Here is a basic recipe you can follow if you want precise ingredients and instructions. Check out our post, How to Make Your Own Meatloaf Recipe, for tips on how to build your own meatloaf using a variety of ingredients, with tips from many of our customers on their favorite meatloaf additions.

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or duck fat
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  •  Salt
  • 1 ½ lbs lean ground beef, at room temperature
  • 3/4 lbs ground veal, at room temperature*
  • 2 tablespoons fish-free Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 5 Lieber’s “Snackers”, finely crushed, or panko**
  • ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons applesauce**
  • 5 to 6 slices beef bacon
  •  Freshly ground black pepper

* You can also use 2.25lbs Meatball Mix, or another combination of ground beef, veal or turkey

** For other ingredients you can use to substitute for the cracker crumbs and apple sauce, see our post How to Make Your Own Meatloaf Recipe.

 

Sauté onions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place a skillet over medium heat and heat oil or shmaltz. Add onion and salt to taste, and sauté until golden brown. Remove from heat, and set aside.

 

Combine Ingredients

In a mixing bowl, combine beef, veal, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, mustard, cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup applesauce. Add onion, and mix well. Gently press into a loaf pan 9 inches by 5 inches by 3 inches, and smooth top. Spread top with remaining 3 tablespoons applesauce, and lay bacon slices lengthwise over top. Sprinkle generously with black pepper.

 

Bake

Bake until well browned on top and no longer pink in center, about 1 hour. Remove from oven, and carefully pour out juices that have accumulated in pan. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before removing from pan and slicing.