Brenda Gantt is a famous country singer, who spent much of her career teaming up with big name country stars like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.
Today, however, she’s known mostly for her meatloaf recipe, which has become one of her signature dishes.
Meatloaf is a great way to make use of leftover ground beef or pork, but it can seem daunting to make.
As such, there are many recipes available that make it easier to create this comforting dish.
This Brenda Gantt meatloaf recipe is an easy and delicious dish that is sure to please the whole family.
It features a delicious blend of ground beef and pork, seasoned with garlic, onion, and herbs, and cooked until it’s juicy and flavorful.
The end result is a comforting, hearty meal that is sure to become a family favorite.
What ingredients are needed to make Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf?
Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf requires the following ingredients:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped sweet yellow or white onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup chopped Italian parsley leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (sometimes called bbq sauce)
- 3 eggs, beaten
Is Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf recipe healthy?
This Brenda Gantt meatloaf recipe is certainly healthy, as long as you use lean ground beef and lean ground pork.
It’s also a healthy dish to make because you can prepare it ahead of time, so you have time to cut up the veggies and put the meat in the oven while you finish preparing the rest of the meal.
You may be wondering if you should add additional ingredients to your meatloaf recipe.
The answer is that it really depends on what type of meat you’re using and what your personal preferences are.
If you find that your meatloaf recipe doesn’t taste as good as it should when using lean ground beef, try adding more spices or seasonings to perk things up.
How long does it take to prepare Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf?
This meatloaf recipe, for example, takes around two and a half hours to cook, but if the oven is at full blast, it can take closer to four hours.
However, this depends on the size and quality of your oven.
If you’re in a rush, it’s worth stretching the meatloaf out in the oven once or twice while it cooks, to help it absorb more of the delicious meat juices.
Does Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf require any special cooking techniques?
Meatloaf has a reputation as a very simple and straightforward dish that requires no special cooking techniques.
However, in practice it is a bit more challenging than other dishes because of where the ingredients are placed.
Like many recipes, this one begins with the meatloaf mixture, which is then shaped into a loaf.
This is typically done by placing the mixture in your hands and patting it out into a ball.
The meatloaf can be formed by hand or by using either a meatloaf mold or a cookie scoop for easier handling.
There are also special steps needed to finish off the loaf in order to cook it through.
These details aren’t crucial for making this recipe, but they are important in order to create an enjoyable final product.
For example, the loaf should be covered with foil before it goes into the oven so that the tomato sauce can help form its juices and bind it together.
What vegetables or herbs pair well with Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf?
The main additions to this meatloaf are onions and garlic.
The flavors of these ingredients work well with the ground beef, pork, and herbs that make up the main ingredients of this dish.
Though garlic is commonly thought of as a strong flavor, used in spices and sauces, it works well in savory dishes like meatloaf.
Its strong aroma works to enhance the flavors without overpowering them.
Onions are also common in savory recipes.
They are often used as an added level of sweetness, which helps to balance out the bitterness of other spices or ingredients.
This is particularly true for this recipe’s onion components.
The herbs used in this recipe include parsley, thyme, oregano, and basil.
These herbs have a strong flavor that works well with the rest of the dish.
They add depth and aroma to make sure this is a savory dish that cooks wonderfully.
What side dishes would go well with Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf?
A good meatloaf recipe is all about balance.
You want your meatloaf to be delicious, but you also want a well-rounded side dish to compliment it.
Here are some ideas for the perfect combination.
Coleslaw
Although a traditional sides dish, coleslaw is one of the easiest meals to make.
It’s also versatile enough that it can be changed up depending on what else you’re eating alongside your meatloaf.
If you want to serve it as a more traditional American side dish with your meatloaf, then opt for white cabbage and mayonnaise with some dill and red pepper flakes.
Corn on the Cobb
A Southern favorite, corn on the Cobb is a breaded vegetable dish often made with chicken or fish.
You can easily change out the proteins for this dish and make it vegetarian by using meatless ground beef or pork instead.
This variation makes use of cornbread crumbs, which are especially ideal for dishes like this because they have a savory taste without being too salty.
Hamburgers
Whatever your preference, you can use hamburgers as a great protein source in your meatloaf recipe.
With the right mix of seasonings, the taste will be extremely similar to the original and can even work as a stand-alone entree if need be.
A meatloaf burger might be messy to eat, but it’s definitely worth the effort!
Pizza
Although pizza has been around since ancient times, many people still swear by it as a good way to start out any meal late at night.
If you’re looking for something familiar to start off your meal, then you should consider making pizza instead of going through the trouble of making a more complex dish.
