Best-Ever Meat Loaf

This loaf lives up to its name! It’s economical - exactly what we need during these difficult times. While reading over the recipe suggests it may have too much salt, don’t reduce it. This recipe is substantial, but may be doubled or halved; it freezes well. My friend Judy Catherwood passed along this recipe. It’s the best meat loaf I’ve ever eaten or made: Don’t leave out a single ingredient!

Best-Ever Meat Loaf:

2 large eggs

2/3 c. (160 mL) milk

2 tsp. (10 mL) salt

1/4 tsp. (2 mL) fine black pepper

3 slices fresh bread, crumbled (see Bread Note)

1 medium onion, chopped fine

1/2 c. (125 mL) shredded raw carrot

1 c. (250 mL) grated cheddar cheese

1-1/2 lb. (0.68 kg) lean ground beef, all fat drained off (see Meat Note)

1/4 c. (60 mL) demerara sugar

1/4 c. (60 mL) ketchup 

1 tbsp. (15 mL) prepared mustard (“baseball” mustard)

Preheat oven to 350 deg. F. In a large bowl, break eggs, whisking lightly with a fork. Add milk, seasonings, and crumbled bread; continuing to whisk with fork until bread disintegrates. Add onion, carrot, cheese, and beef, mixing well with clean hands. Pack into 9 x 5-in. (23 x 13 cm) loaf pan. In small bowl, combine brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard; spread over loaf. Bake 1 hr. Let stand 10 min. before removing from pan. Serve hot or cold (see Sandwich Note). Serves 4-to-6.

Bread Note: Homemade whole wheat or white bread is ideal for this meat loaf: By sopping up the fat the meat releases, it makes this loaf tender and delicious. Commercially baked white bread is excellent for convenience, but loses its texture and flattens. You can certainly use it, but a soft-textured homemade bread is best.

Meat Note: I routinely double this recipe to save time “next time.” I’ve found that using equal parts of ground beef and  ground pork produces an outstanding loaf. I now do this routinely. I freeze the second loaf, unbaked in its pan, wrapping it with two layers of foil. I don't make the brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard sauce until just before the loaf goes into the oven.  

Sandwich Note: Sliced and served cold, this meat loaf makes heavenly sandwiches!

Combine ketchup, brown sugar, mustard.

Spread over unbaked loaf.

This excellent loaf goes fast! Expect seconds!

A shredder produces long strands;
a grater produces short ones. 

For more Meat Loaf recipes, see One Click: Meat Loaf. Or Meat Loaf: see One Click.