Not My Mama's Meatloaf!!!!

Meat Loaf was never a favorite of mine growing up. There was always complaints from me not wanting to eat that big old loaf of meat. I am not sure if my brothers and sister liked it or not, I just knew I hated it. I know one thing I was told to clean my plate and that I did. I just kind of got to be really good at learning how to wash certain foods down with my drink. LOL, I really don't remember being that picky as a kid. My mother was a great cook, it was just that particular dish was so unappealing to me. It just looked like a big blob of meat with ketchup poured on top, and that is exactly how mom made it. UGH! Fast forward to today, my mother in law that's a whole different story. That woman can make a smack down awesome meat loaf, no questions asked. It is the best homemade meat loaf you have ever put in your mouth. She changed my opinion on meatloaf, thanks mom.

I usually use her recipe whenever I make meatloaf, but I was visiting the Sunday Baker and I saw Tanya's meatloaf recipe. It looked so darn tasty and different. So different that I really wanted to try it. Her recipe called for the addition of Stove Top Stuffing. I said to myself, I bet that makes the flavor so good. So on the menu Meat Loaf went!!! I prepared it just like Tanya did and waited for the verdict................... My husband said it was really really pretty darn good, keep in mind his mama makes the best meatloaf so I was up against some pretty tough competition. Linda, I love you and yours is still the best, but this comes pretty close to perfection in my book as well. Now I have two great meat loaf recipes. Is there a certain food that you just couldn't stand as a child, but now you love. If so what is it?

These are the ingredients you will need:
ground beef, stove top stuffing mix, Lawry's seasoning salt, worchesershire sauce, tomato sauce, 2 eggs, and minced onion. If adding a glaze to the top you can use ketchup, brown sugar and worchesershire sauce.


Crush the stuffing mix using a food processor. I don't have a food processor, boy do I sure need one maybe one day. I used a zip lock bag and a rolling pin.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients, including the ground stuffing mix. Using your hands, mix the meat loaf ingredients. Don't over mix or you will get a tough meatloaf!


Mix until just combined and then press into a greased bread pan:


I chose to add a glaze on top, this is optional but so good. All I did was mix some ketchup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce together. Taste until it is sweet enough for you, then brush on top of the meatloaf. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until juice runs clear and it's cooked through. Make sure to drain the loaf half-way through the baking.


slice and serve. Sorry about the bad picture, but meatloaf isn't very photogenic anyways.

Meat Loaf

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 box chicken flavored Stove top stuffing
(Chicken I used Cornbread Flavor)
1 small can of tomato sauce (8oz)
3 T. Worcestershire sauce
2 beaten eggs
1 small minced onion
few dashes of Lawry's seasoning salt

In a food processor (or by hand) grind the stuffing mix until it's a fine crumb mixture. I don't like big chunks in my meatloaf. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients, including the ground stuffing mix. For best results, do this by using your hands to mix the ingredients. However, don't over mix or you will get a tough meatloaf! Instead, mix until just combined and then press into a greased bread pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until juice runs clear and it's cooked through. Make sure to drain the loaf half-way through the baking. If you use a really lean burger, you won't have much to drain. You can also use this recipe for meatballs or cook individual mini-loaves in greased muffin tins. Cool for 5 minutes and slice to serve.

Glaze

Mix some ketchup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce together. Taste until it is sweet enough and the right combination of flavors for you. Brush on top of meat loaf and bake. I save a bit of the glaze to brush more on top the last 5 minutes of baking.

Printable Recipe

Tina, The Mom in Mommy's Kitchen