The only meatloaf is Grandma’s meatloaf. None of that baked ketchup bullshit, this is the meaty, gravy goodness that was Therese’s chosen birthday dinner for decades.
Birthday Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds ground beef 85/15 ideally
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup onions, diced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
Gravy
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
- 1 1/2 teaspoon beef base-Better than Bouillon
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 Tablespoons corn starch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Heat oil in sauté pan and add onions, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme and cook 1 minute until soft.
- Add tomato paste and Worcestershire and stir until smooth.
- Add broth, stir and reduce 3 or 4 minutes, them remove from heat and let cool.
- In a large bowl, combine meat, beaten eggs and breadcrumbs.
- Add cooled onion mixture and combine well with your hands.
- Form into a loaf shape and place on a sheet pan lined with foil.
- Bake 45 -55 minutes.
- Prepare gravy while meatloaf is baking. In a sauce pan, add beef broth, garlic powder, Worcestershire, bouillon, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
- Slowly whisk in cornstarch and water together to prevent lumps.
- Slowly add cornstarch mixture to gravy, whisking constantly. Simmer 3 minutes and serve.
Still one of my all time favorite meals, especially in late November! 😉