Best Meatloaf Recipe, and that is exactly what it is, made with lean ground beef, chopped peppers, onions, spices and what makes it even more delicious? Your favourite cheese baked and melted right in this Amazing Best Meatloaf.
Best Meatloaf
Best Meatloafthis was my Mom’s recipe and this is what she called it, and I am standing behind it 100%. To tell you the truth I have never eaten any other Meatloaf but this one.
Which will make some people say, “then how can you say this is the best if you haven’t tried any other”? Yeah I know, you have a point. But to tell the truth I haven’t found one that makes my mouth water like this one!
When you eat something and it is so good, you know there can’t be anything better! Especially when you add some cheese.
I can remember coming home from school and I was so happy to find and smell that amazing aroma drifting all through the house from the kitchen. It was Best Meatloaf night!
It was always one of the best and yummiest dinners ever, especially when my Mom served her meatloaf with Roasted Potatoes.
So of course I also do it this way to this day. It is so nice to have memories like this to share with your kids and what better way than with a delicious recipe made by your Mom.
I must say not just with my family but quite a few times my Italian friends have asked if I could serve this Best Meatloaf when we get together. That amazing smell gets them every time.
Best meatloaf isn’t one of those Fast Meals that are made and cooked in 30 minutes, on the table in no time. But it is very easy and it does come together in 10 minutes and only an hour to bake.
The last 10 minutes of baking I top it with the remaining shredded cheese. All that melty cheese!
And trust me it will be well worth it. One of those perfect Comfort Weekend Meals. Or even weekday when you have the time.
Easy Best Meatloaf Recipe
But wait I’m not done yet, this dish just keeps on getting better. You are going to love this Easy Meatloaf right out of the oven, hot and cheesy.
And if by chance you have leftovers (sometimes it is difficult to leave any on the serving plate)!
Refrigerate the leftovers and then the next day slice it up and make a sandwich with some tasty bakery bread and you will certainly agree that you just ate one of the best sandwiches ever!
Oh and don’t forget to put some ketchup on that sandwich, now that’s perfection! Buon Appetito!
Best Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup cracker crumbs
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 eggs beaten
- 2 tablespoons chopped green pepper
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 medium bay leaf crushed
- dash of marjoram and thyme
- 1 cup shredded cheese (firm mozzarella, cheddar, swiss, gouda your choice)
Instructions
- Pre- heat oven to 350° (180° celsius)
- Combine all the ingredients together, combine well. Add half the meat mixture into a shallow lightly greased baking dish, top with 1/2 the shredded cheese, then top with the other half of meat mixture. Bake approximately 1 hour. After the 45-50 minutes baking time, remove from oven and top with the remaining shredded cheese, return to oven to finish baking. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Republished from February 26, 2015.
Alisha Ross says
it’s such a complete “brain save” for me. I literally do nothing.The texture ends up being a tad different, but not enough that my family has ever noticed. 🙂 The kids love having it cooked in baggies too because I will keep some in the fridge and it makes them much more apt to cook up something on their own. 🙂
Rosemary says
Hi Alisha, thanks so much, glad you like it. What a great idea, I love when kids cook.
Carmen says
Hello from Mexico
I’ve done this recipe several times, my two sons love it, just to comment, as they don’t like Ketchup, I use BBQ and it taste wonderful!
Thank you
Rosemary says
Hi Carmen, thanks so much, so glad they enjoy it. And good idea with the bbq sauce.
Mon says
Can you freeze this meatloaf? Before you bake or after???
Rosemary says
Hi Mon, you can do it either way, just wrap the meatloaf really well so it doesn’t get freezer burn, and when ready to cook or eat defrost completely in the refrigerator. Hope that helps.
charlene says
Hi Rose,
Love this recipe! Could you please tell me what kind of crackers you use. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks
Rosemary says
Hi Charlene, I used just regular saltine crackers. Let me know how you like it.
Ed Wyllis says
This looks wonderful. Your ingredients don’t list a type of cheese, can you tell me what cheese you used?
Rose says
Hi Ed, I actually used a very mild kraft slice cheese. My mother always used a mild cheddar but that is difficult to find here in Italy. So I leave it up to you, mild or medium would work well, just cut thin slices. Thanks.
Wendi Spraker says
Rose – that really does look delicious! I think I will try it too! My mom always made hers with a ketchup top – but I think I like the idea of cheese better! 🙂
Rose says
Hi Wendi, thanks, we really like this meatloaf, hope you enjoy it.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
On Yum!! I don’t know why we don’t make meat loaf more often. I used to all the time when the kids were home and I really enjoyed it. Your recipe sounds excellent. I will definitely try it — perhaps a mini-loaf since there is only the two of us.
Buona sera! Grazie per la ricetta.
Rose says
Hi Marisa, thanks, sure why not a mini loaf, enjoy! Have a great weekend.
Karen says
I make all kinds of different meatloaves but I’ve never made one with cheese. I can’t wait to try your and your mother’s version…it sounds great.
Rose says
Hi Karen, I hope you give it a try and let me know how you like it. Have a great weekend.