Can anyone tell me how to make a meatloaf? mines keep falling apart?

Answer 1

If it's falling apart, then you are over cooking it.

Check it as it is cooking with a meat thermometer. Ground meats, such as beef, pork or other meat or fish only need to to be cooked to an internal temperature of 155 degrees F for 15 seconds.

If it get hotter than that and you cook it for too long, you will dry out the meat, and that is why it falls apart.

Answer 2

Treat your family to a classic dinner that is guaranteed to have second helpings.

Ingredients
2 lbs Ground chuck
1 Large onion, finely chopped
1 cup Breadcrumbs
2/3 cup Chili sauce or ketchup
2/3 cup Parsley, finely chopped
1 tb Worcestershire sauce
3 Eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black pepper

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix with your hands until well-blended but not overmixed.





Fill lightly greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with mix. Put pan on baking sheet and bake until meat is firm and has shrunk from the sides of the pan, about 1 1/4 hours. Pour off excess fat and let sit 15 minutes.

Cook's Notes
Serve this American classic with baked or mashed potatoes, a green vegetable such as broccoli or green beans, and sliced tomatoes. Meatloaf sandwiches the next day are almost better.

*Nutrition Information is analyzed using the original recipe. To cut down on fat, use extra lean ground beef instead.
Kcal: 405
Fat: 21 g
Sat Fat: 8 g

Nutrient Information
474 Calories
30 g Total Fat
11 g Saturated Fat
1 g Polyunsaturated Fat
14 g Carbohydrates
34 g Protein
709 mg Sodium
2 g Fiber

Answer 3

Hmm.... I always make my meatloaf free form (not in a loaf pan) and have never had this problem but I can't see that being too juicy would make it fall apart. You are using an egg and breadcrumbs so that isn't the problem...Maybe you are using too much breadcrumbs - try another egg. My mom always used oatmeal instead of bread crumbs, maybe try that. Maybe it is overcooked? Maybe you are breaking it by accident when you cut? Try using a serrated knife or cut thicker slices. I imagine it is frustrating to you since you appear to be doing everything right! I hope it works out for you. Good luck!

Answer 4

Take a pound of ground beef add some (about a handful) bread crumbs ( I prefer italian style) add 1 egg and any seasonings you may want mix with hands in large bowl form into log and place either into a small bread pan or onto a baking sheet cook at 400 degrees untill it is crunchy on the out side and cooked in the center usually about 25-30 minutes depending on how crunchy you want it, this is my own recipe from trial and error so sorry about no real acurate measurements but it always comes out good for me so give it a try, Good luck=)

Answer 5

The recipe Troubled gave is almost identical to how I make it, except I take it out early and top it with ketchup, then put it back in the oven so it gets that sticky crust on top. I've never had it fall apart, even when I substitute the ground beef with ground turkey, which is a healthier option.

It also might help to let it rest longer before you serve it. If it's too hot when it is sliced it could fall apart. I've had that happen when my stomach overpowered my common sense, hehe.

Answer 6

Your probably using too much sauce and not enough dried crumbs!

MEATLOAF RECIPE:
2lbs ground beef (LEAN)
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped green peppers
2/3 cup oatmeal or crushed saltine crackers
1/2 t black pepper
2eggs,slightly beaten
1-1/2 t garlic salt
1-1/2 cup tomato juice or sauce

In large bowl mix meat,onion,green pepper,black pepper,oatmeal or crackers,eggs,garlic salt,and 1 cup of tomato juice or sauce.
Put in loaf pan. shape into a loaf to firm mixture up ,Bake at 350 for about an hour then pour remaining sauce over loaf and bake an extra 5-8 min. letting topping coat,and let set for 10-12 min. before serving. SERVES 8

Answer 7

I use about a pound and a half of ground beef, one egg, two pieces of bread torn into pieces, 1/3 cup ketchup, salt and pepper. Mix all together and cook in a loaf pan for 1/2 hour. Carefully drain off the oil then top with a liberal ammount of ketchup and cook for another 15 minutes or until done.

Answer 8

10 pounds ground beef
3 cups diced bell peppers
3 cups diced yellow onion
1 gallon bread crumbs
3 cups eggs
32 oz milk
3 cups ketchup

Mix your dry ingredients throughly with your hands until you can't see the dry breadcrumbs anymore, mix your wet ingredients together in a bowl with a whisk and then add to your dry ingredients and knead with your hands until it's all consistent, place in a baking dish and cook for 45 minutes at 425 F.
Mind you, that's a restaurant recipe so you might want to cut that down to about 1/4 of that. So instead of using 10 pounds of ground beef you would use 2 1/2 pounds and so on with all the ingredients.

Answer 9

OK to what everyone said about the egg and bread crumbs as binders and fillers.

But when you finish cooking it you need to let it "rest" for 5-10 minutes before you try cutting it. This should make the difference in holding together a bit better.

Answer 10

I'm no expert cook or anything, but here goes......... I just get a meatloaf seasoning, put one egg, chopped onion (if you like onion) and bread crumbs and cook at 350* for about an hour..then I mix tomato sauce and brown sugar together and put it on the top....cook until no pink...Hope this helps...Good Luck!