Tennessee Meatloaf

Not outstanding, not extraordinary, but good and satisfying. Flavor is good – I used fresh thyme (the equivalent in fresh is three times that of dried) and added some celery just because I generally do. I didn’t bother cooking the vegetables first just because I generally don’t. There is minimal filler and I appreciated that. I like the brown, crusty exterior on meatloaf so I shaped this as one loaf on a cookie sheet and baked it for 1-1/2 hours. I did not use the brown sugar glaze as the sugar did not appeal to me so I served this with a simple brown mushroom gravy. As this recipe’s first reviewer I’m happy to report that while there is much wiggle-room with this recipe to make it “your own,” this basic, old-fashioned meatloaf is good just as it stands.

2021 update: This is my recipe! It is still the best meatloaf I have ever eaten and the finished product, if you follow the recipe for the glaze and baking time, does NOT look like the main photo shown above. It is much more pleasing to the eye. When I made my meatloaf this last week, I jazzed it up just a bit by substituting Johnsonville Hot Italian Sausage for the pork and added a couple dashes hot sauce to the topping before stirring it together and spreading on top. It took this A+ recipe up to the next level. A++ I guess! P.S. I have tried to post my photo to this site and it always says, "Not enough pixels". My iPhone just doesn't do the trick. Guess I'm better in the kitchen than behind the camera?

As a veteran meatloaf chef, this is a terrific recipe. I actually added more brown sugar to the sauce and added winch (Worcestershire) sauce plus sweet chili sauce. I never use loaf pans when I make meatloaf. Instead, I shape the meatloaf recipe on top of a foil lined jelly roll sheet. A 3 pound meatloaf with recipe ingredients approximates: 2" high x 5" wide x 10" long. Pour the sauce/glaze on top of this Bigfoot meatloaf, roll up the sides of the foil a bit to hold in the sauce and pop it into your oven. Thank you for this great recipe, Leigh Ann. We thoroughly enjoyed it here in Texas!!

I don't care what anyone says, this is an outstanding meatloaf!! The only things I did different was I used an equal amount of panko bread crumbs in place of the oatmeal and made a brown gravy instead of the ketchup based glaze. I'm just not a fan of ketchup. This was simply the best meatloaf I've ever made. I can finally stop looking for a recipe for this, I'm sticking with this. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe! !!

I saw a recipe from Tennessee so I knew I had to try it. My Dad took our family to Tennessee and Kentucky from Wisconsin to visit relatives one summer and I remember the food there was amazing! Anyway, I was not disappointed and I do believe this is the best meatloaf I've ever had- even better than my mother's, which I love. I agree with Leigh Ann- not putting the top coating on is like painting the Mona Lisa without a smile. Thanks Leigh Ann- my wife and I are extremely impressed and I'm already making another batch. :)

i cut this recipe in half as i only had a little over 1# of ground beef. this was very good. different from what i would normally make. i forgot to add the milk (oops). nice firm texture. i really minced the heck out of the yellow bell pepper i had on hand so that my DS would not see it....i also roasted my vidalia onion a bit and also cut that up pretty finely. thanks for the post Leigh Ann :-)

very smooth excel. texture, suggestion in the glaze try 1oz tenn/kentucky whiskey mixed in.

I made this pretty much exactly how the recipe says, except I chose to sauté the onion and green pepper as opposed to microwaving them. My husband raved it was the best meatloaf he had ever had, so I will definitely be adding this recipe to the "keepers". Also, as many other people have mentioned, the glaze really seals it on this recipe. SO good.

In a Word excellent-

yummy taste great!

I have tried many different meatloaf recipes and have kept only a couple but this one is a keeper. I had all the ingredients on hand so I had to try this. Very good, very flavorful and made quite a bit. I did shape it into a loaf on a cookie sheet and baked it which cut down the roasting time. It makes great sandwiches too. I usually don't care for oatmeal in my meatloaf but didn't notice it in this recipe. Very good. Thanks for an excellent recipe.

