcrumbs, fresh parsley and seasonings produces an irresistibly tender and juicy meatloaf. The sweet and tangy glaze adds amazing flavor to this classic meatloaf.
Tips on How to Make the BEST Meatloaf:
- DO NOT OVERMIX which can result in a tough/dense meatloaf
- Line your loaf pan with parchment paper with edges hanging over the pan for easier removal of meatloaf.
- Keep the juices from the pan and pour over the sliced meatloaf before serving.
- Chop the onion finely, allowing it to cook through (or sautee onion before adding)
- Gently press meat into the pan so it holds its shape.
- Rest meatloaf for 10 minutes before slicing
What is the Best Meat for Meatloaf?
You want to use ground beef that is 85% or 90% lean meat. Do not worry about using lean meat – the rest of the ingredients will keep your meatloaf moist and juicy. Avoid super lean meats.
Meatloaf Sauce:
This meatloaf sauce is incredible as a glaze for the meatloaf with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. Ketchup combined with brown sugar, garlic and onion powder, salt, pepper and vinegar creates an irresistible sauce. Once baked, the glaze caramelizes and is SO GOOD!
Can I bake Meatloaf on a baking sheet?
For crispier edges, bake meatloaf on a baking sheet. Out of foil, create a self-made pan with edges to keep the drippings from the meatloaf as it’s baked. Shape meatloaf and place into the foil. Continue with baking instructions. NOTE: Baking time may slightly vary, depending on the shape and thickness of the meatloaf.
How long to cook Meatloaf?
Cook the meatloaf uncovered for 40 minutes at 375°F. Add the sauce, and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, or until internal temperature is 160°F. If using a smaller loaf pan than 9″x5″, increase cooking time.
Leftover Meatloaf?
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, here are some leftover meatloaf ideas (and I’d love to hear your ideas in a comment below):
- Leftover Meatloaf Sandwiches
- Make Spaghetti Bolognese (just add meat to the sauce!)
- Beef Tacos – Break up the meat and put it in tacos
- Quick Beef Chili – just stir, simmer and enjoy!
Can you freeze Meatloaf?
Yes, meatloaf may be frozen before cooking. To freeze, prepare meatloaf per instructions. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil and freeze.
Defrost the raw meatloaf in the refrigerator covered. Continue with baking instructions.
More Easy Dinner Recipes to try:
- Turkey Chili is on the regular rotation at our house
- Chicken Parmesan – Better than eat out
- Chicken Stuffed Shells – The filling is amazing
- Chicken Fried Rice – A one-pan wonder
Meatloaf Recipe with the Best Glaze
Amazing homemade Meatloaf Recipe. The meatloaf is so tender and juicy on the inside with a sweet and tangy sauce that glazes the meatloaf and adds so much flavor!
Ingredients
Meatloaf Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground beef 85% or 90% lean
- 1 med onion finely chopped
- 2 large eggs
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 3 Tbsp ketchup
- 3 Tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
- 3/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 ½ tsp salt or to taste
- 1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp ground paprika
Meatloaf Sauce Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1 ½ tsp white vinegar
- 2 ½ Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
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Line a 9”x5” loaf pan with parchment paper and preheat oven to 375°F.
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In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients for the meatloaf. Mix well to combine.
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Add meat to the loaf pan, gently press meat down and shape evenly and bake meatloaf at 375˚F for 40 minutes.
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In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients together for the sauce. Spread the sauce over meatloaf then return to oven and bake additional 15-20 minutes. Rest meatloaf 10 minutes before slicing. Drizzle with baking juices from the pan.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Valentina Ablaev
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Glaze was delicious! Which loaf pan BRAND was used as loaf pan in recipe picture does not look like loaf pan recipe on Amazon affiliate website? There is also another picture in a blue loaf pan? Thank you!
Hi Joyce, this pan was purchased locally and it isn’t available online, but underneath the color, it is a metal bread pan.
I made this recipe tonight and I have to say that this is the only way I’ll make meatloaf for now on!! AMAZING!! I Sautéed the onions and I also added a little bit of Sautéed peppers (tri-color), pre-chopped from the store. I also added some paprika to the glaze as well…can you say STUFFED!!??
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
We love this recipe. I do add ham and provolone cheese make it stuffed meatloaf. The sauce is amazing.
Made this for Sunday dinner. My four year old grandson said he wasn’t going to eat meatloaf, didn’t like it. Well…3 kid-sized pieces later! 🙂 🙂 He’s now a meatloaf lover!! This recipe was fantastic!! Loved the glaze! Thank you for this recipe!
