Best 7 Donnas Meatloaf Recipes

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Looking for a hearty and flavorful meatloaf recipe? Donna's meatloaf is a classic dish that is sure to please everyone at the table. This easy-to-follow recipe uses ground beef, pork, and veal, along with a variety of herbs and spices, to create a moist and delicious loaf. Served with your favorite sides, Donna's meatloaf is a perfect comfort food for any occasion.

Let's cook with our recipes!

ED'S MOTHER'S MEATLOAF



Ed's Mother's Meatloaf image

I have a perfectly justifiable weakness for any recipe that comes to me passed on through someone else's family. This is not just sentimentality; I hope not even sentimentality, actually, since I have always been contemptuously convinced that sentimentality is the refuge of those without proper emotions. Yes, I do infer meaning from the food that has been passed down generations and then entrusted to me, but think about it: the recipes that last, do so for a reason. And on top of all that, there is my entrancement with culinary Americana. I just hear the word meatloaf and I feel all old world, European irony and corruption seep from me as I will myself into a Thomas Hart Benton painting. And then I eat it: the dream is dispelled and all I'm left with is a mouthful of compacted, slab-shaped sawdust and major, major disappointment. So now you understand why I am so particularly excited about this recipe. It makes meatloaf taste like I always dreamt it should. Even though this is indeed Ed's Mother's Meatloaf, the recipe as is printed below is my adaptation of it. My father-in-law always used to tell a story about asking his mother for instructions on making pickles. "How much vinegar do I need?" he asked. "Enough", she answered. Ed's mother's recipe takes a similar approach; I have added contemporary touches, such as being precise about measurements. But for all that, cooking can never be truly precise: bacon will weigh more or less, depending on how thickly or thinly it is sliced, for example. And there are many other similar examples: no cookbook could ever be long enough to contain all possible variants for any one recipe. But what follows are reliable guidelines, you can be sure of that. I do implore you, if you can, to get your meat from a butcher. I have made this recipe quite a few times, comparing mincemeat that comes from the butcher and mincemeat that comes from various supermarkets and there is no getting round the fact that freshly minced butcher's meat is what makes the meatloaf melting (that, and the onions, but the onions alone can't do it). The difficulty with supermarket mince is not just the dryness as you eat, but the correlation which is that the meatloaf has a crumblier texture, making it harder to slice. I am happy just to have the juices that drip from the meatloaf as it cooks as far as gravy goes, and not least because the whole point of this meatloaf for me is that I can count on a good half of it to eat cold in sandwiches for the rest of the week. (And you must be aware, it is my duty to make you aware, that a high-sided roasting tin makes for more juices than a shallow one.) But if you wanted to make enough gravy to cover the whole shebang hot, then either make an onion gravy and pour the meat juices in at the end or fashion a quick stovetop BBQ gravy. By that, I mean just get out a saucepan, put in it 1.76 ounces/50g dark muscovado sugar, 4.23 ounces/125ml beef stock, 4 tablespoons each of Dijon mustard, soy sauce, tomato paste or puree and redcurrant jelly and 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, to taste. Warm and whisk and pour into a jug to serve. Ed instructed me to eat kasha with this, which is I imagine how his mother served it, but I really feel that if you haven't grown up on kasha - a kind of buckwheat polenta - then you will all too easily fail to see its charm. I can't see any argument against mashed potato, save the lazy one, but I don't mind going cross-cultural and making up a panful of polenta; I use the instant kind, but replace the water that the packet instructions advise with chicken stock. And as with the beef stock needed for the gravy suggested above, I am happy for this to be bought rather than homemade.