I usually throw together my mom's simple (read: boring) meatloaf but decided to search for something tasty. This recipe is just that! I used half ground chuck and half ground pork, and I came out perfect! Awesomeness!

Very good as is! Family loved it,

This was delicious! Thank you for sharing!

I made this meatloaf recipe into hamburger patties, and pan fried them; they were terrific!

My niece and nephews don't really like meat loaf but I double this recipe thank goodness, because they all had seconds. The glazed was awesome.

I had to alter the recipe to ingredients on hand. I had 1 1/2 lbs. of meat. I ran out of milk and used 1/2 of the amount using coconut milk. I used frozen onion and pepper and simmered then together before adding to the recipe. It was a little more pepper and a little less onions. I used a little more brown sugar in the glaze. Cooking time was the same as in the recipe using Rachel Ray's meatloaf pan. I was happy with how it turned out.

Very tasty. Almost has an Asian flavor. Made exactly as recipe directed. I would double glaze, however. Just my personal preference.

Awesome meatloaf! The glaze is a must! I added 1oz Jim Beam to the glaze, as a previous review recommended, and wow! Gonna use it for pork & chicken! I did add 1 envelope of beef onion soup to the meat mixture and used lamb because I had no veal and didn't want to go to the store. Also made a separate brown gravy but it really didn't need gravy! My family LOVED IT! They're eating leftovers as I'm typing this.

Excellent flavor and texture. Do not forgo the glaze. It really makes the dish come alive and is not too sweet or high in sugar as some would assume. Had no peppers and only used ground beef and ground pork and still delish. Did not use a loaf pan as I’ve learned the benefits of simply forming a loaf with my hands on a foil lined cookie sheet-less messy and no dishes to soak. A good go-to for meatloaf.

This is the best gluten-free meatloaf I've made yet. Delish!!!!

Tennessee Meatloaf Haiku: "Dang, this was so good. I've made alot of meatloafs, or is it 'meatloaves?'" I made this as direction, but didn't have the veal, so I slightly increased the ground beef. The texture and taste were spot-on, and while the glaze was pretty darn sweet, I ended up liking it only b/c oftentimes I drag my meatloaf bites thru a blob of ketchup on my plate anyways. Superdeedooper!

Hands down favorite recipe I've tried. My husband is not a big meatloaf fan but he could not get enough of this recipe.

So good. We love it. It is my go-to meatloaf recipe.

This is our favorite meatloaf recipe. The only thing I do different is adding cut up bacon cooked bacon to the mixture.. Perfect!

I made this meatloaf exactly as the receipe called for and it was amazing. Love love loved it. Best meatloaf I have ever made. It's definiately a keeper. Will make again soon.

This meatloaf was perfect. The only thing wrong was the cook time. It took about 20 minutes longer to cook. I will make it again & again, as meatloaf is one of my husband's favorite comfort foods.

NOT a meatloaf fan by any stretch of the imagination. Made this for someone else and I ended up loving it. I'm now a believer and will definitely make it again!

Wonderful - I just found my go to meatloaf recipe! Followed it pretty darn close but read several reviews before trying it myself. I am personally not a fan of ketchup or bell peppers, so my substitution was half the amount of ketchup replaced with sweet chilli sauce and zucchini for the peppers. I sautéed the onions and garlic until carmellized and threw in some sundried tomatoes, fresh thyme and parsley. I followed the suggestion of a 9 x 13" pan and wouldn't you know it - my husband had three huge helpings! Thank you for this!

Loved this meatloaf! Wonderful flavour. Used additional breadcrumbs in place of oatmeal (as another reviewer suggested). A new favourite in our house. 10/10 and thanks for a fantastic recipe.

