Italian Meatloaf – and How To Be Important
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Italian Meatloaf is a different spin on traditional meatloaf!
My mother and I are the type of people who cook with what we have on hand. So last week she had leftover spaghetti sauce and a husband with a hankering for meatloaf. This recipe for Italian Meatloaf was born and she was shocked when it turned out tasting so incredibly good, and more different from regular meatloaf than she had expected. It even got a compliment from someone who is notorious for complaining!
So she said I just had to make it for y’all. And I listen to my Mama (most of the time). So here it is.
Now on to the meatloaf 🙂 You’ll need: spaghetti sauce, oats, egg, bell pepper (or sweet peppers), onion, and 1+1/2 to 2 pounds ground chuck.
Note: The peppers and onion are optional in this. Just go with whatever you want to use or have on hand. Also, you can use ground beef in place of ground chuck, you’ll just have a little grease to strain off. You can also use ground turkey if you like. I’ve made plenty of turkey meatloaves in my life for others, I just prefer beef.
Chop your onions and bell pepper if you are using those.
I should have chopped mine finer, sure, but I just chop until I’m tired of fooling with it.
Add your oats, spaghetti sauce, beef, and egg to the onion/pepper mixture.
You can use more oats if you have less meat in order to stretch it. You’d be amazed at how far you can stretch your meat in a meatloaf!
Did you see my tutorial where I used leftover shredded chicken and stretched it with crushed saltine crackers and such to make chicken patties? Oh they are so good and they freeze so well, click here for that.
Okay, back on point, Christy. Back on point!
Mix that all up with your hands.
I know, some people shudder at the thought of digging their hands into raw ground beef (believe me, I’ve received emails about it!) but there are so many worse things that we could have to do so just buck up, dive in, and know that this will better prepare you for the storms of life.
And really, if this is the worst thing you have to do all day, you have a pretty awesome life!
Press your meatloaf into a lightly greased baking dish.
I ended up with a little extra so I used one loaf pan and one mini loaf pan. Use a knife to cut a slice down the center. This will help it cook more evenly.
Take the rest of your spaghetti sauce (or however much you want) to the top of the meatloaf.
If you don’t have enough leftover spaghetti sauce for this, you can use ketchup.
I love ketchup on meatloaf!
Bake at 350 for about an hour, until juices run clear.
If you have a smaller one, it will be done in about thirty minutes.
Dive in and enjoy… and know that you are important. 🙂
Ingredients
- 1 +1/2 -2 pounds ground chuck
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper or 1/2 cup chopped sweet peppers, chopped
- 1 cup oats quick or old fashioned
- 1 egg
- 2 cups spaghetti sauce reserve 1 cup
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix well with hands.
- Press into greased baking dish. Pour reserved spaghetti sauce over top.
- Bake at 350 for one hour, or until juices run clear.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Always do the right thing. It will satisfy most people and astonish the rest.
– Mark Twain
Submitted by Jim Ferguson. Click here to submit your own. (I always love new quotes!)
Thank you so much for the interesting letter about your life and what is important.
You are a girl after my own heart. Agree wholeheartedly about the travel. Until a person does what you do, do they realize the ‘pain, agony and challenge’ of being “IMPORTANT”. Some people love to travel and do it for a living. Having 2 very dear friends that were Flight attendants for over 40 years, yes, they loved traveling. Me, I’m like you. I enjoy my family, being at home, cooking with what I have and making a gourmet meal from basics. Not, getting up at 4 AM, driving to the airport, checking luggage, standing in line and ‘running’ all day to meet other peoples needs while thinking of your family at home. It soon loses its glamour.
Thanks again for your interesting stories. I can relate. Blessings to you. You make a difference.
Blessings to you Dessa!!!
This is an absolutely wonderful post, it has come at a time when I really need it. I was recently laid off and need to remind myself daily that I have it a lot better than a lot of folks,. I love your wisdom and insight. Your Mama’s quote is one I am going to definitely ponder and put to work. Even though I am not working, I can still help someone else.
It is just too funny the number of folks that cannot stand to mix meatloaf with their hands. I used to think I was the only person in the world that used a spoon to mix meatloaf. You would be amazed at how many wooden spoons I have cracked doing this. I cannot stand something squishing between my fingers-it gives me the shivers. People laugh at me all of the time because of it. Great post Christy. Thank you so much and safe travels.
Thanks Pam!!!
Wow, sometimes you write the right stuff at the right time that really hits the spot! This “important” stuff is going on my desktop to look at and remind myself and others the “important” in your life!
Just saying -saved your “Don’t get caught in the eye of the storm” too-real words to remember and great analogies!
Thank you Christie, have a safe trip and bless you all!
Cheri
PS. Love the cookbook- lots of ideas – especially love the casserole chart-really spurred my imagination to use what I have on hand or need to keep in my pantry!
Thank you Cheri!!! I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying the cookbook!!
You’ve had someone say something about putting your hands in meat!? You have been hit from all sides, haven’t you? Don’t know how better to mix it up than dig right on in there. Know you will be glad to get back home to your kiddos. Have as much fun as you can while your gone, tho. Love you!
LOL, yep Angela, it gets interesting 🙂
AWESOME POST, Miss Christy! You and your Mama are very, very wise and I am so thankful that you share with us. (And the recipe sounds good, too!)
Praying for your safe travels.
Thank you Mary!!
Thanks Christy for your post….We are so important also because of Christ love for us….and us loving Him back brings so much JOY to our lives…we really don’t have to be important to anyone else…but the relationships with our companion and family is just icing on the cake….WE are so Important to God that He created us with the ability to love and be loved…. Thankful for all the Blessings <3
Very true Myra!!
Like your view of life and self. True importance is a whole lot of things that have nothing to do with wealth or status. And the idea about people who travel being perceived as important is true however what they really are is people missing the whole world of home, family, and real friends. The real world is going right bye as they fly around being important.
Do wish you were coming any where near here for a book signing, I love the book and have mad several of the recipes. EASY, and they turn out and taste GREAT!!
Maybe I can get your way soon Blanche! I never know where they are sending me next so it could happen!