Meatloaf! Making, Freezing, and Small Batch Options!
Meatloaf - It's supposed to taste good, not look pretty 
I received an email from one of my readers recently asking me how I make my meatloaf. You know after that email I was craving me some good old meatloaf!
Its such a simple meal, and quite homely, but still so darn good! I often think my mother makes it purely so they can have meatloaf sandwiches with the leftovers the next day!
One of the great things about meatloaf is the versatility in making it ahead of time. You can form a meatloaf in a size to feed a smaller number and freeze individual ones, either before baking or after, for convenient anytime meals. Keep on reading for more!
Now you don’t have to buy lean beef or ground chuck for meatloaf, but it will help you to have a less greasier outcome so I usually get one or the other when I make mine. If you use regular ground beef, just strain off the juice (a nice way of saying “grease”) when you pull it out of the oven and you’ll be fine .
You’ll need: 2 lbs ground beef, a can of Hunt’s Seasoned Tomato Sauce for Meatloaf, 2 eggs, and 1 Cup oats (quick or old fashioned).
I love this Hunts stuff. I try not to endorse a specific brand on a lot of things but I gotta tell you, this stuff is awesome. I could literally drink it from the can. Yes that sounds gross but if you get it and don’t at the very least dip a spoon in to taste it I’m going to be awfully disappointed in you. Go ahead, no one is looking. If they are, then you are kinda late getting supper going, aren’t you?
Speaking of being late getting supper going. Meatloaf is an excellent dish to make ahead of time. I usually make two meatloaves at at time and freeze one. When ready to bake, just pop your frozen meatloaf in a cold oven and then turn it on. It thaws out while the oven is preheating and then just needs to cook for about fifteen minutes longer and you’re all set!
If you are cooking meatloaf for a smaller bunch (two people or so), you can always separate it into mini loaf pans. One recipe will yield about four small meatloaves. Freeze the ones you don’t need for a quick main course on another night!
A great hint when freezing meatloaves is to line your pan with aluminum foil. When the loaf is frozen remove it from the pan and wrap tightly in foil or place it in a zipper bag and return it to the freezer, leaving your pan free to use. When its time to bake your meatloaf, pop it out and put it back in the original pan – it fits perfectly!
Yet another thing to do with meatloaf is to bake them in little muffin cups. Once done, allow to sit in the muffin pan for about ten minutes before removing to cool. Place those you don’t need in a freezer bag and then you can simply heat them in the microwave or pop them right back in the muffin pan, top with fresh ketchup, and heat up in the oven!
Place your meat, eggs, and oats in a mixing bowl.
Add the entire can of meatloaf sauce.
I know the wrapper says just to add half the can but Mama and I like to add it all in there.
This creates an incredibly flavorful and moist meatloaf.
Moosh all of that up together well with your hands. If the very thought of mixing, mooshing, and blending ground beef with your bare hands bothers you, feel free to wear latex gloves.
I actually keep a set of those yellow heavy duty gloves in my kitchen. I marked “meat” on them with a permanent marker and wash them really well with hot water and dishwashing liquid after each use. I don’ t use them often but sometimes if I am making up a large batch of meatloaf and the meat is straight from the refrigerator, the coldness just makes my hands ache! My gloves come in handy as an insulating layer on those days . This also works when I am making meatbals with overly cold meat and such.
Once it is well mixed, place it in your pan and pat it down to form your loaf. I am using an 8×8 pan here.
This is going to make enough meatloaf for two meals for us.
To help it all cook evenly, take a knife and cut down the center of the meatloaf…
Like this.
This is a little trick Mama told me about a while back that will prevent your meatloaf from being all done on the outer edges but still pink in the center.
You can leave the topping off if you like and sometimes I do, depending on my mood.
Isn’t it fun to have whims every now and then? Makes me kinda feel like Zsa-Zsa. For this tutorial I went ahead and added some ketchup on the top and spread it around a bit.
