Sweet-and-Sour Meat Loaf

Name: Sweet-and-Sour Meat Loaf
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 1 cup dry bread crumbs; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 1-1/2 pounds ground beef; 1 teaspoon dried minced onion; 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce, divided; 1/2 cup sugar; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cider vinegar; 2 teaspoons prepared mustard

My husband and I like basic, hearty meat-and-potatoes meals. The sweet-and-sour flavor adds a deliciously different twist to this longtime standby. —Debbie Haneke, Stafford, Kansas

Ingredients

1 cup dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon dried minced onion
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce, divided
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons prepared mustard

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs, salt, pepper and eggs; crumble beef over top and mix well. Add onion and half of the tomato sauce. Press into a 9x5-in. loaf pan.
Bake at 350° for 50 minutes. In a saucepan, combine the sugars, vinegar, mustard and remaining tomato sauce; bring to a boil. Pour over meat loaf; bake until no pink remains and a thermometer reads 160°, about 10 minutes longer.
Freeze option: Securely wrap and freeze cooled meat loaf in plastic wrap and foil. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Unwrap meat loaf; reheat on a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan in a preheated 350° oven until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 419 calories, 17g fat (6g saturated fat), 146mg cholesterol, 969mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 28g protein.

Originally published as Sweet and Sour Meat Loaf in Reminisce Premiere 1991

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Debglass11

Sep 27, 2018

Really good meatloaf! I used panko crumbs and chopped fresh onion instead of dried, and used ketchup instead of tomato sauce. Since I used ketchup, I eliminated the 1/2 cup sugar and just used the brown sugar, along with the other ingredients. I just mixed the sauce ingredients together and poured it over the meatloaf. Baked the loaf on a roasting rack and it came out perfect. Served it with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. Will definitely make this again!
Loiscooks

Mar 6, 2018

Good recipe. Nice that it did not require milk. I used another topping instead of the sauce recipe. This was a good meatloaf that stayed together well. I will make this again. Thanks for the recipe.
bakingmad

Oct 2, 2017

Though I use a slightly different meatloaf mixture, I make the sauce (using regular white vinegar), pour just enough to cover the top of the meatloaf the last 5 minutes of baking, and pass the rest to serve. My husband was initially hesitant to try it, but, since finding this recipe some years ago, he won't eat meatloaf any other way and I never make "plain" meatloaf anymore! We especially like it with garlic smashed potatoes, buttered green beans, and homemade biscuits. Comfort food at its best!
TrishtheDish1

Sep 16, 2017

We enjoyed this twist on the classic meatloaf. Especially liked the sweet and sour sauce!
pattycake10

Jan 24, 2017

My family likes this recipe. You can make the sauce more sweet and sour if that is the taste your family prefers. I found the recipe to be good just the way it is for my families taste.
ladydi001

Jan 13, 2017

Great Recipe. I made as written and it was delicious but I prefer using crackers instead of bread crumbs in my meat loaf (guess it's what you get used to), so the next time I doubled the recipe and made it with a sleeve and a half saltine crackers and added a packet of onion soup mix for more robust flavor. It was absolutely delicious. I froze one of the loafs uncooked along with a baggie of the prepared sauce for an easy fix meal later. Next time I might also try making all the tomato sauce into the topping sauce and adding half to the mixture instead of straight tomato sauce. I am also going to use this sauce for my meatball appetizers in my slow cooker.
JohnRascal2

Jan 12, 2017

Great recipe. My only adjustment was to prepare the topping sauce and add that to the meat mixture rather than straight tomato sauce. Delicious. I definitely will make again.
mastifflady

Jan 9, 2017

I have also used this recipe for years. Everyone has loved it. I was so glad to see this recipe, lost it in moving. Will print and put it in recipe box. The sauce is what makes it so good.
gunslinger

Dec 24, 2016

Very good! The sauce was delicious!
mom2tek

Sep 1, 2016

This is a family favorite! Every time I make this they love it and tell me I should make it every day. Even my kids eat it up!