Tasty Meatloaf Tips & Tricks
Meatloaf Cling: If your meatloaf never fails to stick and cling to the bottom of the pan, try laying a strip of raw bacon on the bottom of the pan before filling with meat. The bacon not only helps prevent the meatloaf from cooking to the bottom, it also adds flavor.
Crumbling Meatloaf: If your meatloaf is always crumbling apart when you slice it, let it sit for a few minutes first and then cut into pieces. The meat will hold together better.
Meatloaf Topper Ideas: Try pouring a can of mushroom soup over top 20 to 30 minutes before the meatloaf is done for a tasty mushroom sauce. You could also use your favorite tomato sauce or chili sauce–the zestier the better! Also slices of bacon over top is another tasty idea.
Meatloaf Filler Ideas: You could use cracker crumbs, bread crumbs, quick cooking oats, corn flakes and even rice or chopped veggies.
Yummy Meatloaf Split: Place half of the ground meat in the pan, cover with grated cheddar cheese or mozza cheese and onions then top with the other half of ground meat. Cook as you normally would. Lightly sautéed mushrooms, garlic & peppers are a nice addition too.
Mixed in Sauces & Liquid Ideas: Chili sauce, tomato sauce, ketchup, mushroom soup, pizza sauce, milk, beef stock, cream, wine, sweet & sour sauce, bbq sauce, steak sauce, V8 juice, salsa, plain yogurt, canned chicken & rice soup
Flavor Mix In Ideas: Mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, dry onion soup mix, Italian Seasonings, Soy Sauce
Mixing It Up Helpers: Some say meatloaf HAS to be mixed with your bare hands. Others say a thick wooden spoon or even a potato masher will do the job just fine.
Do you have a meatloaf secret not listed above? Please share it by adding the tip below–we’d all love to hear it! 
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Posted in Cooking Tips, Food | 
( 10 )
17 Apr 2007 at 7:32 am
My grandmother’s secret meatloaf ingredient RoTel brand diced tomatoes and green chiles. Mmm mmm, that’s good stuff!
17 Apr 2007 at 7:39 am
Ohhh that does sound good Greg, thanks for that! I edited the original post asking for more meatloaf tips, hopefully we can get a good list going :).
17 Apr 2007 at 8:57 am
I use lots of chopped mushrooms, any kind, as a filler. It makes a moist and tasty turkey meatloaf.
18 Apr 2007 at 8:35 pm
mmmmmm I love mushrooms and I never thought of using them as filler in meatloaf. Great tip Beverly, thanks!
16 Jan 2008 at 9:45 am
I also save the “dregs” in salad dressing,mustard, steak sauce sauce etc. bottles, add a little water to bottle, shake real good to mix and add to meatloaf as part of the liquid.
georgia
16 Jan 2008 at 9:19 pm
I’ve found that cooking a meatloaf in a crock-pot doesn’t have to be a big, ugly mess! Take a few potatoes, cut them into thick strips, (think steak fries) put a layer in the bottom of the crock-pot and place your meatloaf on top. All the greasy fat is absorbed by the potatoes, leaving your meatloaf nice for cutting. Plus my dog loves the greasy potatoes! Or for quick cooking, I put the meatloaf mixture in muffin tins, and it cooks in half the time.
17 Jan 2008 at 12:53 am
Great ideas sara & Georgia, thank you for sharing those!
19 May 2008 at 10:16 am
I was going to say the same thing Sara said about the muffin tins…my kids love them that way. I usually make 2 separate batches, one for the adults who like it spicy (with jalpeños) and onions. And the other mild for the kiddos. I bake the kids batch like they are muffins, and they are the perfect portion for them. I had no idea anyone else did this, but Sara was right it does cook in half the time, but tastes just as good as the loaf! Thanks for all the ideas, believe it or not, meatloaf is a favorite in this family!
28 Jul 2008 at 7:10 pm
I to use muffin tins to make meatloaf , I then slice and use as lunch fillings in with salad in a bun/roll for school and work lunch, I all so use the very small muffin tins to make meat balls for home made spaghetti, I pack in containers and freeze
22 Aug 2008 at 4:54 pm
Wow! I guess I know what I’m making for dinner tonight :). It’s always a struggle to get my youngest to eat veggies so I grate up a carrot or two and mix it in. She doesn’t even realize she’s eating her “hated” carrots. I’ve heard that mixing meatloaf by hand is okay as long as you don’t compress it as it’s supposed to be sort of fluffy?