I think this was very good! I'm sure the different meats add to the unique flavor, but I chose beef only. I also added some breadcrumbs, because I like a stiffer loaf. Otherwise, I stuck to the recipe and think this turned out nicely. I do favor a barbeque style sauce on my meatloaf and definitely feel that omitting the sauce would be a mistake.

Did make one change; instead of using beef, pork and veal, I used ground turkey and ground pork. Moist and delish! I plan to definitely make it again.

Delicious. I just used ground beef and it was great. I sautéed the peppers and onions instead of cooking them in the microwave. I recommend that because it adds more flavor.

I'm still new to cooking but this is the best meatloaf I have ever eaten. I make maybe once a month for myself and it lasts almost a week. The only thing I changed from the recepie is that I add a little more meat, otherwise I don't change a thing.

I think this was very good! I'm sure the different meats add to the unique flavor, but I chose beef only. I also added some breadcrumbs, because I like a stiffer loaf. Otherwise, I stuck to the recipe and think this turned out nicely. I do favor a barbeque style sauce on my meatloaf and definitely feel that omitting the sauce would be a mistake.

11.12.16 ~ A very good tasting meatloaf. I happened to have burger, pork and veal all in the freezer, and this was a great way to incorporate all three meats in to one dish. We enjoyed the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar mixture on the top of the meatloaf. Served this with a baked potato and apple salad. Definitely a dinner worth repeating.

This is the best meatloaf I have ever made

My 13 year old would groan at the mention of me making my meatloaf....no longer! We have a new family hit as of last night. All 5 of us are loving this recipe.

This was so yummy! I topped the leftovers with a bit of BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese. Definitely a keeper!

Delicious and simple meatloaf. Made it twice. Once in loaf pans and once in 13x9. Prefer it in loaf pans actually. Sauce really adds the flavor. Paired it with home made red bliss mashers and sautéed green beans. Thanks!

I did not care for this recipe.

Great "old timey" recipe. Thanks. "Nanaw Rowan" would be proud.

The whole family liked this meatloaf. Very similar to what my mother made. The glaze was a little sweet for me, but still very good.

Best Meatloaf I have ever made. Only two changes, used BBQ sauce instead of the glaze, and only beef and pork. First time using oats instead of bread crumbs. I think that helped a lot. Will be making this again.

This is the BEST meatloaf that I have ever had! Take note that there is a long cooking time...something I overlooked initially. You have to try this recipe!

Given what I had in the kitchen I made it w/ only beef and breadcrumbs from 2 pieces of toast instead of oats and it turned out great!

I used all ground pork. It was good, but not the "best ever" meatloaf I have made.

This was a pretty good meatloaf, but I thought the taste was even better the next day. I liked using rolled oats for the filler. I had regular oats on hand, not quick cook, and those worked just fine. I also thought that sweating the chopped onion and peppers in the microwave before incorporating them into the meat mixture was a great idea. This seemed to mellow the taste of the veggies and contribute to a moister finished product overall. This may not always be my first choice for meatloaf, but I' believe I'll use this method of precooking any veggie filler from now on.

I certainly will make this again! I used a half pound more meat than called for so next time I will use the proper amount and I'm sure the blend of spices and ingredients will produce a perfect meatloaf!

My husband said it was better than the meatloaf I usually make. The only things I did different is I used 1.5 lbs ground beef and .5 lbs ground pork. I added a small bag of frozen mixed vegetables because I grew up with my mom adding it to her meatloaf. And I don't feel like I need to make an extra side that way. Instead of chopping up peppers and adding them to the mix, I cut 4 green peppers in half and stuffed them with the meat mixture. We love extra sauce, so I doubled the sauce and my husband said next time to triple it. I'll make it again.

This was good. Would make it again. I didn't have any veal so used more pork. Maybe this is why it was almost too moist (better than a dry brick!!) Fell apart very easily.

