Bop’s Favorite Meatloaf Recipe
on May 17, 2019, Updated Jul 05, 2024
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Bop’s Favorite Meatloaf Recipe is a super savory and easy comfort food that’s generously flavored with onion, green bell pepper, spices, and of course, ketchup. An easy meatloaf recipe that’s sure to become a family favorite!
As I’ve shared an assortment of my favorite tried-and-true recipes on the internet, many have shared some of their favorites with me, too. I made friends with a lovely woman (whose kids call her “Gram”) and this is her husband, Bop’s favorite meatloaf. Here’s what Gram said about it: “It was originally from Redbook Magazine, January 1986, and I’ve been making it ever since. It makes for a great sandwich, too.” So, this recipe has been around a long time, and we love it just as much as Gram and Bop!
Meatloaf is a great, timeless ground beef recipe. It’s simple to put together, and all of my family really likes it. This easy meatloaf recipe is made with tomato sauce in it, which I never had done before but ended up adoring! It makes the texture great, and makes sure everything stays really moist.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Meatloaf is just a classic comfort food – so many people love it.
- It’s one of those meals that you can put together and then throw in the oven, leaving you time to do other things while it bakes.
- This recipe has all the components to make it moist AND flavorful, which are two of the usual complaints about bad meatloaf, so you know this one is a winner just by looking at it.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef
- Soda Cracker Crumbs (Saltine crackers)
- Tomato Sauce
- Finely Chopped Onion
- Finely Chopped Green Bell Pepper
- 2 Large Eggs, beaten: this makes it so much easier to mix them in
- Bay Leaf, finely crushed: bay leaves are safe to eat, we usually remove them at the end of the recipe because they’re tough, not because they’re harmful.
- Salt
- Dried Thyme
- Ground Black Pepper
- Ketchup
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
Popular Substitutions and Variations
- You can substitute another ground meat like turkey but the meatloaf may be drier since the fat content is lower.
- Any color of bell pepper would be an easy substitute for the green bell pepper.
- In a pinch, you can use another cracker like Ritz but soda crackers are ideal because of their neutral flavor. Mix it up with a tangier glaze—try my sweet and savory homemade Catalina dressing!
How to Make the Best Homemade Meatloaf
Step #1. Prep your baking dish as desired. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the ketchup. Mix thoroughly.
Step #3. Bake the meatloaf uncovered for an hour or until the internal temp is 160°F.
Step #2. Form the mixture into a 9 to 10 inch loaf shape and place in the baking dish. Brush the ketchup evenly over the top.
Step #4. Remove from oven and let it stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe FAQs
The various components of meatloaf should make it stay together fairly well when you make it. Traditionally, bread crumbs are used in many recipes, but I love the consistency and extra salty punch from cracker crumbs. The eggs and veggies will also keep things molded together.
You also want to make sure the loaf isn’t too dry and crumbly when you form it, or too saturated with liquid that it can’t hold its shape. It should be a very dense consistency when you form the loaf, and make sure you press it into its shape firmly.
Meatloaf will last for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze it for up to 2 or 3 months to extend its shelf life. This is a great dish to make ahead of time and freeze for a future crazy night when making dinner is the last thing on your mind.
Expert Tips
- Be careful not to overmix your meat mixture. Too much mixing will result in a tough meatloaf.
- It helps to firmly “smoosh” together your loaf when forming to help it stay together.
- Letting the meatloaf rest for a few minutes before slicing helps it stay together when you serve it. Don’t skip it!
Here Are a Few of My Favorite Recipes to Serve With Meatloaf
- Classic Scalloped Potatoes
- Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower
- The Perfect Steakhouse Baked Potato
More Main Dish Recipes to Consider
Slow Cooker Recipes
Perfect Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Soups, Stews & Chowders
Slow Cooker Veggie Beef Soup
15-Minute Recipes
Cornbread Waffles with Chili – 15 Minute Dinner Idea
Quick Dinner Ideas
Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Bop’s Favorite Meatloaf Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup soda cracker crumbs, Saltine crackers
- 1 8- ounce can tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 bay leaf, finely crushed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup ketchup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F., and spray a large rectangular baking dish with cooking spray. You can also line the pan with foil or parchment, if you like, for easier clean up (spray any lining with cooking spray).
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, cracker crumbs, tomato sauce, onion, bell pepper, eggs, crushed bay leaf, salt, thyme, and black pepper. Stir well to combine everything evenly.
- Shape the ground beef mixture into a long oval loaf that is about 9 to 10 inches long. Place the loaf in the center of the baking dish.
- Brush the top of the loaf with ketchup.
- Bake, uncovered, for one hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
- Remove from the oven, and allow the meatloaf to rest for 5 minutes before serving hot.
Notes
- I had never added tomato sauce to meatloaf before this recipe, but I love it! You can’t taste it much, but it makes the meatloaf extra moist. You’ll love it.
- If you aren’t crazy about green peppers (or if your kids are going to fuss about green flecks in the dish), you can omit them, though they add a great brightness to the dish.
- Be careful to mix the ingredients don’t overmix. You’ll end up with a tough meatloaf.
- You can sub ground turkey, if desired, but the lower fat content may result in a drier meatloaf.
