My family loves meatloaf but they love it served with a creamy mushroom sauce. This recipe makes two loaves and enough gravy for one loaf. I have included the sweet and sour tomato sauce as an alternative to making a gravy. Making meatloaf is such an easy way to prepare a hearty meal and because this recipe makes two loafs, you will have leftovers to make delicious meatloaf sandwiches the next day. For an easy side dish, make Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes https://cansanity.com/?page_id=5232.
2poundsground beefsubstitute up to ¼ of the meat with ground pork
2largeeggswhisked
1½cupbread crumbsI like to use fresh made from any fresh homemade bread
¾cupmilkif you are using medium ground beef which has more fat in it than lean, you can reduce the milk to ½ cup
⅓cuponionminced or finely shredded
½cupcarrotgrated
1½cupscheddar cheesegrated
¼cupchopped parsley
½teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonground pepper
½teaspoongarlic powder
optional: ¼ cup chili sauce
optional: 1 teaspoon dried oreganoor ground thyme
optional: ¼ cup of barbecue sauce
optional: 1 teaspoon siracha sauce
For the mushroom sauce for one meatloaf:
4cupsmushrooms
1mediumonion finely chopped
1teaspoonWorcestershire sauce
2tablespoonsoil
2tablespoons butter
3tablespoonsflour
½cupssour cream
1½cupschicken brothyou may need more to thin the sauce to your desired consistency
salt and pepper to taste
garnish with some freshly chopped parsley
Alternative sweet tomato sauce topping:
½cupketchup
¼cupvinegar
¼cupbrown sugar
1teaspoondry mustard
Instructions
For the meatloaf:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and bread crumbs together. Add the minced onion, grated carrot, beef, pork and chopped parsley. If using add one of the optional ingredients. Using your hands, mix the ingredients. Add the grated cheese and mix again.
Pack the meatloaf into two loaf pans.
Cook in a 350°F oven for 60 minutes.
To make the mushroom sauce:
Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the mushrooms and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. The mushrooms should be browned and tender. Add the onions and fry for another 5 minutes.
Add the Worcestershire sauce and cook for another minute.
Scrape the mushroom and onion mix into a bowl and set aside.
Return the pan to the stovetop and add the butter. Once the butter is melted, stir in the flour. Add chicken broth and cook until thickened.
Add additional chicken broth to thin to the desired consistency. Stir in the sour cream and add the salt and pepper to taste.
Put the meatloaf on a platter. Pour the mushroom sauce around the meatloaf. If desired, top the sauce with chopped fresh parsley and serve.
Instead of the mushroom gravy make the sweet tomato sauce topping alternative:
Mix all the ingredients for the sweet tomato sauce.
After the meatloaf has cooked for 45 minutes, remove from the oven. Drain off some of the liquid that has accumulated in the pan.
Pour the sauce over the meat loaves and cook for an additional 15 minutes.