Emily's Meat Loaf

beef herb bake kid-friendly back to school dinner meat ground beef small plates

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground lean beef, turkey, veal, pork, or combination

1 cup Italian bread crumbs

2 eggs, whisked

1 cup tomato juice or 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce whisked with water to make 1 cup

1 small onion, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

3 to 4 tablespoons cored, seeded, and chopped bell pepper (any color)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon ketchup

2 strips smoky bacon

Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, use your hands to thoroughly mix together the meat, bread crumbs, eggs, tomato juice, onion, celery, bell pepper, parsley, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Add the meat mixture to a loaf pan, spreading ketchup on top. Lay bacon strips on top of ketchup and bake for 1 hour. The loaf is done when a knife inserted into the middle feels hot to the touch or when internal temperature reads 160°F.