Provided by Nigella Lawson : Food Network

Time 2h5m

Yield 7-8

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 eggs
4 onions, 1 pound
5 tablespoons duck fat or butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (recommended: Lea and Perrins)
2 pounds ground beef, preferably organic
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
10 ounces (approx. 20 slices) bacon
1 large roasting pan

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil and then boil 3 of the eggs for 7 minutes. Refresh them in cold water.
  • Peel and chop the onions, and heat the duck fat in a thick-bottomed frying pan. Cook the onions gently sprinkled with the salt, for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the onions are golden and catching in the fat. Remove to a bowl to cool.
  • Put the Worcestershire sauce and ground beef into a bowl, and when the onion mixture is not hot to the touch, add to the bowl and work everything together with your hands.
  • Add the remaining raw egg and mix again before finally adding the breadcrumbs.
  • Divide the mixture into 2, and in the pan, make the bottom half of the meatloaf by patting half the beef mixture into a flattish ovoid shape approximately 9 inches long. Peel and place the 3 hard-boiled eggs in a row down the middle of the meatloaf.
  • Shape the remaining mound over the top of the eggs and pat into a solid loaf shape. Compress the meatloaf to get rid of any holes, but don't overwork it.
  • Cover the meatloaf with slices of bacon, as if it were a terrine, tucking the bacon ends underneath the meatloaf as best you can to avoid its curling up as it cooks.
  • Bake for 1 hour, until the juices run clear and once it's out of the oven let the meatloaf rest for 15 minutes. This should make it easier to slice. When slicing, do it generously, so everyone gets some egg. Pour meat juices over as you serve or do what you will gravy-wise.

CHEF JOHN'S MEATBALL-INSPIRED MEATLOAF



Chef John's Meatball-Inspired Meatloaf image

The main point of this Italian meatball-inspired meatloaf is to show you what happens when you make meatloaf like your grandparents did. During the Great Depression, this type of dish was a popular strategy for stretching what little meat you had into as filling a meal as possible.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Meatloaf Recipes

Time 2h

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, diced
salt to taste
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups very dry white bread crumbs
1 ½ cups milk
2 pounds ground chuck
½ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
3 cups tomato sauce, or to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion with a pinch of salt in hot oil and butter until onion is golden brown and soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove skillet from heat and cool onion mixture to room temperature.
  • Place bread crumbs in a large bowl. Add milk and stir with a fork until combined. Let sit until all of the milk is absorbed into the breadcrumbs, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Combine ground chuck, cooled onion mixture, parsley, Parmesan cheese, eggs, 2 teaspoons salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a bowl. Grab a handful of breadcrumbs and squeeze very gently to remove excess milk. Repeat with remaining breadcrumbs, transfer breadcrumbs to ground chuck mixture, and discard excess milk. Stir ground chuck mixture until evenly combined.
  • Turn chuck mixture out into prepared baking dish, and shape meat into a 3x4x10-inch meatloaf. Pour tomato sauce over the loaf and into the bottom of the dish.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 1 hour 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Let meatloaf rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 286.3 calories, Carbohydrate 19.4 g, Cholesterol 85.8 mg, Fat 14.5 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 19.6 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 1129.3 mg, Sugar 6.3 g

DONNA'S MEATLOAF



Donna's Meatloaf image

My friend Donna makes the best meatloaf ever. The amount of chili powder seems excessive, but it really tastes great. You can use 1 tbsp if you are fearful, but believe me - it tastes better with the amount given if you use Spice Islands brand. If your brand is very strong, cut the amount in half. Here is her recipe.

Provided by Pesto lover

Categories     Meat

Time 55m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 lbs lean ground beef
16 ounces canned creamed corn
1 large onion, diced
1 large tomatoes, chopped into about 1 inch chunks
1 green bell pepper, in 1/2 inch dice
3 -4 slices white bread, crusts removed & torn into small pieces (I use a very soft white bread for this)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup ketchup, for meat mixture
4 teaspoons chili powder (I use Spice Islands)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup ketchup, for topping

Steps:

  • Mix creamed corn, eggs, chili powder, 1/2 cup ketchup, salt, pepper and bread together. Let sit while mixing meat, onion, tomato & bell pepper in large bowl.
  • Add corn mixture to meat mixture.
  • Form into a large rectangular mound, about 2 to 3 inches high on a baking sheet with sides, to avoid dripping in oven.
  • Top with 3/4 cup ketchup.
  • Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes, or until cooked through and lightly browned.