Wow, that is awesome! I am very happy to hear that, Barb. Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
Question – how many people would you say this feeds? I know it says 8 servings but just making sure. I’ve got 5 adults for dinner and now sure if I should double it 🤔
Hello Gina, approximately 8 full servings for adults. It really depends but you can adjust the serving size by clicking on the serving size in the recipe card, you can slide it up or down to scale the recipe ingredient lists. I hope that helps!
Planning on making this meatloaf soon, but my mom is allergic to dairy, can we substitute the milk for a non-dairy milk? Thanks!
Hi Peyton, several of our readers left comments about leaving out the milk altogether, and it worked great. I hope that helps.
Making this as I type this out. Had to make a few adjustments since i was out of certain ingredients (shallots for onion, white wine vinegar for regular white vinegar) but nothing too drastic. Really looking forward to trying it this evening.
Get the feeling I should have added cheese, because…y’know…cheese. LOL!
Hello Shawn, thanks for sharing some of the adjustments that you have tried. I can’t wait to hear your feedback!
Hi Natasha I want to make the meatloaf, but I only have i pound of beef! can I mixed it with ground pork?
Helli Dalila, I imagine that will work. I saw others shared this “My meatloaf mix: 1 pound chuck, half-pound sirloin, half-pound pork. Looking forward to my leftovers tonight.” I hope that helps.
I always use almond milk and it’s great!
Couldn’t watch, there are so many pop up adds covering the screen and on top of each they were freeze framing the presentation. Wanted to watch but didn’t want to wade through all of the ads.
Hi David, thank you for sharing your concerns and feedback. The only way we can continue providing free recipes is by having ads on our site, so we cannot remove those at this time. We find that most people would rather see the ads than pay to see the recipes. I appreciate your feedback, and I hope you love every recipe you try.
I made this for my parents without salt and it was still amazing! My mom asked for the recipe. The glaze! YUMMY!
Excited to make it again.
Thank you for sharing it.
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe, Tracie!
Made this meatloaf tonight.. incredibly moist and delicious.
Thanks
Awesome! I’m glad you enjoyed it, Barb. Thanks for your great review.
I made this for my boyfriend and he practically ate the whole loaf in one sitting and said it was the best meatloaf he’s ever had in his LIFE and he is 60 so that’s saying something.
Followed recipe exactly used garlic from jar.
Super juicy and easy to make!!!
Oh wow, he sure loved it! Thanks for your awesome review and feedback.
Fantastic Receipt – I added a little Dijon mustard and Thai chili sauce to the mix. It did require a longer cooking time using the 9×5 loaf pan and I turned up to 420 after adding the sauce. Using non stick parchment paper made it simple to remove and cleanup. It was the best. Thank you.
I’m so glad you enjoyed that! Thank you for your great review!
We’re not meatloaf lovers, but have to admit, we love this recipe. We’ve made it at least 4 times now, each being delicious and totally enjoyable. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Wow! I’m so glad you have this recipe a try! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Pretty much a perfect recipe. My mom, who’s 90, literally smacks her lips when I bring her a meatloaf. I even need to make extra of the “ special sauce” for dipping.
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m all smiles
Had this two days ago. We used 1/2 ground bison meat with 1/2 ground beef (one pound of each). I had to fight off the monsters (adult sons) who wanted to skip the mashed potatoes and dessert and only eat the meatloaf. It was most excellent.
That’s just awesome, Ken! Thank you for sharing that wonderful review with me!
This meatloaf is better than my mom’s and grandma’s meatloaf! I made two changes due to what I had in my kitchen. Saltine crackers for breadcrumbs and apple cider vinegar for white vinegar. It was delicious and the glaze was amazing!
Hello Marlee, thank you for your awesome review. I appreciate sharing your experience with us!
Best meatloaf!!! My husband who is not a fan of meatloaf went back for seconds. The tips were so helpful and the glaze was the best! Thank you
So awesome to hear that, Lisa. Thank you so much for sharing!
Best Meatloaf recipe!! Everybody loved it!! Mahalo!!*:)
Fantastic! Thank you so much for your awesome review, Angela.
OMG!!! I just made this and it was off the CHAIN!! The best meatloaf I have ever made!! So flavorful and delicious! Just like the lemon pepper recipe that I made of yours!! Yummy 🤤
Hello Shan, wow thank you for your fantastic review! That makes me happy and inspired, I appreciate you sharing your comments with us.
I am going to make this today! Can I use regular breadcrumbs instead of Panko breadcrumbs?
Hi Debra, that will work too. Please share with us how it goes if you try this recipe!
