y'all, i have never in my life ate meatloaf. i always gagged when i looked at it. i usually only ate the side dishes when it was served, but all of that changed a few years ago. i started craving meatloaf all of a sudden (i think i was pregnant with austin?) so i asked my mom for a recipe. she gave me one, but i have changed it a smidge over the years. she has several meatloaf recipes on her blog, but i couldn't find this one.
1st in a small bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar (i do a little more than 1/4 cup), mustard, and worcestershire. i had to improvise last night because my small whisk was in the dishwasher, but you get the idea. :) mix it up! in a larger bowl, combine your egg, breadcrumbs, parsley (i don't measure, i just pour it out in my hand, but measure if you're unsure!), and pepper. for the pepper, i just crack some pepper in the bowl. i would guess it's about 1/2 teaspoon or so.
add a little over 1/2 of your wet sauce mix to your dry mix.
add your meat when it's thawed.
stir it up! some people like to use their hands, i like to use a fork. forks are better to keep the meat from getting too compacted.
i use a pan with foil so cleanup is easier, but you can do whatever you prefer. i put it all on the pan, and shape into a loaf with my hands. nothing perfect of fancy. pour the rest of the sauce mix on top and spread around. if you want to make ahead, i would do all of the above and stick in the fridge until you are ready to bake. or you could also save your little bit of sauce in a small container, and spread on top right before you bake.
bake in the oven for 45 minutes at 350. y'all… it is SO good. i want more just writing this post. and as you can see, i am very OCD about food touching on my plate.