Meatloaf seems like such a simple and familiar recipe from your childhood that leaves little elbow room for tweaks and changes. I used to think all meatloaf recipes are pretty much the same. How wrong I was!

Usually, meatloaf is made of lean ground beef, but I actually would recommend mixing beef with pork and maybe turkey and taking meat that isn’t completely lean. This way, meatloaf turns out much juicier and more flavorful.

You can add bread or breadcrumbs, depending on how you like your texture, and a variety of finely chopped veggies such as onions and bell peppers. This recipe also suggests that you add ketchup and steak sauce to the meatloaf mix as well as on top.

If you wish, you can wrap it in bacon as well. Raw thinly sliced bacon or smoked bacon can be used, both work equally fine. When baked, bacon forms a lovely crispy crust for this meatloaf.

Serve it with grilled vegetables, traditional mashed potatoes or a tossed salad, and this meatloaf will make a great midweek dinner, cooked in no time and with little effort. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!