Very good! Flavorful and juicy
Confused about the timing. Cook for 40 minutes, glaze, cook another 20, rest for 10. Cooking time says 50. The math doesn’t add up. Help 🙂
Hi Sarah, I should have caught that, and thank you for pointing that out. The instructions were correct but we did not input the timing calculator correctly.
Just made this for my family. It taste great.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Do you cover the pan when it’s cooking during the first round without the sauce?
Hi Rosie, please see this note in the recipe “Cook the meatloaf uncovered for 40 minutes at 375°F” I hope that helps
I have 2 pounds of ground turkey on hand. Would I follow the same instructions using turkey vs beef? I love all your recipes!
Hi Molly, I haven’t really tried using ground turkey yet to advise. I saw someone commented this “I sub it for ground turkey and I also add bell peppers to It all the time its great” I hope that helps.
This might be the best meatloaf I’ve ever made! Very flavourful. A delicious recipe. 😋 This is a keeper recipe.
Awesome! Great to know that you enjoyed this recipe, Lynne. Thank you for sharing!
I’m in BIG trouble Natasha…. BIG TROUBLE!!!!!
I made this absolutely delicious recipe and i ate half of it before it cooled. What am i going to tell my sweetie when she gets home?
Best meatloaf ever. Thank you.
Oh wow, I’m glad you loved it! Thanks for your amazing review of this recipe, Jim.
This is my “go to” meatloaf recipe. Always a pleaser. Thank you for sharing.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
What kind of loaf pan do you recommend?
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Thanks for sharing Natasha ! I made this for the first time and we love it . So juicy as well! God bless you and your family!
I’m glad you loved this recipe, Alma. Thanks for your wonderful feedback and review!
Hi again. I forgot to ask, can you freeze this meatloaf with sauce on or should you sauce it when you reheat.
Thanks again Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth, we have freezer instructions in the post. You can freeze it with the glaze.
Thank you
Hi Natasha,
I must say you did it again your meatloaf is so delicious. The sauce on top was amazing. My husband had 3 slices and said I better make this again.😊 and I will.
Thank you Elizabeth
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Elizabeth.
Probably not the healthiest but the best thing ever (even better than the original meatloaf) is to fry slices of cooked meatloaf in a hot pan with a bit of oil. The crust is incredible and makes perfect sandwiches!!
The glaze is my favorite! I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe, Nancy!
This is great !
I added half a cup of barbecue sauce into the meat mixture in addition to the other ingredients. I also made a gravy from the juices before I added the Barbecue sauce on top of the loaf. Once I cooked the loaf with barbecue sauce the juices left over from that I added to the gravy and salt. Was delicious 😋
Great to hear that and thanks for sharing, Louise!
Omg!! I just finished cooking this and it was AMAZING!! 😋
Best Meatloaf Ever!!
My Family Left Nothing, Its All Gone lol…
Blessings To You For This Recipe
That is the best when the family loves what we moms make. That’s so great!
For a person who usually doesn’t like beef, I absolutely loved this!!! The only question I have is on the nutrition label is that the calories per slice?
Hi Lena, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! This recipe makes 8 servings. I didn’t measure it by the cup, but it will be 1/8 of the meatloaf. I hope that helps.
Hi, this was really good! I’ve made it twice since I first saw it 3 weeks ago!
It says 8 servings, how many ounces are in each serving?
Hi Lyn, this recipe makes 8 servings. I didn’t measure it by cup but it will be 1/8 of the meatloaf. I hope that helps.
The Glaze/Sauce is THEE TASTIEST!! A tangy treat that I am now going to use on my meatloaf every time!! Thank you!
You are very welcome, PJ. Looks like you found your new favorite glaze recipe!
My husband loves meatloaf and this recipe did not disappoint. It was tasty and the glaze on top was amazing.
I’m so glad you both enjoyed that!
Hi Natasha, I don’t have Italian Seasoning in the house and I am making today, what can I use to substitue for that?
Hi Patricia, I haven’t tried any other substitute but you can always mix equal parts of different seasonings like basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram.
This is absolutely the best meatloaf I have ever tried! Super moist with a sweet glaze. There were no leftovers, everyone went back for seconds!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Quick question. Trying to eat healthy. Have you ever made with ground turkey?
Hi Carol, I haven’t really tried using ground turkey yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
I add approx 1/2+ pound Jimmy Dean sausage with the hamburger and am a little generous with the seasonings except for salt And after the 1st time, I double the glaze 😁.
