Lakeside Grill Meatloaf With "secret Sauce"

If you ask ten different cooks how to make a meatloaf, you will get ten different recipes.... guaranteed. I've tried a lot of them, and this is my favorite. I served it at my restaurant and I had to keep making more every time I served so I wouldn't sell out. If there are any leftovers, slice it and grill it for great sandwiches. If you like, try substituting half of the ground beef for venison, ground pork, or ground turkey. They are all too dry to use by themselves, but they work great mixed half and half with ground beef.

• Ready In: 1 hr 25 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs ground beef
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1  cup  crushed  saltine crackers
• 1  cup  chopped celery
• 1  small onion, finely chopped
• 4  chopped garlic cloves
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped bell pepper
• 1  teaspoon  italian seasoning
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon white pepper
• 2  eggs
• 1⁄2 cup ketchup
• 2  tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Combine all of the ingredients except the ketchup and Worcesterchire sauce in a large bowl.
2. Shape into a loaf in a large glass baking dish.
3. (I use a glass baking dish because it allows me to leave plenty of room at the sides for the grease to drain.).
4. Mix the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce together and spread on top of the loaf. (Yep -- that's the "secret sauce").
5. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour and ten minutes.
6. Let stand for 5 or 10 minutes before serving.
7. I like to slice it thick (about 2") and serve it standing up on a plate, it makes a nice presentation and gives a little of the sauce with each bite.