10 Secret Ingredients Grandma Used in Her Meatloaf

Don't just settle for ground beef in your meatloaf. Amp things up with chopped bacon or ham. You can even top the whole meal off with bacon like in this recipe.

Bacon or Ham

Call it meatloaf night and the whole family will probably groan. Rename it TACO meatloaf and they'll jump for joy! Add in your favorite flavors, like salsa, kidney beans, corn and taco seasoning.

Southwestern and Mexican Flavors

Instead of putting an egg on it, put an egg in it! Place your meatloaf mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap and form it into a 8x12 rectangle.

Hard Boiled Egg

We're all used to serving mashed potatoes on the side with meatloaf, so why not stuff them inside the loaf itself? This recipe adds a creamy

Mashed Potatoes

You don't have to stick to ketchup as your meatloaf topping. Try barbecue sauce instead, like with this mini meatloaf recipe. Looking for a sauce? Try our favorite brands.

Barbecue Sauce

Grandmas always find a smart way to get us to eat our veggies—even mushrooms. Adding mushrooms to meatloaf give it flavor, moisture and great texture, like in this recipe.

Mushrooms

Who said meatloaf had to be coated in a sugary, ketchup-y glaze? Switch things up by serving your meatloaf with a side of tangy and cooling tzatziki sauce.

Tzatziki Sauce

Add your favorite cheese right to the meatloaf mix—like cheddar, pepper jack or even string cheese—to turn that loaf into a cheesy meal.

Make it Cheesy

It's not just about adding a healthy, nutrient-dense ingredient to your meatloaf. Veggies actually helps keep things nice and moist by releasing juices as the meatloaf cooks.

Vegetables

I come from a long line of Buffalo wing lovers, so there's almost nothing I won't put hot sauce on! In this recipe, we add buffalo sauce to the meat mixture and also use it as the glazed topping for a fun-and-funky recipe that really kicks up the heat.

Hot Sauce

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