Made this 01/17/19 and loved it. Followed the recipe fairly closely except used 1# ground beef & 1/2# pork sausage because that’s what was in the fridge. After microwaving the onions, peppers & garlic, I added some diced mushrooms. For the topping I used 1/4 cup yellow mustard in place of the vinegar. Whatever meatloaf recipe I use I’ll use that topping. It was very good. The recipe, as amended, made enough for four 3 X 5” mini loaf pans. That works out well since there are only two of us. We had one for dinner and put three in the freezer for future dinners.

I also made some extra glaze with 1/2 brown sugar 1/2 ketchup 1/2 cider vinegar.

This is great meatloaf. I was sorry to finish it and will make it again soon.

Turned out well. Prefer the ketchup topping to the sweeter cocktail sauce

A perfect, and far, far cheaper alternative is to replace it with ground turkey. There is absolutely no taste difference in this recipe or similar mixed meat entrees...This is a pretty good meatloaf served with a baked sweet potato and corn...

I only made half the recipe quite easily and it turned out great! We like this meatloaf because you didn't get a taste of a lot of "filler" like other meat loaves that use a lot of breadcrumbs or oats in them. Since I only made half the meatloaf I only made half the sauce, that should have stayed the same as we really enjoyed that nice touch. Leftovers were good too. I am keeping this recipe on hand.

Increased the amount of onion and green peppers which my family prefers. Best meatloaf recipe I've seen! Forgot the mustard but the results were still great.

My husband really loved it. I did not have veal so just used ground beef and pork. Made 3 small loaves for the two of us, placing two in the freezer.

I made some changes. Surely everyone messes a bit with meatloaf recipes if they've been making meatloaf for a few years. I used Panko crumbs and baked the meatloaf on a rack over some sliced potatoes, carrots and peas I'd dotted with a tsp of olive oil before placing the meatloaf in the over.

My family enjoyed this very much! I will probably not add as many veggies because I put too many in, and my kids don’t like them so much. At the same time, it lasted three meals, including one meal of grilled meatloaf sandwiches- the glaze was a perfect touch. Thank you for sharing it!

This recipe is everything I love about meatloaf ~ flavorful, moist, great shape!

A great meatloaf recipe. The only thing I changed was adding jalapeño peppers for some heat. I will make this again.

I liked it a lot. Good ingredients, and not loaded with filler. I always put ketchup on top of a meatloaf, so this was a nice change for me, but still in the style I like. I'm not a fan of mushrooms, so I was glad to see they were absent here. You can always add one or two of your favorite ingredients here, if you want to customize. A good recipe if you are compiling a book for newlyweds. Not difficult, and good instructions, with a great result. Thank you Leigh Ann.

This meatloaf recipe is a keeper. My husband and I thought this was the best loaf by far. There is no need to look any further. When we want meat loaf for dinner this is the one we will make. I did use regular bread crumbs instead of oats ( the measurements being the same) also being I had no Bourbon I used a small amount of Black Jack Daniels in the glaze and that turned out to be very tasty.

Yum! Great dish!

Was soooo good

No changes the in the recipe first day, but come leftover day we wanted more sauce and I was out of ketchup! Poo!

Very tasty. I made as written subbing more pork for veal (cuz I don't go there). I omitted the glaze and made a mushroom gravy from the AR site. The meatloaf was even better the next day in a sandwich.

I made this with Elk, pork, and Elk breakfast sausage. Oh, my gosh, it was sooooo much better than beef! I have used this recipe since you shared it with us. Thank you, thank you! It is the only meatloaf I EVER make!

Best meatloaf recipient ever

I finally talked my husband into trying my new found recipe from Allrecipes. This is the very best meatloaf my husband and I have ever eaten. He absolutely loved it, as well as I did. The glaze gives it that extras sweet/sour type of taste, which really enhances the meatloaf. It makes great meatloaf sandwiches for lunches as well. Thank you for sharing the treasured family recipe. This will be one of my favorite recipes to make in years to come.

This was really good! Dare say better than my own recipe! Super moist and really tasty. Thanks for sharing

Wonderful flavor. Not too much spice but enough to give it a very savory taste.

