This is the first time I’ve revealed my secret ingredient meatloaf recipe — try it out, and your family will be sure to enjoy!

Veggies and whole grains in this recipe help this meatloaf really pack a nutritional punch, as well as being delicious. And I’ve chosen lower-fat and naturally processed meats to take it a step farther.

If you love this recipe, try these next time!

Meatloaf Recipe with Secret Ingredient

Delicious Recipe with Beef

  • 1 lb Laura's Lean Ground Beef (92% lean)
  • 1 cup lean ground turkey ((organic if possible))
  • 2 Eggland's Best Eggs ((large or extra-large are ideal))
  • 1 cup Quaker Oats (uncooked)
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce ((leftover tomato soup can also be used))
  • 1/2 large onion (minced)
  • 1/2 large green pepper (minced)
  • 1 tbsp first pressed olive oil
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (dried)
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder ((my secret ingredient!))
  • 1 Recipe Mashed Potato Topping (*)

*Mashed Potato Topping Recipe

  1. Peel 3 lbs russet potatoes and boil for 15-20 minutes, or until tender to the fork. (For quicker cooking, cut potatoes into slices about 1 inch thick.)

  2. Drain potatoes and add to large bowl, along with 1/2 cup skim organic milk, 1 T real butter, and 1 tsp. fresh ground pepper.

  3. Beat at medium speed until just smooth. (BE CAREFUL not to overcook – or over-beat – potatoes, or they may become glutenous (sticky and shiny, and more like paste than anything else–YUCK!)

Meatloaf Cooking Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Spray a glass pie plate with non-stick oil. (Or you can oil it by hand. Canola is best–it's healthy, and can handle relatively high temperatures.) Set aside.

  3. Add the olive oil to a non-stick pan, the heat the onions and green peppers on medium for 10-15 minutes, or until the onions start to turn clear. The veggies should be soft. (Make sure to monitor the veggies carefully while cooking, because onions can easily darken too much due to their high sugar content. If this starts to happen, you'll need to turn back the heat.) Remove from heat and allow to cool while continuing with the rest of the recipe preparation.

  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground turkey, eggs, soy sauce, tomato sauce (or tomato soup), chili pepper flakes, pepper, garlic powder, cocoa powder, and oats. With clean hands, blend everything together until well combined.

  5. Add in cooked green peppers and onions; blend until well combined.

  6. Form mixture into a large ball.

  7. Place ball into the pie dish and press down gently, starting at the center and moving slowly to the outer edges to make a round loaf. If cracks appear near the edges, pinch closed and smooth. Edges of loaf should not touch the edges of the pan, but should come 1-2 inches from it.

  8. Cover meatloaf loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove foil, then immediately return meatloaf to the oven for 30 more minutes.

  9. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Then, carefully "ice" the meatloaf with mashed potatoes.

Main Course
American
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