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White plate with 2 slices of Southern meatloaf, mash potato, gravy and green peas.
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Southern Meatloaf Recipe

Southern meatloaf recipe combines ground beef with crackers, egg onion, bell pepper and a variety of sauces and spices for extra flavor.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword best meatloaf recipe, classic meatloaf, Old fashioned meatloaf recipe, Southern meatloaf recipe, traditional meatloaf
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 390kcal
Author Tanya

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 20 saltine crackers crushed
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper diced
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 lbs ground beef

For glaze

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet pan with foil paper and set it aside.
  • Place the crackers in a large bowl and pour the beef broth over the crackers. Set aside for about 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, add the diced onion, bell pepper, egg, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and beef to the bowl. Use clean or gloved hands and stir the mixture until thoroughly combined. Be careful not to over-mix the mixture. Mixing the beef mixture too much can lead to a tough meatloaf.
  • Place the meat mixture onto the sheet pan and form an oval loaf.
  • Bake the meatloaf in preheated oven for about 50 minutes to 1 hour. You'll need the inside of the meatloaf to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • When there are about 15 minutes left on the meatloaf, create the glaze by combining ketchup and brown sugar in a small bowl. Brush this mixture over the meatloaf and allow the meatloaf to finish baking.
  • Once the meatloaf is done baking, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Then slice the meatloaf and serve.

Notes

  • If you don’t have crackers, regular or panko breadcrumbs can be subbed. 
  • I suggest an instant-read thermometer to ensure that the meatloaf has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 663mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 298IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 3mg