The best and moist meatloaf recipe (no milk)
Have you ever had meatloaf that was, well, disgusting? Do you remember Ralph's memorable quote from A Christmas Story, "Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double beatloaf. I hate meatloaf."
Nothing compares to my grandma's homemade meatloaf recipe (no milk), and I am going to share it with you. This will be the most moist, delicious, and wonderful meatloaf you have ever tasted. Everyone I have made it for absolutely loves it!
Helpful kitchen items for cooking:
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Ingredients:
Meat and breadcrumbs
- Hamburger meat - 1 or 1-1/2 pounds
- Bread - 3 slices, dried out or toasted on 200 degrees for a while, and grind them up by hand or with a little food processor (or you can use ¾ cup store-bought breadcrumbs)
Spices
- Garlic - 1 or 2 cloves, depending on your preference for garlic
- Parsley - 1 Teaspoon
- Basil - 1 Teaspoon
- Celery seed (spice) - 1/2 Teaspoon (or you can use real celery cut up real fine)
- Fresh ground pepper - season based on your preference
Other
- Chopped Tomatoes - ¾ - 1 cup (you can also use canned tomatoes in a puree sauce or crushed tomatoes, which is what I normally use)
- Olive Oil - 1 Teaspoon
- Onion - ½ - ¾ Cup
- Egg - 1 Egg
- Green Pepper - ½ Cup (Optional)
- Mushrooms - 4 or 5 (Optional)
Note: Even though I listed the last two ingredients as optional, I recommend using them for a hearty meatloaf filled with delicious vegetables. If I do not have the last two ingredients available, I have still made the meatloaf.
In my household, most of these items are staples! I always have bread, parsley, basil, celery seed, eggs, fresh ground pepper, and extra virgin olive oil.
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Meatloaf pans
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Cooking directions:
- In a large bowl, scramble the egg first (it is hard to scramble when it is in a bowl with other ingredients).
- In a separate (smaller) bowl add your breadcrumbs and add the spices per your taste.
- Vegetable preparation Cut up the onion, green pepper, and mushrooms into little pieces. In my experience, if you use larger pieces, the onion and green pepper will not cook all the way.
- Now, wash your hands, roll up your sleeves, and put your meat in the larger bowl (with the beaten egg).
- Add your ingredients - mixed spices and bread, olive oil, veggies, and ½ of the chopped tomato, and squish together with your hands.
- Drizzle the rest of the chopped tomatoes on top - this is the secret that makes your meatloaf so moist.
- Put the mixture in a pan you use for making banana bread, or a square glass dish. Make sure you spray with a non-stick cooking spray first.
Cooking Time
Bake on 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Note: I recommended that you mix your dry ingredient together separately, and handle your meat last, so you are not touching all your spices containers after touching the raw meat. I learned the hard way.
It is a pain in the neck to have to go back and wash these containers after you have touched them with your raw-meaty hands.
Another recipe from Marlo
Here is a low cost and quick stir fry recipe.
Take Aways:
The secret is out! My grandma makes the best meatloaf. I promise you, you will love this recipe. The vegetables and spices cook together to make a savory and moist meatloaf. Also, the best part about this meatloaf, it makes great sandwiches the next day.
No need to use ketchup or milk, and I have often wondered why people would use these ingredients, but each to their own. However, Grandma would not approve.
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave you comments below and tell me how your meatloaf tasted!
Please leave any helpful hints or comments here:
Ruminator, this recipe is straight from my Grandma. You can add whichever vegetables you want with it, and I hope you love it.
The veggies make it so hearty, and the crushed tomatoes make it so moist.
Thanks for your comment!
Marlo - Thank you! I'll be coming back for sure!! I trust you and your grandma! ;-)
Carriekins, thanks for your comment. I hope you enjoy this recipe.
after reading your recipe, i asked my hubby to go and get me some ground beef. I will try to cook your meatloaf recipe, it sounds good and inviting! i'll send you my comments about it after tasting..more power to you and your grandma!
How much olive oil, and how much onion do you use for this recipe?
Eve, great question. I made it more clear on my article. I generally use 1 teaspoon of olive oil and one medium to large onion. If you do not have olive oil, the meat and egg will help everything 'stick' together.
Hi Mario;
I know it's been 2 years since you posted this recipe, but I just came across it yesterday as I was looking for a meatloaf recipe.
I have to say;
It was really good, and I served it with a stirfry of peppers, onions, zucchini and tomatoes from my garden, and parsley & basil from my garden.
It was kind of like a ratatoulli,(probably spelled that wrong)
Anyway to make a long story even longer;
the meatloaf went really well with the veggies, and new potatoes!
Thanks!
Hi - After mixing as per instructions , i laid the mixture out on some wax paper and formed a flat rectancle to match the length of my pan and flattened the mixture to about 1/2 inch. I added about 3/4 cup of crumpled feta just off center-then using the wax paper roll each end into the middle and use the wax paper to close off the ends and the center seam. You can then lift the whole roll into the pan and slowly remove the wax paper Bake as per instructions-this adds a wonderful twist to a hearty meatloave.
Shelley, thanks so much for your comment. It sounds so delicious with all the veggies you added and fresh spices. Now I want to add those ingredients too!!! :)
well I loved it! and have added it to my favorites list. My two year old son is a picky guy when it comes to food and was just diagnosed with dairy and wheat allergies, I made this with his wheat free bread and he loved it. In fact he asked for seconds! |Thankyou!
Thank you brobob67 and Christina In Campbell River, B.C. Can. for your comments....my Grandma is smiling from above :)
Marlo
Made your grandma's recipe, It is absolutely a great dish for my family my Boyfriend and Daughter just loved it!!! and of course so did I... Thank You :)
Thank you Evey2011, I am so glad your family liked it!
The picture of your meatloaf looks yummy!!!!
I love this recipe. It turned out great, I will be using this from now on. Thanks to you for sharing your Grandma's recipe!
Oh I'm defintely making this tonight. It's my first time making meatloaf for my husband so I'm relieved to see such great reviews!
After making this I can see why Ralphy refused to eat it. Not to my liking or my families either. Sorry!
Craig - I guess to each their own. I do not eat fried food, but people seem to love grease.
Going to try this tonight.
Thanks
ruminator 4 years ago
I too have a great recipe for that time-honored dish known as meatloaf. But this looks great, I will give it a try!