Weight Watchers Meatloaf Recipe | Simple Nourished Living (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist meatloaf? ›

When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes! However, bread is still the best choice of all the potential options.

Meatloaf is one of those classic comfort foods you really don't want to have to give up when you start a healthy diet. But since it is typically made with ground beef or a mix of ground beef, pork and veal, meatloaf can be very high in fat, calories and sodium.

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

Herbs: Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley can bring a burst of flavor to your meatloaf.

However, baking soda mixed with water (slurry) and added to the ground beef will ensure tender meat. It will also speed up the browning process. I use 90% ground beef, but it is very tender by adding the baking soda. Make a slurry with the 2 tablespoons of water and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.

Overmixing will make a meatloaf dry and dense. Start by stirring the wet ingredients together. Then add the sautéed veggies. Now, before starting to mix it all together there like a mad man, just stop.

The Basic Meatloaf Formula

All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

Should I use parchment paper in my meatloaf pan? ›

Meatloaf that isn't soggy

Shape it into a long mound on a sheet tray lined with parchment or foil, and the excess fat will drain away from the loaf during cooking. If you've properly bound and shaped your meatloaf and haven't overcooked it, it will have the perfect texture without being soggy or dry.

Meatloaf is undoubtedly delicious, but it's not necessarily known for being healthy. In fact, when made using 80% lean ground beef, one pound of meatloaf contains roughly 1,152 calories. But when you cut that down to a serving size of about 4 ounces, it's 350 calories, which seems a lot more reasonable.

Consumption of meatloaf in moderation has numerous health benefits, as it is a good choice for lower cholesterol and fats that help in healthy weight loss. The content of sodium is very low, which helps in maintaining blood pressure in individuals.

A typical serving of beef is 4–6 ounces in the US. This means that you would need 5 - 7.5 pounds of beef to feed 20 people. At that point it just depends on whether they are big meatloaf eaters or not.

To moisten dry meatloaf, drizzle a small amount of broth, tomato sauce, or gravy over the slices before reheating.

One of the most common reasons meatloaf is watery is an overabundance of liquid ingredients. Adding broth, milk, or eggs can enhance flavor and moisture, but too much can lead to a soupy consistency. Use these ingredients sparingly, and consider adding breadcrumbs or oats to absorb excess moisture.