Meatloaf, a baked dish made primarily of ground meat, can be traced all the way back to the 5th century; however, American meatloaf originated during colonial times. It was adapted from a recipe made by German immigrants called scrapple, which was a mixture of ground pork and cornmeal. Originally served at breakfast, the first documented recipe for modern American meatloaf appeared in the late 1870s. It wasn’t until during the Great Depression that it became increasingly popular especially varieties that included add-ins such as bread or cracker crumbs. It was a way for families to prepare more servings of an inexpensive meat in order to stretch their budget. Some meatloaf recipes call for a topping such as ketchup or barbecue sauce. Today there is a wide range of meatloaf variations including the addition of cheese, onion, green beans, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, bacon, and more.
Recipe Servings: 4
Ingredients
- Shortening, as needed to grease pan
- 12 oz ground beef
- 12 oz ground chicken or turkey
- 1 cup cracker crumbs or dry breadcrumbs
- 1 cup ketchup, divided
- 1½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- ½ tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce or barbecue sauce
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease a loaf pan.
- Combine meats, breadcrumbs, ¾ cup ketchup, pepper, salt, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, and eggs. Mix well, and turn into pan.
- Smooth on remaining ketchup (add more if desired).
- Place pan on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 60–75 minutes or until loaf has shrunk a bit from sides of pan.
- Cool for 15 minutes before slicing.
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