Better Than Your Mommas Classic Meatloaf

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Better Than Your Momma’s Classic Meatloaf takes mom’s favorite meatloaf recipe from your childhood and (ahem!) serves it up even better.  Moist, flavorful, made with many of the classic ingredients, Better Than Your Momma’s Classic Meatloaf delivers you the hearty rich comfort food you have been craving.

Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf takes mom's favorite meatloaf recipe from your childhood and (ahem!) serves it up even better.  Moist, flavorful, made with many of the classic ingredients and a few surprizes, Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf delivers you the hearty rich comfort food you have been craving. | A Wicked Whisk

If you are like me, there distant memories of “meatloaf night” growing up and because of that you probably either intensly love or hate the idea of a classic meatloaf dinner today.  There is no inbetween and it’s impossible to play the middle of the road card in this conversation … either your mom’s meatloaf was on point or it was an epic disaster that scarred you for life. Thankfully, my mom’s meatloaf was really good and it was even the very first recipe I ever stole from her. Fast forward 25 years and I still use that first hijacked meatloaf recipe but I’ve learned a thing or two since then so I dare say that meatloaf recipe from my childhood has been improved upon. Just don’t tell my mom …!

*Due to suggestions from people who have tried this recipe, the original recipe has been updated with panko breadcrumbs instead of garlic flavored croutons*

WHAT IS TRADITIONAL CLASSIC MEATLOAF?

Classic meatloaf is tradionally made using ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs, crackers or oats, ketchup and a few spices and then shaped into a loaf, slathered with a ketchup-based glaze on top and baked. There are tweeks here and there but that is basically the foundation of every great meatloaf recipe. Classic meatloaf should be easy to make using just a few ingredients already in your pantry and when cooked, your meatloaf should be full of rich flavor, moist and should hold it’s shape. Serve it up with a side of homemade mashed potatoes and corn from a can and you have every meatloaf dinner I have ever had in my ENTIRE life.

Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf dinner on a plate

WHY DOES MEATLOAF FALL APART?

Meatloaf will fall apart quicker than a 3 a.m. Jenga game if it gets too dry.  You need the perfect amount of binder to play off the liquid.  Too much liquid, your meatloaf is mush.  Too much binder and not enough liquid, your meatload will dry out and fall apart. I have made those Jenga meatloafs before .. trust me when I say don’t try to eyeball and free pour your breadcrumbs! Measuring cups were invented for a reason…

WHAT MAKES FAVORFUL CLASSIC MEATLOAF?

When you are taking about the best classic meatlof flavor, you really don’t want to be bringing anything too crazy into the conversation.  There are 1,000,000 easy meatloaf recipes on that fancy World Wide Web but if you are adding curry powder and pickle juice to your recipe, you’re probably making really tasty meatloaf but it’s not going to fall into the ‘classic’ category.  Traditional meatloaf should be rich and comforting and taste like beef.  It’s okay for it to taste like meat … it IS meat … that’s why it’s called Meatloaf. But the spices and the liquid you use are super important because that is where you are really able to add the extra flavor to your dish. Better Than Your Momma’s Classic Meatloaf is packed full of flavor and what makes it an uptick on your childhood meatloaf dinners.

HOW DO YOU MAKE BETTER THAN YOUR MOMMA’S CLASSIC MEATLOAF?

Easy! To make this Better Than Your Momma’s Classic Meatloaf recipe, add the ground beef, Panko breadcrumbs, egg, Worchestershire, tomato soup, spices and diced onion to a large mixing bowl and using your hands, combine until all ingredients are mixed well.

Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf ingredients

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, lightly spray the bottom of a baking pan with non-stick spray and then transfer your meatloaf mixture to the baking pan and shape into an even loaf. Then in a small bowl, add ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, Worchestershire and a dash of sriracha and whisk together to combine. Top your meatloaf with the meatloaf glaze and bake for 55-60 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

PS – don’t forget to grab sandwich bread while you are at the store .. you know there is nothing better the next day than a cold leftover meatloaf sandwich 🙂

Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf slices

Enjoy!

Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf takes mom's favorite meatloaf recipe from your childhood and (ahem!) serves it up even better.  Moist, flavorful, made with many of the classic ingredients and a few surprizes, Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf delivers you the hearty rich comfort food you have been craving. | A Wicked Whisk

BETTER THAN YOUR MOMMA’S CLASSIC MEATLOAF

Better Than Your Momma’s Classic Meatloaf

Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf takes mom's favorite meatloaf recipe from your childhood and (ahem!) serves it up even better.  Moist, flavorful, made with many of the classic ingredients and a few surprizes, Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf delivers you the hearty rich comfort food you have been craving. | A Wicked Whisk
Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf takes mom's favorite meatloaf recipe from your childhood and (ahem!) serves it up even better.  Moist, flavorful, made with many of the classic ingredients and a few surprizes, Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf delivers you the hearty rich comfort food you have been craving. | A Wicked Whisk
Heather - A Wicked Whisk
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Serving Size 6 people

Ingredients

Classic Meatloaf

  • 1-1/2 pounds ground chuck
  • 1/2 medium sized onion .. diced
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 10 ounce can of tomato soup
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Worchestershire

Meatloaf Glaze

  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worchestershire
  • 1/2 teaspoon sriracha .. optional

Instructions

  • To make this Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf recipe, add the ground beef, egg, Worchestershire, tomato soup, spices, diced onion and Panko breadcrumbs to a large mixing bowl and using your hands, combine until all ingredients are mixed well. 
  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, lightly spray the bottom of a baking pan with non-stick spray and then transfer your meatloaf mixture to the baking pan and shape into an even loaf. 
  • Then in a small bowl, add ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, Worchestershire and a dash of sriracha and whisk together to combine. Top your meatloaf with the meatloaf glaze and bake for 55-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

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Nutrition

Serving: 6g | Calories: 352.9kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.1g | Protein: 22.3g | Fat: 22.3g | Saturated Fat: 10.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 444.8mg | Potassium: 171.1mg | Fiber: 0.9g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Vitamin C: 11.6mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2.9mg

Better Than Your Momma's Classic Meatloaf dinner on a plate

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12 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is the best meatloaf I’ve ever eaten. I made it gluten free by using gf oatmeal instead of Panko. I used a plant based egg instead of real egg (chia and chickpea). I used coconut sugar instead of brown sugar, and coconut aminos instead of Worchestershire sauce. I used organic turkey from Whole Foods. My substitutions were only due to allergies and it was still the best I’ve ever had. My husband has no allergies and he loved it as well.

  2. 5 stars
    This looks so good. I love that you use garlic croutons for the bread crumbs. What a great way to add a punch of flavor. I haven’t had meatloaf in AGES, but this is giving me a major craving

  3. 5 stars
    I have to admit, my mom’s meatloaf is pretty delicious! It’s made of the same ingredients, but she adds a little thousand island dressing to the mix so I know this recipe is just as delicious. We love this with homemade mashed potatoes as a side, too.

  4. 5 stars
    Meatloaf always reminds me of my mom’s home cooking! I don’t make it as much as I should, but when I do, I usually add breadcrumbs or crushed crackers. Love that you added garlic croutons! Brilliant. I’ll have to try that.

  5. 5 stars
    I must admit, I’m not the biggest fan of the meatloaf anymore, but I loved it when I was a kid, and my mum still makes hers at least once a month. Your version looks very tasty and I bet it tastes delicious too!

  6. 5 stars
    Ooooo this looks so delicious!!! I love the ingredients you have chosen for the meatloaf and that glaze looks drool worthy! Especially with the sriracha… YUM!

  7. 5 stars
    Meatloaf has always been one of my favorite comfort foods and I’m convince that those people who turn their noses up at it have just never had good meatloaf. I don’t know that I’ve ever made meatloaf with tomato soup, but I’m excited to give it a whirl! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!

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