Bake at 375 for 45 minutes to an hour. The can instructions will say to bake it for thirty minutes at four hundred but I like to go a little slower for a little longer.
Plus, I have never in my life seen a meatloaf truly done after half an hour.
Have you ever tried to take a pretty picture of meatloaf? Oh the trials and tribulations of my life! ~laughs~
Let your meatloaf sit in the pan for about ten minutes before cutting slices, this will help keep it from falling apart.
Special thanks to Cynthia of Chicks and Cubs for asking me about meatloaf and prompting this tutorial!
Meatloaf
2 Lbs ground beef
1 cup oats (quick or old fashioned)
2 eggs
1 can Hunts Seasoned Meatloaf Sauce*
Place all ingredients (including entire can of sauce) in a bowl and mix up very well with hands. Form into loafe and place in an 8×8 pan or make smaller loaves and place in mini loaf pans, muffin pans, or two regular sized loaf pans.
If making an 8×8 loaf, score a “t” down the center with a knife before baking. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes to an hour.
*If you can’t find Hunt’s Meatloaf seasoning where you are, you may substitute 15 ounces tomato sauce, 1/2 onion finely chopped, 1/2 chopped bell pepper, and salt and pepper to suit your personal taste. Unfortunately, our Wal Mart has quit carrying Hunt’s meatloaf seasoning but I have found it at the local Piggly Wiggly and the people are so very nice there!
I just finished watching the episode of Little House On The Prairie where Caroline stayed up all night using the fabric she had bought for her new Sunday dress to make a dress for Mary and Laura as a surprise for the Visitor’s Day at school. Laura stood up when it was her turn to read her essay for the school event and read a story about how wonderful her mother was and how much she loved them, telling how she had sewn all night to make their new blue dresses instead of making one for herself. The only thing was, Laura couldn’t write beyond a kindergarten level and she only pretended to read all of that because it was what she wanted to write so badly. Never can watch that episode with a dry eye.
I think the would world be a better place if everyone watched Little House on the Prairie more, don’t you?
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My Little Legacy
Brady got A Honor roll again! Go go gadget Brady!
Last week, he and I had an evening out together and as he was placing a fry in his mouth, he paused with it mid air and said “Ma, you know, if you ever die, you don’t have to worry about Southern Plate. I’ll keep it running for you and I’ll post all the recipes and instructions.”
I smiled and told him I knew it would be in good hands. Hopefully he won’t be taking it over anytime soon, but nice to know my baby is prepared to carry on the family dynasty!
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Wow fantastic ideas for my next lunch with my friends.
Bye from Italy by
Cakeitaly.com – A taste of Italian sweets
If you want you cant add your blog in my blogroll All your recipes
Christy,
Meatloaf is one of my favorite meals. the meatloaf sandwiches the next day comes in second. Thanks for sharing. The hunts sauce is very good. I have used it many times. Also I wanted to share with you, If you are cooking it in a loaf pan you can put two pieces of bread in the bottom and it will help soak up an excess grease from the meatloaf. Take care and as always Happy Cooking!!
Bread in the bottom? You’re a genius!
I’ve done that before too and it is fabulous, just make sure you leave it in the pan! I accidentally served someone meatloaf with grease sodden bread attached to the bottom once, lol! That was back in my days as a personal chef, too! I was so embarrassed!
They sell special meatloaf pans that have drainer thingies in the bottom but just pouring it off, straining it off with a spoon, or using the bread trick like you said works perfectly fine and there is no special pan in the house with one use.
Way to go with the tip, Tracy!! Thank you!
This meatloaf looks great! I’m really picky about meatloaf too! Thanks for adding the substitution tip for the sauce. I will look for it at the store, but I have a feeling I won’t find it. Thanks!
Isn’t it frustrating when you can’t find stuff you want? I like Pioneer brand baking mix for certain recipes and now Wal Mart has quit carrying it – in addition to this sauce.
