There are as many meatloaf recipes as there are cooks. This is my favorite recipe, an easy meatloaf recipe that can be varied to suit your tastes. Start with the basic recipe and add the seasonings from the list below to suit your family. You can vary the meats used and the seasonings.

To keep my meatloaf recipe easy, I use ground beef. Many cooks use a combination of ground beef, ground pork, or ground veal. Some use sausage in their mix. If you want a mix of meats, use 1/2 to 3/4 pound of pork, beef, or sausage for 1 pound of beef. The meatloaf is seasoned with Italian-style breadcrumbs, making this recipe quick and easy to prepare. Actually, I don’t even measure anything. I just throw the ingredients together using a reasonable amount of each. If the mixture is too wet, add more breadcrumbs. If it’s too dry, add more tomato sauce. It really is an easy meatloaf recipe that is foolproof.

Basic Easy Meatloaf Recipe

1 1/2 pound ground chuck

3/4 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs

2 eggs

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons of salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder, optional

1/4 cup tomato sauce + more for the top if desired

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, optional but good

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. In a large loaf pan or ovenproof baking dish, mix all ingredients.

3. Shape it into a bread.

4. Bake at 375 for 1 hour or until done.

5. I like to cover the top with more tomato sauce for the last 20 minutes of baking.

You can try additional seasonings like chopped bell pepper, chopped celery leaves, chopped parsley, and thyme. If using sausage, try adding finely chopped apple, and eliminating the garlic, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. If you want, you can add diced vegetables like potatoes, carrots, or peas. Some cooks add chopped olives or chopped gherkins or hard-boiled eggs. You can substitute the tomato sauce for canned soup, pouring more on top as it bakes. The variations are endless.

If you have leftovers from this easy meatloaf recipe, it makes for a delicious sandwich filling the next day, but don’t count on it. My family eats this.