Does anyone have an easy meatloaf recipe that kids love? My kid does not like onions and bell peppers or anything thats crunchy in their meatloaf. Any suggestions?
For my meatloaf I use either bread crumbs or oatmeal along with the egg and meat. My kids notice the oatmeal more and tend to complain so I try to use bread crumbs. I do a couple of things that make them "like" meatloaf. One thing that I do it to put it in a large cake pan but only around the edges. The meat makes a border on the outside of the pan leaving a hole in the middle. After the meat is cooked I then drain any grease or juice from the pan and fill it with mashed potatoes or some kind of vegetable. I then cover all of it with cheese and pop it back in the oven until the cheese is melted. The other thing that I do sometimes is to make the meatloaf in a muffin pan or small loaf pans. There is something about that they can have a whole one for themselves that makes them seem special.
I don't have a meatloaf recipe but I know what you mean by kids not liking 'Onions and Crunchies' in their food!!
The best way around this problem is to use a grater (using the smallest holes) and grate the onion. Kids associate the crunch of an onion to the taste but they cannot detect the taste if it's grated!
I use Ann Landers' recipe for the same reasons + husband.
2lbs ground round or whatever
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. bread crumbs
3/4 c. ketchup
1/2 c. warm water
1 pkg Lipton onion soup mix (they won't notice the small amount of dried onions)
Mix and place in loaf pan
Cover w/2 bacon strips
Pour 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce over all
Bake 1 hr. @ 350 degrees
Makes enough for 6 picky eaters
Good luck
Jimmie
I have the perfect, easy, kid-friendly recipe for you! I have a family of 4 and I use about 2 lbs of ground beef, 1 can (divided) cream of muchroom soup, 1 egg, and 1 envelope dry Lipton onion soup mix (which I crush since my kids hate onions too). I only use about 1/2-1/3 of the can of crm of mush. soup. Mix all well in a bowl, shape into loaf, you can take the remainder of the mush.
I noticed that there are some universal truths in these posts.
Use ketchup instead of tomato anything. It's sweeter; kids like that.
I also add one rounded cooking spoon of clear jelly--either currant or apple. Remember what I said about sweet?
I use oatmeal and more than one egg in a large (at least 1.5 lb.) meatloaf. Use real rolled oats, not instant.
I personally use ground sirloin, so that half your meat doesn't drain off in liquid. It may cost more than hamburger, but you get to have your meatloaf and eat it, too.
For onions, I use dried onion flakes or chopped dried onion. It and the oatmeal soak up liquid. Of course, you can simmer the dried onions, and just add the juice, if all you want is flavor.
I chop my onions and peppers very fine in an inexpensive ($8 - 10.00) food chopper, or sautee them until soft. I use two lbs. 80% lean ground chuck and one lb. good (lean) hot pork sausage (or mild, sage, whatever your family prefers). And instead of bread crumbs or oatmeal, instant potato flakes work great.
I have 5 children & 5 grandchildren. A few of the grandkids are picky eaters. I'll use half to 2/3's the usual amount of onion & bell pepper & puree them in the blender. I only use half to 2/3's because pureeing them makes the flavor stronger. Then add my seasonings & extra cracker crumbs. I have restaraunt-sized muffin tins & I'll pack these w/ meatloaf & bake 'til done.
My kids LOVE McCormick's Meatloaf Mix in the small red package. They also have it in a longer, brown package--that's not it. You don't have to add any onions or peppers for a great flavor. Instead of putting ketchup in the mix, I put about 1/2 cup of ketchup mixed with 2T of brown sugar on top of the loaf about 10 minutes before it is done. My kids request this quite often.
Go to Foodnetwork.com and look up Paula Deen's meatloaf recipe. As Rachael Ray would say, "Yum-O." Its a keeper. It does have have some onion in, which you could certainly leave out - maybe substitute onion salt or onion powder, but the sauce is what makes it. Almost like a bar-b-q sauce. My kids love it and the leftovers makes great sandwiches.
Growing up Mom would put hard boiled eggs in the middle of the meatloaf, so when it was cut, you got a surprise in the middle.
I just put what ever the rest of the family likes - I just put the 'yuck' ingredients into the blender first (without them seeing) and they never know what they're eating. Works for mushrooms, onions and whatever the children don't like. Works here! Nanc
You can make them in cupcake tins and put a piece of string cheese in the middle. That would make for a nice surprise and just like the other person said, blend the "crunchies" beforehand.
