How To Make Classic Meat Loaf

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Preheat the oven

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees centigrade, or gas mark 4.

Step 3: Sauté the vegetables

Heat the frying pan and add the oil. Put in the onions and let them cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the celery, the green peppers and the garlic. Stir it all together and cook until soft. Then remove from the heat.

Step 4: Cool the vegetables

Transfer the softened vegetables onto a tray and allow to cool for a few minutes.

Step 5: Combine the ingredients

Place the beef into a large bowl. Follow with the pork then add the ketchup, the HP sauce, the chilli sauce, the beaten eggs, the cream, the breadcrumbs, the paprika and the salt and pepper.

Use your hands to combine it all together, squeeze and fold to ensure that everything is thoroughly mixed. Then add the cooled vegetables and mix them in thoroughly as well.

Step 6: Make the meat loaf

Take handfuls of the meat mixture and press them down into the loaf tin. Continue to fill the tin until all the meat is used. Finish off by moulding the top into a loaf shape.

Step 7: Bake in the oven

Place the meat loaf into the centre of the preheated oven and cook for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. After this time, remove it the from the oven. Allow it to rest for at least 15-20 minutes before cutting.

Step 8: Slice and serve

Once the meat loaf has been removed from the tin, place it on a cutting board and cut into thick slices, using a large knife. It can be served with mashed potato, accompanied by horseradish sauce, mayonnaise, or mustard.