Does Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf have a secret ingredient?
Brenda Gantt is a famous country singer, who spent much of her career teaming up with big name country stars like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.
Today, however, she’s known mostly for her meatloaf recipe, which has become one of her signature dishes.
Meatloaf is a great way to make use of leftover ground beef or pork, but it can seem daunting to make.
As such, there are many recipes available that make it easier to create this comforting dish.
This Brenda Gantt meatloaf recipe is an easy and delicious dish that is sure to please the whole family.
It features a delicious blend of ground beef and pork, seasoned with garlic, onion, and herbs, and cooked until it’s juicy and flavorful.
The end result is a comforting, hearty meal that is sure to become a family favorite.
Does Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf need to be cooked in the oven or on the stovetop?
The easy answer here is that it doesn’t matter where you cook it.
While the oven is best for evenly cooking the meatloaf, you can cook it on the stovetop if desired.
The main factor here is how much space you have available, so if you plan to feed a crowd, then an oven or stovetop could definitely be your best bet.
What type of pan is best for baking Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf?
The pan in which you bake the meatloaf is important.
The best pans to use are heavy-bottomed and heat resistant.
You want a pan that lets the heat distribute evenly and can withstand high temperatures without warping, as this will lead to soggy meatloaf.
The most common frying pan for baking a meatloaf is a cast iron skillet, but it can often be hard to find.
Instead, you may want to consider a non-stick pan when cooking the meatloaf.
This type of pan has an ample surface area and will enable more even browning of the meat as well as prevent splattering.
What is the best way to store leftovers of Brenda Gantt’s meatloaf?
This recipe makes enough to feed a family of four.
To keep leftovers in the fridge, you can simply divide them into individual freezer bags and freeze them for quick and easy meals later on.
For longer-term storage, though, it’s best to use the simplest method possible: just lay out the meatloaf in a large baking dish, cover it with aluminum foil, and store it in the fridge overnight.
The next day, remove the foil and bake the meatloaf as usual.
Equipment
- Oven
- broiler pan
Ingredients
- 3 lbs ground beef
- 1 piece onion minced
- 1 piece bell pepper chopped
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 1½ tbsp sea salt
- 1½ tbsp black pepper
- 3 eggs slightly beaten
- 1 sleeve saltine crackers
- 7 oz tomato sauce this is extra for the well
Catsup/tomato sauce mixture:
- 3 tbsp Catsup
- 1 tbsp tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp honey according to your preferred sweetness
The glaze or topping:
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, minced onion, and chopped bell pepper. Mixing the ingredients improves their adhesion, resulting in a more uniform meatloaf and preventing pockets of unseasoned meat.
- Next, add the entire can of tomato sauce (15 oz) to the bowl. Combine the salt, black pepper, and three lightly beaten eggs in a mixing bowl. The eggs will aid in the binding of the meatloaf.
- Pour the milk evenly over the crumbs.
- It’s now time to combine everything. Fold in all of the ingredients with your hands until they are evenly distributed. Make sure the tomato sauce and crackers are evenly distributed in the mixture, but don’t overmix or the meatloaf will be tough.
- Use a broiler pan with the little ridges on the bottom that came with your oven to allow the fat to drip away from the meat. Pour a glass of water into the pan to help create steam and keep the meatloaf moist. At the same time, the grease will not stick to the pan, making cleanup easier. Make sure to grease or line the broiler pan with foil.
- Form the meatloaf mixture into a loaf that fits nicely in the pan. Make sure the ends are straight, nice, and smooth. Smooth out any cracks that may have formed while shaping the meatloaf, as these will cause the meatloaf to fall apart when cooking. Aside from that, you don’t want your juices to escape through the cracks while the meatloaf cooks!
- Next, press down with your finger to make an impression or a small well in the center of your meatloaf. Pour your ketchup/tomato sauce mixture into this container. After you’ve made the well, pour the mixture into it, filling it all the way to the top.
- It’s time to bake the meatloaf now! Place it in a 350°F preheated oven. 45 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- While the meatloaf is baking, combine the ketchup/tomato sauce ingredients. When the meatloaf comes out of the oven, drizzle it with this.
- In a small bowl, combine 12 cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 1 teaspoon mustard. Set aside this mixture until the meatloaf is done baking.
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven after 45 minutes. Cover with the glaze or topping sauce. This will add a nice shine and sweetness to the meatloaf.
- Return the meatloaf to the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the glaze is set and nicely browned.
- Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Because if you cut into it right away, all of the juices will drain out, leaving your meatloaf dry. Allowing it to rest allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meatloaf, giving it more flavor and making it moister.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.