NANA'S MEATLOAF



Nana's Meatloaf image

Make and share this Nana's Meatloaf recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Sean 72

Categories     Meat

Time 16m

Yield 1 Meatloaf, 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

700 g lean ground beef
2/3 cup fine soft bread crumbs
1 cup milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sage
pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon dry mustard

Steps:

  • Mix all ingredients together.
  • Put in loaf pan
  • Spread toppping over meatloaf.
  • Bake at 350 for 1 1/4 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 463, Fat 22.7, SaturatedFat 9.4, Cholesterol 215.3, Sodium 967.4, Carbohydrate 21.6, Fiber 0.6, Sugar 14.3, Protein 41.3

DONNA'S FAMILY MEATLOAF



Donna's Family Meatloaf image

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 pounds ground beef
1 units eggs
1 units onion
1 units salt
1 cups bread crumbs
1 cans stewed tomatoes
0.5 cups tomato sauce

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl mix ground beef, egg beaten slightly, chopped onion, salt & pepper, bread crumbs, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce together.
  • In a baking pan, form into a loaf shape. Bake 350 for 50 minutes.
  • Take out of oven and let stand for 5 or 10 minutes. Serve with beef gravy. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 0 g, Fat 0 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 g, Sodium 0 g, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 0 g

SUNDAY MEATLOAF



Sunday Meatloaf image

We love meatloaf. It's such a homey, warm, comfort food. It makes the perfect Sunday meal. There are so many variations to meatloaf. This one is basic, but not lacking flavor. Serve with homemade mashed potatoes and a green vegetable, such as peas, green beans, or Brussels sprouts. The best part of this meal? The people you spend it with.

Provided by FrackFamily5 CACT

Categories     Beef Meatloaf

Time 55m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 pounds ground beef (80% lean)
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup Italian-style bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon granulated onion
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons steak sauce (such as A.1.®)
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon brown sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Mix ground beef, mayonnaise, bread crumbs, mustard, onion, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl until well combined. Transfer mixture to a 9x5-inch loaf pan with high sides. Form into a loaf by picking it up and forcing it down into the pan, making sure to knock out any air and square off all sides.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Spin pan and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
  • Mix steak sauce, ketchup, and sugar together in a small bowl.
  • Remove from the oven and spoon sauce over top. Bake until no longer pink in the center, about 10 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
  • Remove form the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Remove meat loaf to a serving platter and slice into 8 slices.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 429.3 calories, Carbohydrate 7.1 g, Cholesterol 90.3 mg, Fat 34.6 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 20.9 g, SaturatedFat 11.1 g, Sodium 522.3 mg, Sugar 2.8 g

CLASSIC MEATLOAF RECIPE BY TASTY



Classic Meatloaf Recipe by Tasty image

Meatloaf is a delicious addition to your weeknight dinner repertoire. Full of savory flavor and topped with a sweet, sticky ketchup glaze, it's the perfect pair to your favorite vegetable side dishes, such as classic mashed potatoes and steamed green beans.

Provided by Betsy Carter

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for greasing
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 cup whole milk
2 lb ground beef
2 large eggs, beaten
½ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ cup ketchup

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and golden brown, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until the tomato paste turns deep red in color, about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the onion mixture cool to room temperature.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the panko and milk. Add the ground beef, eggs, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, pepper, and the onion mixture and use your hands to combine. Do not overmix!
  • Shape the beef mixture into a 10 x 5-inch loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the top and sides with ketchup.
  • Bake the meatloaf until the top is browned and the internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C), about 50 minutes.
  • Slice and serve.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 573 calories, Carbohydrate 23 grams, Fat 30 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 47 grams, Sugar 8 grams

Tips:

  • Use ground beef with a higher fat content. This will help keep the meatloaf moist and juicy.
  • Add some bread crumbs or crackers to the meatloaf mixture. This will help absorb moisture and give the meatloaf a lighter texture.
  • Don't overmix the meatloaf mixture. Overmixing can make the meatloaf tough.
  • Shape the meatloaf into a loaf form and place it in a baking dish. Make sure the baking dish is large enough to accommodate the meatloaf.
  • Bake the meatloaf at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the meatloaf reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This will help the meatloaf retain its juices.

Conclusion:

Meatloaf is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious meatloaf that your family and friends will love. So next time you're looking for a hearty and satisfying meal, give meatloaf a try.

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