Dad's Meatloaf
From the recipe’s author: “This is how my dad used to make it. Everyone who has eaten it just loves it. I love it because it reminds me of him.”

Timolina/shutterstock
Photo Credit:
Timolina/shutterstock
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 pound sausage (hot or mild)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small bell pepper, chopped
2 sleeves saltines
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, plain or with herbs of choice
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
2 eggs
salt to taste
pepper to taste
Worcestershire sauce, to taste
ketchup
Instructions
Using your hands, mix beef, sausage, onion, bell pepper, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and eggs in a large bowl. Add saltines until stiff enough to form loaf. Bake 60-90 minutes at 350°F until a meat thermometer inserted into the loaf reads at least 160°F.
Spread ketchup on top of loaf during last 10-15 minutes of baking time.
Yield:
8 servings
Reader Comments
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Dad's Meatloaf Recipe
For those of us accomplished cooks, this recipe is a down-home keeper. Thanks for sharing this recipe for one of the many comfort foods we go to again and again!
Meat Loaf
So when did sausage start being an ingredient for meat loaf? Ruins the taste.
Dad's Meat Loaf
Got tired of "fancy" meat loafs and down loaded Dad's from the always reliable Almanac. Followed directions precisely and even mom ate two helpings. Simple, reliable and oh sooo
good. Can't go wrong!
Very tasty meatloaf, reminds
Very tasty meatloaf, reminds me of what my dad used to make for the family before he left for cigarettes, 35 years on and he still hasn't returned.
Meat loaf
My late sister’s meat loaf was the best. She always used crushed saltines. Also - a can of tomato soup instead of tomato paste.
Meat Loaf
This is exactly how I've always made meat loaf, using crackers. Learned it from my mother. I sometimes use tomato paste instead of tomato sauce. Brings out the tomato taste.
Good recipe enhancement
large pieces of Mangos (green bell peppers) can go on the top of the loaf ; so flavor cooks into it ,and picky little people didn't have to cull pieces and whine about it.
Daddy's Meatloaf
This is the same way my Mom made her meatloaf using saltine crackers. Don't see many recipes for meatloaf using those. Thanks for sharing.
Meatloaf
Allergic to peppers so never added that and mom used a egg with breadcrumbs.
CLASSIC MEATLOAF RECIPE FOR
CLASSIC MEATLOAF RECIPE FOR DAD.