Meatloaf doesn’t have to be boring, you can ramp things up a bit just by adding a few simple ingredients. Let’s take a look at 12 secret ingredients that your grandma probably put in her meatloaf to spice things up a bit.
Hard Boiled Eggs
You can elevate your meatloaf by adding in a hard boiled egg, swap the egg on top for an egg inside.
All you have to do is place your meatloaf mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap and form it into a 8×12 rectangle, then put three peeled hard-boiled eggs in the center and roll the long end of the loaf over the eggs. Get rid of the wrap, place the loaf in the oven to bake as you usually would. When you cut into it you will get a delicious egg surprise.
Southwestern and Mexican Flavors
Who wants regular old meatloaf, yuck! Spice it up and call it taco meatloaf, the switch up will have your kids devouring this family classic.
All you have to do is sprinkle in some of your favorite flavors, like black beans, taco seasonings, corn, and salsa. You can even kick it up a notch and serve it with guacamole and tortillas!
Add Mashed Potatoes
We have all had mashed potatoes as a side dish with our meatloaf.
So why not try it inside the meatloaf? There are tons of recipes that give instructions on how to add mashed potatoes into the meatloaf, give it a try.
Put Some Bacon In It
You don’t have to settle for just ground beef, you can really amp things up and add some bacon or ham to the recipe.
You can elevate it even more by adding cooked bacon bits to the top of the meatloaf, adding yet another element.
Mushrooms
If you are a mom then you are well aware of how difficult it can be to get our kids to eat their veggies sometimes. Grandma was way ahead of the game, always finding ways to get us kids to eat our daily dose of veggies.
So why not follow grandma’s lead and add some mushrooms to your meatloaf. Adding mushrooms can add flavor, moisture and texture to the dish, and really any mushroom would be suitable, just pick which one you would like shitake, portobello, or even button, give um a fine chop and throw them in. Cook and enjoy!
Barbecue Sauce
The standard for meatloaf has always been ketchup, but you don’t have to follow the rules.
Instead give barbecue sauce a try, you may find it is even better than the original recipes.
Vegetables
Vegetables add a bunch of layers to your meatloaf. They help keep the dish healthy and nutrient rich, while also adding moisture.
If you wanted to make the recipe even healthier you could use turkey for the ground beef, making this a very health conscious choice for dinner.
Tzatziki Sauce
Tzatziki sauce isn’t typically seen with meatloaf, but who says you can use it as an alternative to ketchup? Swap the sweet taste for more tangy tzatziki options.
Take it even a step further and substitute your ground beef for lamb instead. Turning this American classic into a true Mediterranean dish.
Make it Cheesy
Who doesn’t love some cheesy goodness? So why not add it to your meatloaf mix?
Add your favorite cheese, turning this ordinary dinner into cheesy deliciousness. Or if you are feeling really adventurous, add some blue cheese and herbs to the mix and really transform your meatloaf.
Tomato Sauce and Italian Seasonings
Adding in tomato juice, tomato sauce, or even marinara can only enhance the flavors of your meatloaf.
Go a step further and put some Italian seasonings into the mix, bringing in all the Italian flavors.
Hot Sauce
I am a huge fan of any food that has a good kick to it. I’ll put hot sauce in just about anything, so why not add it to meatloaf.
Add in buffalo or any hot sauce to give your meatloaf a special kick to it.
Phyllo Dough or Puff Pastry
I don’t know many kids that would eat a dish called Beef Wellington, but wrap a meatloaf in a puff pastry and it’s game on!
The wrapper gives this dish a delicious texture while also helping keep in the juices, making for a flavorful, juicy, delight for dinner!