I think Wal Mart is going ahead of me just for kicks. I can see them now on the hidden cameras
“Here she is! Watch, I bet she’s gonna want that baking mix and meatloaf sauce! ~laughter~ Get Bernie in here, he’s not gonna want to miss the look on her face….Hey, you think she’ll do that lip snarl again?”
Maybe you’ll get lucky and find it at the first place you go though. If you do, get two cans. No sense in tempting fate
~grins~
Brady is so sweet! That is just awesome that he has volunteered to keep Southern Plate up and running should anything happen to you. What a great kid.
This meatloaf looks great. I’m a big fan of meatloaf – as I was reading the tutorial I kept thinking about my mom’s meatloaf. Similar to yours, in that she adds egg and oats. But she also adds shredded carrots. And she tops it with cream of mushroom soup. It wasn’t until I was grown that I realized that cream soup on top of meatloaf is a bit unusual. Anyway, I love it either way, with soup or ketchup. I’ll have to try it with tomato sauce mixed in, that sounds really good.
You know, I am going to try it that way now. I think it sounds pretty darn good myself! I love tater tot casserole and it has cream soup in it. The flavor is phenomenal!
I think your mom was onto something
I love meatloaf. I usually make it with a little sausage or chorizo mixed in the hamburger but dear old paw likes it just the way you make it. I just finished making him Potato Soup and cornbread, he was happy.
Congrats to you Brady! Keep up the good work kiddo!
Oh.. Grilled meatloaf sandwiches with a little Thousand Island dressing and Mozzarella cheese melted on it? Good stuff!
Another idea for mashing up the ingredients without using your hands is to use one of the $1 potato-masher tools. I use mine for lots of things and it really comes in handy!
I love my potato mashers too! I think most people use them likely, but I guess I just like to get in there with my hands and get it done! lol
I have the patience of a gnat, I swear.
I’m like you though, I use them for so many things!
Usually when I am doing a recipe for SP, I also try to avoid any special tools if I can so everyone at home can see how to do it without buying anything special.
Your name sure is pretty, I’ve not seen that one before!
Gratefully,
Christy
That’s a good looking meat loaf! I’ve never thought about using oats instead of bread crumbs, although I have used instant rice. I’ll have to try your recipe, especially the trick about slicing it through the middle! I usually just throw a bunch of stuff together and hope it comes out well! I know what you mean about the cold meat freezing your hands. I have to hold mine under warm water to thaw them out!
Congrats to Brady on making the honor roll! That’s sweet that he cares so much about your web site!
Hey Sonya!!
Brady is loving these comments to him! Thank you!!!!
My mom has always used oats too but I have seen several recipes using bread crumbs. I wonder if I’ve ever had meatloaf made with bread crumbs…I’ve no idea! lol
Bet I have. I’ve never had a meatloaf I didn’t like, too!!!
Christy
This is very similar to how I make meatloaf. I haven’t used (or seen for that matter) the Hunt’s. I’ll have to remember to try that next time. Another easy way I freeze meatloaf is to mix all the ingredients together and then, instead of forming in a loaf pan, dump it in a gallon freezer bag. You can smooth it out fairly thin. This helps it thaw a lot quicker and also takes up less room and is easy to stack in the freezer!
that is a good idea! I do that with all of my casseroles and such, then stack them up like bookends once frozen.
Great minds think alike! Or in this case, my piteous mind has managed to think like your great one! lol
Oooh I need coffee !
~is easily distracted~
I am craving some meatloaf just looking at that picture. I LOVE meatloaf!!
OH I need to bring you some of this! lol
I love left over meatloaf with mashed potato sandwiches. My goodness they are so good.
now I never put mashed potatoes on my meatloaf sandwich!!!
NEW TRICK!! NEW TRICK!!!!!
Brady is an amazing young man. Nice to know how good, or bad, kids are.
