My good friend Kathy recently shared this Delicious Applesauce Meatloaf recipe with me. I got a copy of the handwritten recipe she wrote almost 50 years ago.
As many of you know I am no stranger to using applesauce when I am cooking or baking. My Delicious Applesauce Brownies is a good example of that.
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You might be thinking that this is just another boring meatloaf recipe. Well as you know, meatloaf can be made in many different ways, some are sweet while others are spicy. Some are made with beef while others are made with turkey.
The applesauce used in this recipe, while not much of it, gives this meatloaf a little sweetness without being overbearing while keeping the ground beef nice and moist after sitting in the oven for 1 hour.
Baking Meatloaf
When it comes to baking your meatloaf, you have a couple of options. You can bake it the traditional way in a loaf pan or bake it on a foil lined baking sheet.
Depending on how lean your ground beef is, you may find the meatloaf sitting in grease. One way to avoid this is to shape the meat mixture into the shape of a loaf and bake it on a baking sheet. This will allow the grease to run off into the pan.
For this meatloaf recipe, I decided to go old school and shape the loaf by hand and bake it on a baking sheet. You have the option to use a loaf pan instead. Just make sure it reaches the desired internal temperature.
Meatloaf Temperature
Our friends over at the USDA recommend an internal temperature of 160°F when cooking meatloaf. This should be enough to kill the salmonella.
You can take the meatloaf out of the oven at around 150°F and let it rest for 10 minutes. Check the internal temperature again before slicing & serving.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make Kathy’s Delicious Applesauce Meatloaf recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Ground Beef, Ritz Crackers, Egg, Tomato Sauce, Green Onions, Green Pepper, Salt, Unsweetened Applesauce and Chili Sauce.
How to Make Delicious Applesauce Meatloaf
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
- In a bowl, combine all ingredients except the chili sauce and mix well.
- Place the meatloaf mixture on the prepared baking sheet and shape it into the shape of a loaf.
- Make a well in the middle of the loaf and fill with chili sauce. Alternatively, you can use a wooden spoon to make indentations then fill with chili sauce.
- Bake for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Kathy’s Delicious Applesauce Meatloaf
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs Ground Beef
- 1 Cup Ritz Crackers, crushed
- 1 Egg, beaten
- 1 Cup Tomato Sauce, seasoned
- ½ Cup Green Onions, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp Green Pepper, chopped
- 1 ½ Tsp Salt
- 3 Tbsp Unsweetened Applesauce
- Chili Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
- In a bowl, combine all ingredients except the chili sauce and mix well.
- Place the meatloaf mixture on the prepared baking sheet and shape it into the shape of a loaf.
- Make a well in the middle of the loaf and fill with chili sauce. Alternatively, you can use a wooden spoon to make indentations then fill with chili sauce.
- Bake for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
This applesauce meatloaf is the best meatloaf I have ever made. I was hesitant as I had never used ritz crackers or applesauce in my meatloaf. It turned out perfectly and was very moist.