Easy Meatloaf Recipes - Mix & Match Meatloaf Recipe

Ilove meatloaf. It reminds me of mom and home and simpler times.

My husband and stepson love it too so it shows up on the dinner menu at our house every few weeks.

It’s easy to make - just mix a few ingredients in a bowl, turn them into a pan and bake for an hour or so. It’s quick, easy, and satisfying.

It seems like I never make the same meatloaf twice - always experimenting, tweaking and trying new flavor combinations. For the past several years I’ve been making most of my meatloaf recipes with ground turkey - it is lighter, less rich, less heavy. Sometimes I use 2 parts ground turkey and 1 part turkey sausage for a little extra zing.

Here’s a quick and easy recipe for classic meatloaf with several variations to choose from. It’s the recipe I’ve been using and adapting since discovering it in the fun little cookbook, calledCheap & Easy: A Cookbook for Girls on the Goby Sandra Bark and Alexis Kanfer.

Mix & Match Meatloaf Recipe

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey
• 1 small onion, minced
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, or rolled oats
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup (and a little extra for spreading on top if you like)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine all ingredients then transfer to a loaf pan or make a free form loaf and bake it on a foil lined cookie sheet. Brush with a little extra ketchup if you like.

Last time I doubled the recipe and cooked it in a 9×11 pyrex dish so we had leftovers for a couple of days. We’re meatloaf sandwich fans.

Mix & Match Meatloaf Variations

#1 BBQ Meatloaf:Substitute 1/2 cup barbecue sauce for the ketchup and add 1/2 cup minced green bell pepper and 2 tablespoons of your favorite mustard. Top with BBQ sauce instead of ketchup. If you happen to have smoked paprika add 1/2 teaspoon for additional depth and spiciness.

#2 Teriyaki Meatloaf:Add 1/2 cup chopped water chestnuts, 1/2 cup chopped scallions, and 1/4 cup soy sauce

#3 Italian Meatloaf:Substitute 3/4 cup marinara sauce for the ketchup and add 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1 tablespoon dried basil

#4: Mexican Meatloaf:Substitute 3/4 cup salsa for the ketchup and and 2 teaspoons dried cuminMix & Match Meatloaf recipe adapted fromCheap & Easy: A Cookbook for Girls on the Goby Sandra Bark and Alexis Kanfer.