meatloaf in a white baking pan
Entrees

Tender Tasty Meatloaf

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This Tender Tasty Meatloaf is a timeless family favorite with some unique added ingredients like instant potato flakes and tomato bouillon which make this meatloaf extra tender. It’s perfect for family dinners or potlucks and makes for such a comforting and flavorful meal that’s sure to please everyone at the table.

For more comforting recipes, check out my Tuna Casserole, Sloppy Joes, and Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes.

This “vintage” meatloaf is based on a recipe I found on a website that was sharing older recipes.  It’s just a basic recipe, but it has some unique ingredients.  I couldn’t find cream of vegetable soup, so I used a creamy vegetable soup packet mix mixed with enough hot water to make 10.5 ounces.  You could also use a cream of mushroom soup or even cream of celery soup.

The instant potato flakes help to add a tender texture to the meatloaf.  I love tomato bouillon, and I use it in a lot of recipes to give just a hint of tomato flavor.  I added it to the gravy for this meatloaf, and it really makes it more like a regular meatloaf topping.  If you don’t have or can’t find the tomato bouillon, just use a little tomato paste. 

a slice of tender meatload covered with homemade gravy.

Why You’ll Love This Tasty Meatloaf

  • Super Tender Texture: The addition of Instant potato flakes makes the meatloaf exceptionally tender. Trust me!
  • Extra Flavorful Gravy: Tomato bouillon adds a subtle tomato flavor to the gravy.
  • Versatile: You can experiment with various soups and seasonings to make this recipe yours.

Ingredients Needed

  • Cream of vegetable soup: Substitute with cream of mushroom or cream of celery.
  • Instant mashed potato flakes: Adds tenderness; can be replaced with panko breadcrumbs.
  • Ketchup: Adds tang and sweetness; BBQ sauce is a good alternative.
  • Eggs: Binds the meatloaf together.
  • Ground beef and ground pork: Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
  • Minced onion: White, yellow or red onions. Shallots are good substitutes.
  • Bread crumbs: Gluten-free breadcrumbs or even rolled oats can be used.
  • Salt and pepper: We stick to the essentials for seasoning.

How to Make Tender Tasty Meatloaf

Making this meatloaf at home is a straightforward process using super simple ingredients with a few unique twists added for extra flavor. For the full printable recipe, check out the recipe card at the end of this post.

  1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a small bowl, combine soup, water, ketchup, and instant potato flakes. Add beaten eggs and mix well.
  3. Add all remaining meatloaf ingredients to a large mixing bowl and add the soup mixture. Gently mix with your hands to thoroughly combine all ingredients without overmixing.
  4. Form into two loaves and place into prepared pan.
  5. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. While the meatloaf is baking, prepare the gravy.
  1. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Slowly add the beef broth while continuing to whisk until smooth. Add tomato bullion (or tomato paste) and dried thyme. Continue to whisk until the mixture is simmering and has thickened. Remove from heat.
  2. When meatloaf has baked for 45 minutes, remove from oven and top each loaf with about 1/4 cup of gravy. Spread evenly over the top of each loaf. Return the meatloaf to the oven and continue to bake for another 15 minutes. The interior temperature of the meatloaf should be 160 degrees.
  3. Serve meatloaf with remaining gravy.

Helpful Tips

  • Cream of Vegetable Soup: If you cannot find this, simply use a creamy vegetable soup packet mix or cream of mushroom/celery soup.
  • If you don’t have Instant Potato Flakes, substitute with breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs if preferred.
  • Tomato Bouillon adds a rich tomato flavor to the gravy but if you cannot get it, use tomato paste. It is a good substitute and adds a nice red color to your gravy.

Storage Information

Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

Freezer: Freeze meatloaf (without gravy) in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Make Ahead: Ground meat should be used the day you purchase it so we don’t recommend making this to far ahead of time. You could prepare the entire meatloaf mixture in advance and refrigerate overnight before baking in the morning.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve with our mashed potatoes recipe and maybe some bbq green beans for a classic comfort meal that is also perfect for the holidays.
  • Pair with a simple tossed salad for a lighter meal that is lower in carbs.
  • We love to serve this with crusty bread to soak up the gravy.
meatloaf in a white baking pan

Variations

  • Get cheesy: Add some shredded cheese to the meat mixture for a cheesy twist.
  • Sneak in some Veggies: Incorporate finely grated zucchini into the meat mix. This ups the fiber and makes the meatloaf extra moist. Make sure to squeeze out any excess water from the grated zucchini using paper kitchen towels.
  • Spicy Kick: Mix in a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce or add some chopped jalapeños to the mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use if I don’t have beef broth for the gravy?

Chicken broth or vegetable broth can be used as a substitute for beef broth in the gravy.

What’s the best way to prevent the meatloaf from being tough and dry?

The instant potato flakes help retain moisture and add extra tenderness to the mix. However, also make sure not to overmix the meatloaf mixture or your meatloaf might get tough! And as always, keep an eye on the baking time.

Can I use ground turkey instead of beef and pork?

Yes, you can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version of the meatloaf. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time as needed.

close-up of a fresly baked meatloaf in a casserole dish.

More Comfort Food to Try

Tender Tasty Meatloaf

Recipe by Pennie Saadallah
Servings

12

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

1

hour 

15

minutes
Calories

217

kcal
Total time

1

hour 

25

minutes

This Tender Meatloaf is a timeless family favorite with some unique added ingredients that make this meatloaf extra tasty.

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

  • Meatloaf
  • 10.5 ounces cream of vegetable soup

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1/2 cup instant mashed potato flakes

  • 1/4 cup ketchup

  • 2 eggs beaten

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 1 pound ground pork

  • 2 tbsp minced onion

  • 2/3 cup bread crumbs

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp pepper

  • Gravy
  • 2 tbsp butter

  • 2 tbsp flour

  • 1 cup beef broth

  • 1 tsp tomato bullion powder

  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine soup, water, ketchup and instant potato flakes. Add beaten eggs and mix well.
  • Add all remaining meatloaf ingredients to a large mixing bowl and add soup mixture. Gently mix with your hands to thoroughly combine all ingredients without overmixing.
  • Form into two loaves and place into prepared pan.
  • Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. While meatloaf is baking, prepare gravy.
  • In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Slowly add the beef broth while continuing to whisk until smooth. Add tomato bullion (or tomato paste) and dried thyme. Continue to whisk until mixture is simmering and has thickened. Remove from heat.
  • When meatloaf has baked for 45 minutes, remove from oven and top each loaf with about 1/4 cup of gravy. Spread evenly over the top of each loaf. Return meatloaf to oven and continue to bake for another 15 minutes. Interior temperature of the meatloaf should be 160 degrees.
  • Serve meatloaf with remaining gravy.

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