‘Tis the season for comfort food and all things cozy! The weather outside is chilly and if you are like me, you are looking for food to warm your bones! Meatloaf is one of those hearty kind of recipes that I grew up eating and whenever I make it, I am always transported right back to my mom’s kitchen. With a few simple steps, you can make a meatloaf your whole family will love! My easy homemade meatloaf is just the kind of cozy weeknight meal that you are looking for and the best part is, its super easy to make too!

True story, when I met my husband he swore he didn’t like meatloaf and I was determined to change his mind. So that’s exactly what I did! Because this meatloaf is, dare I say, moist and full of flavor it wasn’t too hard to convince him1 Perhaps he wasn’t a meatloaf fan because he just never had eaten good meatloaf and maybe you fall into that category too, which is why I am here to change your mind too!

The best part about this meatloaf, besides how easy it is to make, is hands down the leftovers the next day! I am all about a leftover meatloaf sandwich, and it just might be my motivation for making extra so that I have meatloaf sandwiches for a couple of days! There is something about a slice of meatloaf (cold or warm I might add) sandwiched between two pieces of fresh bread, a little mayo, and tomato and lettuce! It is truly one of my favorite sandwiches!

Are you a meatloaf sandwich fan too?

Regardless of whether you think you don’t like meatloaf, or just have been intimidated to try it out for yourself, this recipe for easy homemade meatloaf is for you!

Ingredients:

• 1 Lb. Ground Beef

• 1 Lb. Ground Pork

• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

• 1 Finely Diced Onion

• 2 Finely Minced Garlic Cloves

• 1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning

• 1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs

• 2 Eggs (beaten)

• 1 Tbsp. Milk

• Salt

• Black Pepper

• 2 Tbsp. Ketchup + More for Topping Meatloaf

Directions:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and add onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and season with salt and pepper.

• Sauté until onions are translucent and then let the mixture cool slightly.

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

• Add both ground meats to a large bowl and then add in sautéed onions and garlic, eggs, milk, a good amount of salt and pepper, bread crumbs and 2 tbsp. of ketchup.

• Mix with your hands until just combined, careful not to overmix to prevent a tough meatloaf.

• Form into a meatball shape and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

• Season top of meatloaf with more salt and pepper and then brush ketchup over the top until it is completely covered.

• Bake for 50-60 minutes until cooked through and internal temperature is 160 degrees.

Tip: To prevent ketchup cracking, place a pan full of water on the bottom rack in the oven. You can also make this gluten free by subbing gluten free bread pieces or bread crumbs and make dairy free by subbing an unflavored non-dairy milk.

I know that meatloaf in general isn’t the most beautiful dish to look at, but it is definitely one of the tastiest! Don’t judge a book by it’s cover and give this easy homemade meatloaf a try!