First, lets have a look at ingredients. Almost all meatloaf recipes call for some form of ground meat, be it beef, turkey or wild game. Most will also contain some variety of bread ingredient,eg crackers, dried bread crumbs or crushed croutons. To complete things off, diverse spices are added to give each simple meatloaf recipe its own particular flavour. For example, salsa is frequently added to form a southwest flavor, and barbecue sauce can be added to give your meatloaf a smoked flavour. As well as these types of ideas, there are also many twists on meatloaf that may be used to make a whole one-dish meal, for example adding a mashed potato topping.
No matter the recipe, most meatloafs are quick and easy to prepare. Of course, some are faster than others! As an example, crock pot meatloaf recipes often call for all of the ingredients to be mixed together right in the cooker itself, meaning no clean up.
For people that prefer more conventional, home cooked sides, there are plenty of different options that go well with meatloaf. Southwestern meatloafs regularly go well with sides that also have southwestern flavors such as mexicorn and mexican cheese blends. Meatloafs with more traditional tastes are best complimented with other standard flavors like baked potatoes and fresh salads.
Oftentimes, sides that you would not think would go well with a meatloaf recipe basically end up being the ideal compliment. And with the versatility of meatloaf, you can easily experiment with new ingredients and flavour mixes to create a taste absolutely your own – one which will simply “match” fried green beans, deviled eggs, or any other side plate you may choose.
And one of the best things about meatloaf is that it is the perfect leftover food. Most meatloaf recipes are easily as tasty hot as they’re cold, and can be reheated for a repeat of dinner, or chopped into sandwiches for a new taste. And of course, there are hundreds of leftover meatloaf recipes out there, from straightforward chili, to shepherds pie, to tatertot stew. So if you’re prepared for a hot, home cooked meal that just might last you all week, then get out there and start trying to find some easy meatloaf recipes today.