My husband loves meatloaf………….I have to put cheese in it for him though. Thank you for all the fabulous recipies you are sharing
Marj
The cheese sounds wonderful. My husband loves cheese so much his grandmother used to say he had rat blood
.
Thank you for the compliment to Brady! he really is a wonderful little boy with a great big heart.
I love my baby.
OMG! My mother used to make meatloaf with that Hunt’s sauce and now I do the same thing! l absolutely think that makes the best meatloaf. I am so glad you agree! I am afraid one of these days my grocery store is going to quit carrying it so everytime I am in there I always grab a can or two to keep on hand.
I know!!! Wal Mart has quit carrying it and I found it at Piggly Wiggly so now I have five cans in my pantry!
~Please Hold For An open letter to Wal Mart~
Wal Mart, I love you honey but you are really losing touch quick with your customer base. We can handle the complete absence of customer service, the occasional turning upside down of the entire grocery department, and maybe every now and then you ceasing to carry a brand or item we really like but all three at once on a continual basis is getting to be a bit much, even for me.
Precious, honey, sweetheart, baby, darlin, Wal Mart, I don’t have all day when I go to get groceries. I understand the age old concept of “moving things around so folks will have to look for them and will end up buying more” seems to work in theory but nowadays it just makes me think “well since I no longer know where anything is here, might as well head to Publix or Piggly Wiggly”.
~We now bring this tangent to a close and continue with our regularly scheduled comment~
I emailed Hunts to ask if they plan on continuing it as it is getting harder to find so I will let you know what they say!
Christy
Love your WalMart letter!
You made me hungry for meatloaf too, and when I went to our Walmart Neighborhood Market last night to do my grocery shopping, naturally they didn’t have that sauce. They had the one for chili, but that was it. I think our regular WM carries it (or at least they used to.) I’ve about decided to go back to shopping across the street at my old grocery store. (They have the instant packages of Cream of Wheat that my baby likes there too!)
(Oh – and add another CONGRATS to Brady! that is awesome!)
I’ll be trying this meatloaf tonight! Was just on the phone with dear husband and told him put some meat out to thaw. I will be stopping at Ingles on the way home to pick up the Hunt’s sauce, as I avoid Walmart whenever possible. Between the grocery store, Dollar General, and CVS, who needs Walmart???
OK, so I easily found the Hunt’s meatloaf sauce at my beloved Ingles and the meatloaf turned out wonderfully! My husband ate double helpings … we had pintos and baked potatoes with it. I’m tickled to add another favorite dish to my repertoire – thanks so much!
First off Way to go Brady! What an accomplishment. Now for the meatloaf mix, I couldn’t find it at Publix or Wal-mart you were right (they do have the chili mix) I found it at Winn-Dixie and done just as you said I have now on my shelf in the pantry 5 cans. Will make it probably Wednesday as tomorrow I’m doing hearty twice baked potatoes for hubby who isn’t feeling all that great.
I’m making this tonight! I’ll let ya know how it turns out.
I love Little House on the prairie!! That was my favorite show as a kid…I used to pretend I was Laura! I think that show helped shape my character (Lord knows I didnt get any from my momma)!
Man I have yet to find the Hunts!!
Ok what section are you guys finding the sauce in? Maybe that will help some. I have looked everywhere!
Michelle I don’t know if there are any Winn-Dixie stores near you but that is where I found it.
Christy the meatloaf was delicious.
My son has requested Meatloaf for dinner tonight so I decided to check out SP. My meatloaf is just like your except I use bread crumbs instead of oats; I’m trying the oats in mine for tonight. Looks delish. And I thought I was the only one Walmart was ‘out to get’………..ha ha. WHY, OH WHY did they stop carrying LARGE ELBOW MACARONI?
FOUND IT!!! My Walmart was sold out but they do sell it. I happened to be shopping at a different WM last night and they had it!!! WE are having it tonight with some mac and cheese.
