Description
Beef loaf delivers comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen with simple ingredients that make your family smile. Packed with savory herbs and ground beef, this classic dish brings warmth to your dinner table without any fuss.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
Binding and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic
Seasoning and Moisture Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Heat your oven precisely to 350°F, ensuring the rack sits in the center position for even cooking.
- Grab a spacious mixing bowl and combine 1 lb ground beef, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 1 finely chopped medium onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Use your hands to blend ingredients gently, avoiding over-mixing which can make the loaf tough.
- Mold the meat mixture into a compact rectangular shape inside a 9×5-inch loaf pan, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets.
- Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for exactly 60 minutes, checking that your meat thermometer reads 160°F at the center.
- Remove the beef loaf from the oven and let it rest undisturbed for 10 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
- Slice the loaf into 1-inch thick portions, serving while warm for maximum flavor and tenderness.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef with 85% lean for the best moisture and flavor balance in your loaf.
- Avoid overmixing the meat mixture, which can make the beef loaf tough and dense when baked.
- For extra moisture, consider adding a few tablespoons of milk or broth to the meat mixture before forming the loaf.
- If following a low-carb diet, replace breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds to maintain the loaf’s binding structure.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Beef
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg