This meatloaf recipe isn’t like the meatloaf you remember eating when you were growing up. It’s not a dense as a brick, hunk of dried out, tough meat. This meatloaf is extremely moist and loose and it’s actually good for you too. It’s absolutely loaded with fresh veggies which is what makes it so moist and fall apart tender. The best thing about it is that no-one is going to know that there’s good for you veggies in it. They are just going to be blown away by how good this meatloaf tastes. It can be our little secret!
Years ago my boss and I would stop in at a little sandwich shop in the park near our office building. They always had meatloaf sandwiches on the menu each Thursday. That was some of the tastiest meatloaf I ever ate. When I changed jobs and moved to a new location it started my obsession to recreate that tasty meatloaf at home. I tried numerous recipes over the years, some with better results than others, but none of them came close to the meatloaf in that little sandwich shop. I hit pay dirt when I finally added vegetables to the meat mixture. I know it sounds odd, adding vegetables to meatloaf but you will have to trust me on this, it takes ordinary meatloaf to a whole new level of flavor! This is one recipe that you will make over and over and over and over…It will become a family favorite.
Start by preheating your oven to 350℉.
This meatloaf comes together in a snap using a food processor! Combine croutons, French fried onions, black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, chili powder, dry mustard, paprika, and garlic powder in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is a texture that resembles coarse sand. Place this mixture into a large mixing bowl.
Toss with Parmesan cheese and set aside.
Next place the carrots in the food processor and pulse until you have tiny little bits, but not completely pureed. Add it to the crouton mixture in the mixing bowl.
Combine the onion, garlic, parsley, celery, and red bell pepper in the food processor bowl. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped, but not pureed.
Add the chopped vegetables to the bread crumb mixture.
Add the ground beef, eggs, and Worcestershire sauce.
Mix to combine all the ingredients.
Form into a loaf and place in a baking dish.
Bake for 90 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine ketchup, barbecue sauce and mustard.
Remove meatloaf from the oven.
Spread ketchup mixture onto meatloaf. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Allow meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing it.
Serve with a side of mashed potatoes or Mac & Cheese. Oh…and leftovers? It’s absolutely divine on sourdough bread slathered with mayo. One of my all time, very favorite sandwiches! I think I like the leftovers in a sandwich the best.
I always serve this tasty meatloaf with a side of my favorite stovetop Easy, Extra Creamy, Mac & Cheese. It comes together quickly on your stovetop and it’s rich and creamy, just the way mac & cheese should be. It’s the perfect side to this delectable meatloaf. The perfect comfort food combo meal!
This post was originally published January 2020 and republished with updated photos, recipe notes, and new content October 2023.
Most Marvelous Moist Meatloaf
Equipment
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz pkg. French fried onions
- 5 oz pkg. garlic flavored croutons
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp dried mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 stalks celery
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
- ½ cup fresh parsley
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
For The Sauce:
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- In a food processor bowl, combine croutons, French fried onions, black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, chili powder, dry mustard, paprika, and garlic powder. Pulse until the mixture is a fine texture. Place this mixture into a large bowl.
- Toss with Parmesan cheese and set aside.
- Place carrots in food processor and pulse until you have tiny bits. Add to the crouton mixture.
- Combine the onion, garlic, parsley, celery, and red bell pepper in the food processor bowl. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped, but not pureed.
- Add the chopped vegetables to the crouton mixture.
- Add ground beef, eggs, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Mix with your hands to combine all the ingredients.
- Form into a loaf and place in a baking dish.
- Bake at 350℉ for 90 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine ketchup, barbecue sauce and mustard.
- Remove meatloaf from the oven. Spread ketchup mixture onto meatloaf. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Allow meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing it.
- Serve with a side of mashed potatoes or Mac & Cheese.
Did You Make This?
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