My daughter cleaned her plate!! Thanks
my husband made meatloaf last night and used the mccormick meatloaf season packet instead of the can of sauce, and also added a can of ro-tel. it was so good! of course he did the whole oats and eggs too. just thought i’d put that little tid-bit out there.
Have you ever thought of adding grated parmesan cheese into the meatloaf mixture? It’s soooo yummy!
Hi,
I’m going to make your meatloaf tonite, sounds wonderful!! I cook mine in my favorite iron skillet…that’s the only thing that could be added your excellent recipe. Gives the edges that yummy crusty edge that everyone fights over and the ketchup carmalizes on the edges as well—meatloaf heaven!!
If you like the idea of the cream of mushroom soup, here’s the way I make it. For the meatloaf, half a can of cream of mushroom soup, 2 lbs. beef, a packet of dry onion soup mix, 1/2 c of dried bread crumbs or oats, and a beaten egg. Bake @ 350 for an hour or so.
Take the drippings, the rest of the soup, and about 1/4 c of water. Stir it up, heat it, and that’s the gravy.
Hope you like!
Sometimes I add chopped mushrooms to the meatloaf, or sauteed ones to the gravy.
If you’re going straight for meatloaf sandwiches, just shape ‘em into patties like hamburger.
I love your site! I grew up in Mississippi so this is the kind of food my mom made.
I am making meatloaf for our dinner tonight. The Hunt’s Meatloaf sauce is hard to find. I was looking everywhere for it, and I found it when I went to Mississippi over spring break at the local Piggly Wiggly. I bought 3 cans. When I got home I found it at my local Kroger, and I grabbed another can there. If anyone has a Kroger nearby, you might want to check there. The sometimes carry things that are hard to find.
Again, great site! I enjoy visiting.
Hey~
I am not a meatloaf fan but my hubby sure is, he absolutely loves meatloaf and can eat the left overs for a week. With new baby coming I am trying to find things that I can make up a head of time freeze and he can just throw in the oven. This on is GREAT!! The only thing is, we dont eat ground beef in our house, my choice definitly not his lol, so I made it with Ground Turkey, turned out just wonderful, and its healthier. Along with that we dont have the Hunts here so I picked up a package of the McCormicks meatloaf seasoning and mixed it with a can of tomato sauce, Im too lazy right now to chop onions and such, but it turned out really good, he absolutely loved it and felt good about himself cause as he says he “cooked” dinner lol.
Thanks for the greatness, keep it up!!!
Alissa
I LOVE meatloaf…my mother in law taught me a great little quick meatloaf trick…it’s basically the same as yours but instead of the tomato sauce, throw in a can of mild salsa…you get the veggies, the tomato flavor and it makes a GREAT meatloaf!
What a fabulous idea! Last night I substituted the Hunt’s meatloaf sauce (Wally World doesn’t carry it) with a can of Manwich sloppy joe sauce. Next time I’ll try the salsa trick. Thanks!
I’m constantly challenged to find simple man-pleasing recipies for my extended family, with my son-in-law being the most finicky. Last night I made the meat loaf, and I couldn’t find the Hunt’s meatloaf sauce, so I sneakily substituted Manwich sloppy joe sauce. Viola! It’s a winner!
Paula,
My mouth didn’t just start watering when I read this, it started GUSHING!!!!
I absolutely love Manwich and you are so wonderful for commenting and telling us this!!! I can’t wait to make it!!!
I could kiss you!!
Gratefully,
Christy
when my children were small,i made this meatloaf in muffin pans and “frosted” them with mashed potatoes. they were delighted to have their own meatloaf cupcake and always ate every bite
Hi and thank you for your wonderful recipes. I found you last night as I was searching for something(can’t even remember what that was)when I found you! Oh the recipes, oh my goodness! Thank you. I’m making the meatloaf for dinner as well as that Sawdust pie! Yummy!