Meal Under $10: Easy Peasy Meatloaf...

Meals under a budget continues with everyone's Canadian favourite-- meatloaf! Different variations can be made, but I went with the classic using cheap and cheerful ground beef and staple ingredients/condiments for the mixture and saucy topping. Form it into a loaf to slice up or make them into individual serve mini meat loaves. Whatever you decide, I bet your family will be super delighted! Delicious weeknight comfort easy eats, a few tips that made it an extra winner with mine-- sauté the onions and garlic in a bit of butter, use seasoned breadcrumbs and let it rest before slicing.

Easy Peasy Meatloaf

Makes one 9 X 4 loaf or/ 12 mini loaves

1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef

1 Tbsp. butter

2 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, chopped

salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup salsa

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup dried bread crumbs (use seasoned bread crumbs give more flavour)
2 Tbsp. prepared mustard
3/4 cup ketchup

Forgot to add the milk in the shot :)

Heat skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter and sauté onions and garlic until aromatic and translucent about three minutes; season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat. 

In a large bowl, combine the beef, salsa, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Add the cooked onions. Mix well with hands (using disposable plastic gloves makes it easy). Then add milk and egg; incorporate well with hands; lastly, add bread crumbs and mix well. Place into a foil-lined 9x5-inch loaf pan, or/ form into a loaf and place in a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish. If you can, allow it sit to in the fridge for one hour to let the flavours meld.

For Speedy Mini Meat Loaves: Shape beef mixture into 12 balls, and place into muffin cups.

Using disposable plastic gloves makes mixing easy and mess-free.

In a separate small bowl, combine the mustard and ketchup. Mix and pour/spread over the meatloaf. Bake in preheated oven at 350F (I like to use my toaster oven-- no need to waste that energy in a regular oven) for one hour. Remove.

For Speedy Mini Meat Loaves: Preheat oven to 400F. Spread sauce over each mini loaf. Bake in oven for 20 to 25 minutes until its no longer pink in the centres.

Line the loaf pan with aluminium foil for easier removal and clean-up.

Fits perfectly in my toaster oven!

Let the meat rest five minutes and drain off fat-- carefully pour out oil from the corner of the pan.  Carefully slice into slabs and serve it with your favourite sides.

Serving meatloaf with a helping of stir-fried green beans.

My kids couldn't get enough of the sweet and sour ketchup-mustard topping. You tell 'em boys!

Meatloaf served with quinoa tossed with EVOO, stir-fried green beans, tomato and a pickle. YUM!

Got leftovers? Try it in a sandwich the next day. Here is a slice on whole wheat pita with a handful of antioxidant rich spinach. What a way to change up the lunch routine :).

Meatloaf pita sandwich.