My hubby and i both enjoyed this meatloaf, but we felt that the thyme was too much for us. It's a great basic recipe.. It's easy to make adjustments according to your tastes. And the glaze is what made it so special. Thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe.

I doubled the recipe and had Meat loaf sandwiches too. Yumm

Fantastic! I made some low-carb substitutions, but the glaze was terrific. This is the only meatload I'll do from now on.

Made as written and just thought it was ok. I made one large loaf and it look nearly two hours to cook (not the 70 minutes stated), so I had a grumpy hungry toddler to deal with.

Really liked the flavor and texture. Loved that it made two loaves, cause the first one went fast! Will make again today. Easy and quick meals and sandwiches before the Holiday rush of turkey, pies, stuffing, and yam dishes. Thanks!

I had some ground veal and ground pork, along with ground beef in my freezer. Normally, I make meatloaf with just ground beef (and it always tasted almost bland to me...I didn't make meatloaf much, but always loved eating someone else's). I made this as the recipe stated with two slight changes. The only two changes: half the amount of brown sugar stated--per my taste buds, ketchup itself is pretty sweet; and I put in a whole teaspoon of hot sauce (my husband and I like foods a little zippier than average). This meatloaf was very tasty, and I will certainly make it this way again.

Pretty simple and yes, the brown sugar glaze makes it a 5. I don’t like meatloaf recipes that try to be too fancy or include exotic ingredients. This was terrific.

I made this recipe but changed up the glaze a little I added a little mustard and barbecue sauce, grape jelly and the spritz of lime and omitted the cider vinegar because I didn't have any. Was very tasty, I did not add the glaze initially but instead 30 minutes in added half of glaze to coat and then again about 50 minutes in carefully drain the grease and athe other half of the glazee other half of the glaze. Wonderful!

Husband loved it!

The ol man loved it. We used moose meat, (you hit it, you eat it!) nice flavor

Delicious, thank you! Rave reviews from all here. I added a can of mushrooms, but that was it.

I used breadcrumbs instead of the oats and it was great. The glaze is delicious and can be used on many things. Great on pork chops,

This was a tasty version of meatloaf. I used 1 pound of pork rather than 1/2 pork and 1/2 veal. Other than that I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out great! I would make it again.

I did not care for this at all. Too sweet for my taste.

Delicious

I really wanted to try meatloaf but in a different way, saw this one and thought I would try it and really enjoyed it!

If your not crazy about onions use half an onion. It tasted amazing tho!

I tried this It came out very well..????.. Thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe ??...

This was a wonderful recipe! My son loved it.

Great recipe. I used it as inspiration for what my family likes. My adjustments: Sauté onion and green pepper with garlic in small amount of butter. Cool before adding to mixture. We prefer our vegetables softer in meatballs, meatloaf, etc. No oatmeal, subbed 1 cup plain panko bread crumbs. I would have used oatmeal but the cupboard was bare! For the meat - 1.5 lbs 80/20 ground beef, .5 lbs ground pork Fresh thyme leaves from the garden Couple tablespoons chopped fresh parsley I baked in two smaller loaves on a flat sheet pan (with edge!) covered with foil, lightly sprayed with Pam. Brushed with the glaze before baking and then again ten minutes before done.

Made it as directed. It's an average meatloaf with above average labor.

I left it like it was and was. Pretty. Good

"This is a solid recipe!" A quote from my hubby last night. I was nervous about the glaze because I didn't have any brown sugar, but my white sugar tasted just fine. I also used red bell peppers instead of green.

Delicious! I followed recipe exactly and made 2 9x5 meatloafs which were were the best I have ever tasted!

I loved it. The guys were so pleased with the flavor I will probably use this recipe from now on. I did use red onions because I had a very large one my son cut up for me for a pasta salad and it only needed about half. I also used some red bell pepper. Great recipe.