Mushroom Gravy Meatloaf

This simple meat loaf uses lean ground beef and still manages to be juicy and tender. Serve with mashed potatoes for classic comfort food vibes!

Ingredients for Meat Loaf:

2 lbs lean ground beef

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1/2 cup bread crumbs

2 eggs

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

2 tsps dried thyme

1 tbsps dried parsley

salt and pepper to taste

 

Glaze:

3 tbsps ketchup

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

 

Mushroom Gravy:

4 oz mushrooms, sliced

1 1/2 tbsps butter

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp worcestershire sauce

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup beef broth

1 tbsp dry onion soup mix

2 tbsps flour

 

Mix the ingredients for the meat loaf together. Wet a 9 X 5" loaf pan and pack the mixture in, not jam packed but firmly, then turn it out onto a lined baking sheet. You get the loaf shape, but with lots of surface area to brown and glaze. Bake in a 375°F oven for 50 minutes.

Mix the ketchup and balsamic together. After 50 minutes brush the meat loaf all over with glaze and return to the oven for 20 minutes, glazing a couple of times.

While glazing the loaf make the mushroom gravy. Melt butter in a small saucepan or frying pan and add the sliced mushrooms and garlic powder, worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Cook until lightly browned. Mix the beef broth, dry onion soup mix and flour together and stir into the pan. Cook 3-4 minutes to thicken.

Let the meatloaf rest 5-10 minutes before slicing and serve with mushroom gravy. And mashed potatoes...you gotta have mashed potatoes!

Serves 6-8

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Sweet and Sour Pork Meatloaf

We tend to think beef when we think of meatloaf, but consider ground pork as an economical and higher protein choice. And adding this sweet and sour glaze gives it that little extra oomph!

Ingredients:

1 egg

1/4 cup apple butter (see homemade apple butter recipe link at the end of this post)

1/2 cup shredded unpeeled apple

1 tbsp dry onion soup mix

1 tsp minced garlic

salt and pepper or Mrs Dash to taste

2/3 cup oats

1 lb ground pork

Glaze:

1/2 cup sweet chili sauce

2 tbsps apple jelly

2 tbsps apple butter

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp turmeric

black pepper to taste

Combine the egg, 1/4 cup apple butter, shredded apple, onion soup mix, minced garlic, salt, pepper and oats. Then add the pork and mix well, using your hands helps squish it all together. Form into a loaf shape about 7 X 3 X 2" and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Mix the glaze ingredients together. Reserve 1/3 cup of glaze for later then spread the remaining glaze on top of the loaf.

Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes. Brush on the reserved glaze and return to the oven at 400°F for 20 minutes. It's ready when the internal temperature reaches 160°F.

Let sit 10 minutes before slicing.

Adapted from: mamagourmand.com

Crockpot Apple Butter recipe:

https://hotandcoldrunningmom.blogspot.com/2021/10/crockpot-apple-butter.html

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Bloody Rats on Cheesy Rice (Mini Meat Loaves)

Rats love cheese! And so will your little monsters! They'll be goblin' these bloody rats right up!

Rat Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

2 tbsps finely chopped onion

1 egg

1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

1/4 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp sage

4 - 1" X 1/2" cheese cubes (I used mozzarella)

dry spaghetti broken in fourths for whiskers

frozen peas for eyes

thin sliced carrots for ears

Bloody Sauce Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Cheesy Rice:

2 tbsp butter

2 tsps minced garlic

2 tbsps finely chopped onion

2 tbsps flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/4 cups chicken broth

2 cups shredded cheese (I used Monterey Jack and Habanero Cheddar)

2 cups cooked brown rice

Combine the ground beef, chopped onion, egg, bread crumbs, and seasonings for the rats. Take a piece of cheese and encase it in the meat mixture.

Form the meat roughly in the shape of a rat, kind of teardrop shape with a point on one end. Place in a greased baking dish.

Mix the bloody sauce ingredients together and pour over the rats. Bake in a 350°F oven covered for 45 minutes. Then remove the lid and bake an extra 20 minutes basting a couple of times with the sauce.

While the rats bake make the cheesy rice that they will love to sit on! Cook the rice and set aside. Next heat the butter and add the onion and garlic. Cook 1-2 minutes. Whisk in the flour, salt and pepper and cook 1 minute before whisking in the chicken broth. Cook a few minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheese and rice.

Pour the rice mixture into an oiled baking dish. Now to create the rats! Lift them from their baking dish along with their oozing guts (melted cheese). Carefully stick raw spaghetti pieces in near the pointy end of the meat for whiskers. Press the frozen peas in for eyes and the carrot slices in for the ears.  Place them on their bed of rice.

Cover and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until heated through.

Serves 4 goblins!

Happy Halloween 🎃