Simple Ranch House Meatloaf

Derf's Note:

Easy and tasty served either hot or cold, wonderful sliced cold for a picnic or sandwiches. We have enjoyed this basic meatloaf for many years.Try a change, instead of the usual topping, try your favourite salsa brushed on top, a nice Chipotle medium or hot salsa is wonderful on it.

• Total Time: 2 hrs
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 2 lbs ground beef (i use lean)
• ½ cup onion , finely chopped
• 1 cup bread or 1 cup cracker crumb
• 2 eggs
• 7 ½ ounces beef broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 1 teaspoon sage
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Topping

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard

Directions:

1. Mix all the meat loaf ingredients together.
2. Pack into a 5 x 9 loaf pan.
3. Bake at 325f degrees for 1 1/4 hours.
4. Remove from oven, turn out of pan and place on an ovenproof serving dish.
5. Topping: Mix the topping ingredients.
6. Brush over the meat loaf and return to the oven for 30 minutes or longer.
7. Note: The finished meat loaf can be frozen or the meat loaf ingredients can be split into 2 smaller loaf pans, cooked, topped, cooled and frozen.
8. Defrost and reheat or use sliced cold.
9. ALTERNATE TOPPING.
10. 4 tablespoons chilli sauce.
11. 3 tablespoons splenda.
12. 4 tablespoons spreadable soft cream cheese - light.
13. 1 tablespoon hot horseradish.
14. 1 teaspoon dry mustard.
15. Combine all and brush on top of meatloaf instead of above topping.

Reviews

[Sharon123]

Dorothy, my husband loved this meatloaf, he said it kind of tasted like pork. I think it was the thyme and the beef broth. He wasn't crazy about the topping, so he just scraped it off. Thanks for a good meatloaf recipe!

[Roger/OH]

Great tasting and moist meatloaf. Right up there with the best I have made. The topping I found very sweet. It mellowed out after baking. I added dry minced onions and a little liquid smaoke to the topping.

[TrebleChef]

Everyone loved it. I even got to use up some Italian flatbread crackers from Christmas that no one liked. :) I scraped off some of the sauce, but liked a touch of it. Thank you for an idea with leftovers!