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    Home » Main

    Jazzed Up Meatloaf

    Published: Apr 12, 2018 · Modified: Dec 14, 2022 by Carolyn Hetke · This post may contain affiliate links,

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Two unusual, easy additions make this Jazzed Up Meatloaf incredibly tasty. Your kids won't even notice they are getting a veggie serving with it!

    Sliced meatloaf with brown sugar ketchup topping

    There was a big sale on lean ground beef so I had pounds of it to make up into burgers and other dishes.  Meatloaf is so easy to whip up. It freezes and reheats well and it goes with just about everything.

    But I wanted something a bit different so the meatloaf wouldn't taste like just a bigger version of the hamburgers.

    Enter carrots and zucchini!  I normally add onion in a meatloaf so why not up the veggie ante with some others.  The carrots add a touch of sweetness and the zucchini kept the loaf moist.  You know how bread and milk added to meat loaf keep it soft?  Well zucchini does the same but is even better for you.

    Bowl of grated vegetables ready to add to the meatloaf mixture

    Your kids won't even know it's there.  Yes.. you can see flecks of orange carrot and maybe a bit of onion if you look hard but the zucchini almost totally disappeared.

    Ground beef mixed with grated onion, carrot and zucchini

    You can't taste any one of the vegetables exactly but all together they add a nice sweet flavour element. Then  I got 'fancy' and added a ketchup and brown sugar glaze.

    Meatloaf in a casserole with ketchup topping

    Note that I cooked this in a casserole dish as shown in the photo above.  No matter how lean your beef is you will end up with extra fat/liquid around the meatloaf when it is done cooking.  The meatloaf will also typically shrink significantly. I let it sit for 15 minutes to let some of the juices be re-absorbed and then I transferred it to a serving plate where I could slice it easily.

    Sliced meatloaf with brown sugar ketchup topping

    I have a feeling this meatloaf won't even make it to the freezer.... two meatloaf sandwiches already gone in a flash!  This freezes well though if you want to make ahead.  It will also keep nicely in the fridge overnight and reheat nicely.

    Nothing fancy going on here but it is delicious with these Loaded Baked Potatoes!  Together they make a comfort food feast!

    Baked Potatoes topped with Cheddar and Bacon Bits

    Both the meat loaf and the potatoes can be made a day ahead and reheated.  They both also freeze well and can be reheated on a busy week night!

    Sliced meatloaf with brown sugar ketchup topping.

    Jazzed Up Meatloaf

    This meatloaf is so flavourful no one will notice you got some carrot and zucchini sneaked in to it.
    Author: Carolyn Hetke

    If you tried this, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know it went in the 📝 comments below!

    5 from 1 vote
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    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 7 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 1 hour hr
    Total Time: 1 hour hr 22 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 servings

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs lean ground beef
    • 1 medium yellow onion diced
    • 1 large carrot peeled and grated
    • 1 medium zucchini about 8" long, grated
    • 1 pkg dry onion soup mix
    • ½ cup ketchup
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Mix the meat, vegetables and soup mix well in a large bowl.
    • Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray and pat meat mixture into it.
    • In a separate cup stir brown sugar into the ketchup. Spread evenly over the top of the casserole.
    • Bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes. Exact time will depend on the size of you dish.
    • When meatloaf is done remove from the oven and allow to stand 10-15 minutes to re-absorb juices. If you have excess juice or fat drain excess before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 956mg | Potassium: 787mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thewineloverski or tag #thewineloverski!

    Reader Interactions

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      5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Ralph

      April 12, 2018 at 3:25 pm

      Excellent!

      Reply
      • susan

        April 23, 2018 at 10:05 am

        The "jazzed up Meatloaf" was great and so easy to make. Our dinner group went back for seconds!!

        Reply
        • thewineloverskitchen

          April 23, 2018 at 10:20 am

          Glad you liked it!

          Reply

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