Huge hit with several friends who are excellent cooks.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Followed directions exactly but with one exception. Instead of the sauce at the end I omitted that. I placed slices of bacon on top for the entire baking time. Omg! Delicious. This is a definite keeper.👍 will definitely pass it along to family and friends.
Hello Kathy, that is so fantastic! Thank you for sharing that with us, I appreciate it!
This was a big hit! 8 servings?!! Leftovers?! Haha – the 4 of us devoured the entire meatloaf! I had a question though…After cooking the meatloaf and letting it stand probably about 20 minutes before cutting, the meatloaf pretty much fell apart when I cut it. Any ideas what happened?
Hi Caroline, slicing thicker slices helps with that. I’m so glad you loved the meatloaf.
Hi Caroline – I’ve found that the safest way is to basically pre-cook it earlier in the day, and then let it cool and firm up and then reheat it at dinnertime. It gets much less fall-apart-y, AND you’re not busy cooking right up until dinnertime! Stick it in the oven to reheat put your feet up, and have a nice relaxing glass of wine… 😉
Had the same problem with it falling apart even though the taste was delicious! If I make earlier in the day do I cover it before I reheat? Also do I pour out grease before reheating. Thanks
We reheat this in the oven covered with foil.
Did you put the egg and bread crumbs because that’s what binds it together.
If I make the meatloaf for “4” instead of “8”, is the cooking time the same?
Hi Jill, if you click on the serving size in the recipe card, you can slide it up or down to scale the recipe ingredient lists. The cooking time should also be the same. I hope that helps!
I tried this recipe last week and loved it I used regular breadcrumbs since that is what I had on hand, I was super flavorful. This is definitely being added to my meal rotation
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Hello Natasha, this is Michael and we just purchased a big Air Frye ! ! I hope you can give me similar cooking times & temp’s to try this is my Air Fryer ? ? Thanks in advance for your help, be safe & God Bless.
Hello Michael, sorry but I haven’t tested this using an air fryer yet so I cannot advise of the proper cooking time and temps. Maybe someone else here has already tried can share with us?
I made this meatloaf & love it. Can it be cooked in an Instant Pot? If so, directions please
HI Judy, I haven’t tried cooking meatloaf in the instant pot. If you have tried it, I’d love to know more about your process.
Hey Judy, if you make a foil basket, and use the insert tray that came with the instant pot you can definitely make it in the instant pot. Put a cup of water in the bottom and put in pressure cook/manual mode on high for 20 minutes and it comes out so moist!!! I love my instant pot. So to clarify: just make the foil basket the same size around as the instant pot and press the meatloaf into there… place the “foil pan” and on top of your insert tray. Pour 1c of water in the instant pot and then put the insert with meatloaf on it into the instant pot. (Glaze after and rest 10 mins)
Was great! Didn’t change anything 🙂
Thank you, Kristina!
I just made this and used apple cider vinegar. I hope it doesn’t mess up the flavor too much. I am looking forward to tasting it!
Hi Michelle, we would love to know how you liked it. I hope you can also share with us how it goes.
This meatloaf was amazing. My little picky eater loved it.
That is wonderful, Melanie. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I made this followed recipe to a T and my family loves it!! Best meatloaf ever!!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
All of these recipes are great. As far as the glaze, ketchup, siratcha and honey. The best!
Thank you for that great review!
How did you do the glaze because I think the brown sugar is going to be too sweet for my family
This was by far the best meatloaf recipe I have ever made! And the sauce for the top was incredible. Everyone that ate this had the immediate response that “this is better than a restaurant!”
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
I highly recommend this dish. Made this last night for dinner. The meatloaf was delicious and moist. I waited 10 minutes before serving. It didn’t fall apart. I did add some chili flakes & cumin to the delicious sauce. We had, for sides: mashed potatoes and creamed peas. Husband asked for meatloaf sandwiches for lunch this morning! Now that’s a winner for sure!
So wonderful! Thank you for your great comments and review, Cheri. I appreciate it!
Easy and both my boys loved it—and they never agree in anything!
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!
Such a great weeknight dinner! And the leftovers make perfect sandwiches!
This totally takes me back to my childhood. Meatloaf with a side of mashed potatoes is just the perfect comfort food. Loved it!
Totally agree with you, Jen!
Such a fantastic meatloaf recipe! I can’t wait to try it!
While this tasted very good. After the alotted cooking time my meatloaf wasn’t cooked in the middle. In fairness I did have a little more than two pounds of ground beef. I’m bringing this up for those who may run into the same issue. I had to cook for an additional 30 mins. I ended up using my meat thermometer to ensure the proper temp. My oven was working properly as well.
