Meatloaf, the Underrated

Before you completely write off this recipe...forget everything you think about meatloaf. It's not flavorless, it doesn't have to be dry, and in fact it's a great way to feed yourself for a week for under $10.

Plus, meatloaf sandwiches are pretty much the greatest leftover food ever.





 
What You Will Need
1 lb ground beef
1 egg
2 small onions, chopped (or 1 large)
1 cup milk
1 cup oatmeal or bread crumbs (finely ground)
Seasonings (approximated measurements)
2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon salt 
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon ground pepper
a dash of cayenne pepper

What To Do (Photo Instructions Below)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grind oatmeal in a blender or measure out breadcrumbs and put in large bowl. Add seasonings to the oatmeal.
3. Chop the onions and add to oatmeal alongside the egg, milk, and ground beef.
4. Mix well.
5. Pour onto baking sheet lined with aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray, shape into a loaf and bake at 350 degrees for an hour or longer until golden brown and done in the center.

Grind Oatmeal in a blender to get a fine consistency.

Add seasonings to oatmeal. Measurements can be approximate.

Chop onions and add to bowl.

Add egg to mix. If you're awesome, you can do it one-handed.

Add the meat. That's important for meatloaf.

Stir it all up!

Shape the loaf on a pan that has a layer of greased aluminum foil (easy cleanup).

Bake at 350F for at least an hour, or until the crust is golden brown. Hope your housemates don't walk in on you taking pictures of the oven.

Let rest for 15 minutes, then slice and serve. YUM!

Notes:

1. Don't use the leanest ground meat you can find. I know you want to be healthy, but in this case, use a fattier blend (I used 85% lean ground beef from Trader Joe's). If you want to substitute ground turkey...seriously think about adding some fat. Like bacon (I know, I'm really twisting your arm here).

2. If you do want to ramp up the health factor, mix in veggies to the loaf. Like green or red bell peppers. It's yummy and stretches the meals even farther.

3. Make sure you have bread on hand for leftover meatloaf sandwiches.

4. Sure, you can buy seasoned bread crumbs. But if you already have oatmeal/plain bread crumbs and seasonings, just make your own.

Ok...so I made meatloaf so I could have a sandwich. I don't regret it.

5. Free formed loaves are great for a few different reason. First, you don't have to buy a glass loaf pan and most people have a cookie sheet. Second, the loaf gets more crust, which is arguably the best part. Third, the loaf can be shaped to make optimal meatloaf sandwiches.

6. Lastly, you can glaze with ketchup/brown sugar if you want...but with all your favorite seasonings added in, I don't find it completely necessary. But if you'd prefer it glazed, just mix 1/3 cup ketchup with 2 tablespoons both of yellow mustard and brown sugar and pour it on top of the loaf before baking.