I confess, I’m kind of a meatloaf snob. I was never a fan until adulthood when I finally had some really good meatloaf. It was a life changing experience! Meatloaf should be flavorful and moist, never dry as sawdust. It should be packed with flavor with a loose consistency, not dense as a brick. You should be able to easily break it apart with a fork, no knife needed. Those are the basic characteristics of a good meatloaf. And surprisingly, this one checks all those boxes.
My mother was a fantastic cook, but her meatloaf left a lot to be desired. It was as dense as a brick. I imagine that if you tossed her meatloaf at a window it would break the glass. I’ve tried numerous meatloaf recipes over the years. Some turned out quite good, others were an abysmal failure. Like the time I added rice to the mix. My co-worker forget to mention you had to cook the rice first. My husband thought his teeth were crumbling in his mouth when he took his first bite. I’ve come a long way in my cooking skills and learned a lot since that dismal meal…LOL!
With only 6 ingredients (water doesn’t count), I was highly dubious this recipe would be very good but I kept seeing it all over social media with loads and loads of great reviews. So when I ended up with an extra box of stuffing sitting in the panty after Thanksgiving I decided to give this recipe a try.
Start by preheating the oven to 350℉.
In a large mixing bowl combine one pound of ground beef with the box of stuffing mix, 2 eggs, ½ cup water and ¼ cup ketchup. No other seasonings needed; the stuffing has all the seasonings in it.
Once well combined, spread the beef mixture in a 9 inch loaf pan.
In a small bowl stir together ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup barbecue sauce, and 2 tablespoons yellow mustard to make the topping.
Spread the topping onto the meatloaf in an even layer.
Bake for 45-60 minutes or until loaf reaches an internal temperature of 160℉.
Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
I was pleasantly surprised at how moist and tasty this meatloaf is! It actually packs a lot of flavor and the topping (my own addition to the viral online recipe) takes it over the top! It takes just a few quick minutes to mix it together and get it in the oven. As it bakes you have plenty of time to make a yummy side; mashed potatoes or rice pilaf are my favorite sides. Round out the meal with a veggie or this Rich & Creamy Caesar Salad With Crisp, Garlicky Toasted Croutons; a family favorite.
I encourage you to give this easy to make recipe a try. I was pleasantly surprised at how well this turned out. It will be making an appearance on the table often in the future. Easy to make and tasty, that’s a winner in my book. Oh, and if you have any left overs, the sandwiches the next day are da bomb! Got mayo? This one’s definitely a keeper!
The Easiest Meatloaf Recipe
Equipment
- 9 inch loaf pan
Ingredients
For the meatloaf:
- 1 box cornbread stuffing
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ½ cup water
For the topping:
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- In a large mixing bowl combine ground beef with the stuffing mix, eggs, water and ¼ cup ketchup.
- Spread beef mixture in a 9 inch loaf pan.
- In a small bowl stir together ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup barbecue sauce, and 2 tablespoons yellow mustard to make the topping.
- Spread the topping onto meatloaf in an even layer.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes or until loaf reaches an internal temperature of 160℉.
- Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Did You Make This?
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Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35
Stove Top stuffing has a recipe very similar. I have made it its ok but yours looks so much better I may have to try it.
The sauce on top is what makes it really tasty at least that’s what my husband and son say. I love making sandwiches with the leftovers for lunch the next day with sourdough bread and Mayo…yum!