Was very tasty and my family enjoyed it.
Temp it to make sure it done. Because everybody’s oven is different
Sous chef here…fantastic recipe. Decided I wanted to try something different from mine. Excellent. Added two strips bacon to top. Glaze is wonderful! Brava!
Thank you for that wonderful compliment! I’m so glad you enjoeyd this recipe! I love the idea of adding bacon!
Who knew that meatloaf could be so delicious?! This was this best meatloaf I have ever eaten. This will be the recipe I use from now on.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Mary!
I’ve been cooking over 46 years and have never made a good meatloaf until I tried this recipe. Tonight was the second time to try it and once again it turned out great….great tasting and well formed….not falling apart. I only did half the recipe since it’s just my husband and me; I’m so glad to add meatloaf back to the dinner menu!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Hi Natasha! My sister and I made your meatloaf today for dinner. It was good! We loved the glaze on top. Our family tore it up. It was gone. We added turkey bacon on top for extra flavor. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
The meatloaf was great, and. my guests loved it. the next time I make it, I plan to glaze the onions first, and cut the brown sugar in half. It was a bit too sweet for me.
What can I use in place of milk in this recipe? Anything?
Hi Jeanie, a few of our readers left comments mentioning they left the milk out altogether, and it worked great. One of our readers said: “This was really fabulous. For those asking about excluding milk, I substituted it for unsweetened almond milk, and it came out perfect!” I hope that helps.
I hate the taste of ketchup, so I was very happy to find this recipe. The topping was so good, I covered each bite with it, which is unheard of for me!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Lara!
I did make this meatloaf so many times and always turned delicious, sometimes making with 1 pound ground beef and 1 pound Turkey and it also taste great!!!
I’m glad to hear that you loved it. Thank you, Tanya!
Great recipe! I didn’t use a loaf pan, instead I made it freeform on a sheet tray with parchment paper. My meatloaf mix: 1 pound chuck, half pound sirloin, half pound pork. Looking forward to my leftovers tonight.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Sarah! I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe.
It’s my second time making this meatloaf and i got to say “it’s the best meatloaf ever”. It’s so juicy, loaded with flavour that with every bite we take, we go “mmmmm”. Thank you Natasha for this recipe, as well as all the other recipes. You rock 🙂!
That is such a nice comment, Danielle. Thank you for your excellent feedback!
I do not eat beef but I’m making it for my kids and future son in-law tonight. I’ll let you know tomorrow.
Sounds good, Helen. Please share with us how it goes!
I will make the Meat Loaf tonight. I love Natasha’s recipes. I am so far away but feel Im in her kitchen when I watch her cook. I have so many favourites.
Hi Sharon, sounds like a good plan. Please share with us how it goes, would love to hear your feedback!
Tried this recipe for the first time with a minor tweak (added worchister sauce and mustard) and it was absolutely delicious!
Thank you Natasha – this will be my go to meatloaf recipe from now on!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Haha – mine is the oven right now – I also added “W” sauce, but didn’t even think about mustard 🙄
Next time lol!
How much Worcestershire Sauce and Mustard did you add? I’m interested in trying this variation next time.
This was delicious! I’ve never made a meatloaf before and I was so amazed at the flavours! Yours is my favourite site for recipes!
Thank you for that wonderful compliment! I’m so happy you’re enjoying our blog and recipes!
Natasha’s Kitchen has become my go to for recipes!
Aww! Thank you! I’m so happy you’re enjoying my recipes!
l just found this sight. Am looking forward to exploring more. l can’t wait to try this meatloaf recipe. i’ve not really been satisfied with my recipe
I’m so happy you discovered our blog. Welcome! 🙂
Hello since I don’t eat beef, can I sub it with ground turkey?
Hello Virginia, I haven’t really tried using ground turkey yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
I sub it for ground turkey and I also add bell peppers to It all the time its great
Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
I love using ground turkey for meatloaf. We have done it for years.
Absolutely the best I’ve tasted and I’ve made it multiple times !! One question – could i substitute ground turkey and leave everything else the same and it won’t be bland ?? ( trying to eat a little healthier these days )
Hi Joanne, I honestly haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us too how it goes.
I make chicken , turkey, and ground pork meatloaf all the time. It is far from bland although I do add onion soup mix to this recipe.
This is very close to my recipe. I add 1/2 cup each, shredded carrots, zucchini and cheese. A good way to sneak veggies in and the cheese keeps it moist. Keep your videos coming, love them!
I’m so glad you enjoyed you’re enjoying our recipes! That’s so great!