Does anyone actually makes meatloaf anymore? You should, because there's no better comfort food than good meatloaf. And with this Southern meatloaf recipe, we bet that this traditional American main dish will become a favorite in your dinner rotation.

One of the reasons this southern meatloaf recipe makes such a great weeknight dinner is that it's so easy to put together and most of the cooking time is in the oven, which means you have time to sit down and have a glass of wine (or, you know, pay bills, check the kids' homework, and fold a load of laundry).

Heat a skillet over medium heat with butter, then cook the onion and bell pepper for about 7-10 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute, then set the skillet to the side until it cools. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, bread crumbs, Cajun seasoning, paprika, dry mustard, and eggs. Add the cooled sautéed vegetables and then mix it all together. Press the meat mixture into a loaf pan. Stir together the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar to make the sauce, and then pour the sauce over the meatloaf.

We really love using a loaf pan like this, that drains off the excess oil while cooking.

Meatloaf Pan
Amazon

Bake this tasty Southern-style meatloaf for about an hour and enjoy.

Southern Style Meatloaf 

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 70 minutes

servings

INGREDIENTS

  • Meatloaf
  • 2 lbs ground beef, chuck or 85% work best
  • 2 tbs butter, olive oil, or bacon drippings
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped (Optional but tasty!)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp cajun seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 pinch dry mustard
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tbs mustard
  • 1 tbs brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Heat a skillet over medium with butter then cook the onion and bell pepper until they begin to soften and caramelize, about 7-10 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more, then remove from heat and set aside to let cool until cool enough to touch.

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, bread crumbs, Cajun seasoning, paprika, dry mustard, and eggs. Add cooled sautéed vegetables and stir to incorporate.

Press mixture into a 9 x 5 or 10 x 5 loaf pan, avoiding overworking the meat.

Whisk together the sauce ingredients, then spoon it over the top.

Bake until internal temperature reaches 160 F, about 1 hour.

Notes

Roast some carrots alongside the meatloaf and serve with mashed potatoes, and you've got a star of a meal.

Nutrition Facts
Southern Style Meatloaf
Amount Per Serving
Calories 396 Calories from Fat 243
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 42%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 13g
Cholesterol 106mg 35%
Sodium 788mg 33%
Potassium 523mg 15%
Total Carbohydrates 15g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 10g
Protein 22g 44%
Vitamin A 21%
Vitamin C 69%
Calcium 2%
Iron 15%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.