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Old Fashioned Tennessee Meatloaf

A simple and satisfying meatloaf recipe made with pantry-friendly ingredients, perfect for family dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 pounds ground beef Use ground beef with about 80/20 fat content for flavor.
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped Chop finely to avoid gaps in the loaf.
  • 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped Chop finely to avoid gaps in the loaf.
  • 1 medium tomato, chopped Chop larger, as it softens during baking.
  • 1 cup rolled oats Acts as a binder and keeps the loaf moist.
  • 1 large egg Helps bind the meatloaf together.
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Lightly grease a loaf pan or baking dish.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, place the ground beef and break it into loose chunks.
  4. Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, tomato, rolled oats, egg, salt, and black pepper to the bowl.
  5. Mix gently with clean hands until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
  6. Shape the mixture into an even loaf and place it in the prepared baking dish.
Cooking
  1. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 to 75 minutes, or until the center reaches 160°F (71°C).
  2. Let the meatloaf rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.
Serving
  1. Slice the meatloaf into thick pieces and serve warm.
  2. Spoon any pan juices over the top for extra flavor.

Notes

For best results, use a meat thermometer to ensure proper cooking. Resting the meatloaf before slicing helps keep the juices inside.