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Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

meatloaf for a crowd

sokygal avatar
Recipe by
Teresa G.
@sokygal
Here, KY

This is my basic, and favorite, meatloaf recipe. I've played around with the recipe many times, but it is so good, just as it is, that it has always remained one of my favorite comfort foods. It's juicy, tender, and very flavorful without ketchup, brown sugar or a slew of ingredients. We love it so much that I usually make the full recipe and either eat it for days or freeze one raw loaf for baking at a later date. Hubby loves it for sandwiches, too!

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yield 16 serving(s)
prep time 40 Min
cook time 1 Hr
method Bake

Ingredients For meatloaf for a crowd

  • 1 1/2 c
    quick oats
  • 2 tsp
    jane's mixed up crazy salt
  • 1 tsp
    lawry's seasoned salt
  • 1 tsp
    plain salt
  • 1/2 tsp
    ground black pepper
  • 2 can
    whole tomatoes with juice
  • 3 lb
    ground beef
  • 1/2 c
    chopped sweet onion
  • 3 lg
    eggs, beaten (1 if making 1/2 recipe)

How To Make meatloaf for a crowd

  • 1
    Gather and prep ingredients. Preheat oven to 400° F.
  • 2
    In a large bowl, combine oatmeal, salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • 3
    Pulse tomatoes in food processor to lightly chop (do not puree!) or use kitchen shears to cut/chop tomatoes in their can. Set aside. (NOTE: You could use a can of diced tomatoes, but the texture will be negatively affected.)
  • 4
    Place ground beef in the bowl with the oats; add 2 cups of the chopped tomatoes and juice (reserve remainder for topping,) 1/2 cup chopped onion and 3 beaten eggs.
  • 5
    (Note: At this point, food safe plastic gloves are recommended, but optional. Also, for easier removal from pan, you may wish to place a parchment paper "sling" in each of 2 loaf pans before adding meat mixture.)
  • 6
    Use hands to combine the ingredients thoroughly, but try to avoid overworking the mixture.
  • 7
    Divide into 2 equal portions; place in loaf pans, patting mixture down well to remove air pockets.
  • 8
    Bake at 400° F, on middle rack, for 45 minutes.
  • 9
    Remove from oven, drain off as much of the liquid as possible.
  • 10
    Equally pour and spread 1/2 of reserved tomatoes & juice over top of each meatloaf; return to oven and bake for additional 15 to 30 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
  • 11
    Remove from oven and allow to cool for several minutes, or more, before slicing and serving. Cover and refrigerate leftovers. May be frozen raw, then thawed in refrigerator before baking, if using fresh, not frozen ground beef.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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