Have you watched Brenda Gantt cooking meatloaf and admired her results? Maybe you have even tried to follow her cooking and failed several times. Worry no more, I got you sorted. Today, I will make Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf cooking easy by providing you with the copycat recipe. The ingredients are available at any store, and the steps are simple to follow.
Brenda Gantt Meatloaf Recipe
This Brenda Gantt Meatloaf Recipe is an American recipe and it consists of a mixture of breadcrumbs, ground beef, onions, peas, eggs, and minced beef. The meat mixture is then wrapped in bacon and baked in an oven.
- Medium bowl.
- Oven
- Broiler pan
- Frypan.
- 3 pounds of hamburger meat.
- Big onion.
- Tomato sauce.
- 1 tbsp of salt.
- 2 eggs.
- Regular crackers.
- 1 Bell pepper.
- Cooking oil.
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Place the meat in a medium bowl.
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Chop your onions and bell pepper into tiny pieces( if you don’t like bell pepper, you can use sweet banana pepper. It also works wonders).
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Add the onions and bell pepper into the bowl with the meat.
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Add a pinch of salt.
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Add some powdered pepper.
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Add 15 ounce can of salted tomato sauce.
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Beat up your eggs in a separate bowl and stir them well.
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Add the stirred eggs. The egg will help to hold the mixture together.
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Crunch your crackers and add them to the bowl.
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Knead the mixture using your hands until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
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Wash and dry your hands.
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You’re going to use a broiler pan. Pour some water into it. It will help the meat not stick at the bottom.
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Use some oil to Grease the top of your pan. It will help meat not to stick and make it easier for washing.
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Grasp some mixture according to the size of loaf you want to have and put it on the pan.
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Use your hands to square the meat to get a loaf shape.
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Repeat this until all the mixture is used up.
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Using your finger, create a valley at the center of each loaf.
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Pour some tomato sauce into those valleys.
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Put the pan into the oven and cook at 400 degrees for about 40- 45 minutes.
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Remove your meatloaves from the oven. They are ready, and you can serve your family.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I keep my meatloaf from falling apart?
There are a few things you can try to help keep your meatloaf from falling apart:
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Use a binder: Eggs or breadcrumbs can help hold the meatloaf together. You can also try using grated cheese or oats as a binder.
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Use smaller portions for each loaf. If you aren’t following this recipe and are making one large loaf you can use a loaf tin.
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Avoid overmixing: Overmixing the meat mixture can cause it to become dense and difficult to shape. Mix just until the ingredients are well combined.
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Let it rest: After cooking, let the meatloaf rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. This will give the juices time to redistribute and make it easier to slice without the meatloaf falling apart.
Should I put an egg in my Brenda Gantt meatloaf recipe?
The answer is yes. Eggs in meatloaf are very important. A perfect meatloaf needs eggs to make the outcome moist. Furthermore, eggs hold the mixture together.
When making meatloaf with no access to eggs, you will have to go for products like ground flaxseed meal and mayonnaise to create the effect of egg in the mixture.
What happens if you put too many bread crumbs in meatloaf?
This Brenda Gannt Meatloaf recipe outlines the amount you require to make a perfect meatloaf. If you accidentally add too many breadcrumbs to the meatloaf mixture you risk the outcome crumbling apart.
Too many breadcrumbs mean the eggs available in the mixture are exhausted and won’t achieve the sticking together function effectively.
Can you put oatmeal in Brenda Gantt meatloaf recipe?
Yes. You can put oatmeal in a meatloaf. You use oatmeal in the process when you don’t have breadcrumbs or crackers. The outcome is equally delicious.
Be sure not to overuse your oatmeal in the process. Too much oatmeal may lead to meatloaf getting dry. If you are looking to shoehorn oatmeal into a Brenda Gantt recipe, I would recommend her biscuits.
Do you bake meatloaf covered or uncovered?
Meatloaf is baked uncovered. The process takes around one hour for the best results. Brenda’s meatloaf recipe prescribes baking without cover to achieve the golden exterior of the meatloaf.
Just as with Brenda Gantt’s tomato pie you usually want your meat loaves to be crispy on the outside. However, the recipe is just a creation, you have some creative freedom to amend things like this to suit your desires. If you cook your meatloaf covered it will retain moisture and so have a softer feel.
Why is my meatloaf so mushy?
Whether you use breadcrumbs, crackers, or oatmeal, the end result is the same. But the question of quantities you use in the mixture brings out the mushy or not mushy result.
Your meatloaf may be mushy for the following reasons;
- Too many crackers in the mixture
- Too much use of liquids like milk, cheese, or water
- Under baking
- Baking pans that have no ability to drain excess liquids
- Not enough egg in the mixture, maybe the eggs used were too small
Conclusion
Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf is a delicious and hearty meal that is perfect for a family dinner or a potluck with friends. The combination of ground beef, breadcrumbs, and a flavorful mixture of spices and vegetables creates a tender and flavorful loaf that is sure to be a hit with everyone. The addition of a sweet and tangy tomato on top adds an extra layer of flavor and helps to keep the meatloaf moist and tender. Whether you are a seasoned cook or a beginner in the kitchen, this recipe is easy to follow and produces a delicious and satisfying meal every time. Give Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf a try and see for yourself why it has become a family favorite.
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