Alright, let’s get this straight, I ain’t no fancy chef, but I can whip up a mean meatloaf, and this one’s got rice in it, makes it stretch, you know? Kids these days, always hungry, gotta make things last.
First off, you need some meat, the ground-up kind. I like to use a bit of beef and a bit of pork, makes it taste better, not so dry. You get about a pound of each, that’s usually enough. Don’t go buyin’ that fancy organic stuff, regular ground meat is just fine. Waste of money, that organic stuff.
Now, for the rice. You gotta cook it first, can’t just throw it in raw, that ain’t right. Just plain ol’ white rice, nothing fancy. Cook it up like you always do, and you need about a cup of it, cooked, I said, cooked! Not raw!
Then you need somethin’ to hold it all together, right? So you get yourself an egg, a big one, and crack it in there. And some breadcrumbs, about half a cup. Don’t have breadcrumbs? Crush up some crackers, works just the same. Waste not, want not, that’s what I always say. Kids these days, they waste everything.
Oh, and you gotta chop up an onion, a small one, real fine. Some folks like to put in garlic too, I guess you can if you want. Me, I ain’t always got garlic on hand, onions are enough. Now, here’s the thing, some folks say onions and celery, they don’t cook down easy. Well, I ain’t never had that problem. Chop ‘em fine, I say, chop ‘em fine. And if you got some fresh herbs, throw those in too, makes it smell nice. Parsley, that’s a good one. Or that other stuff, whatchamacallit, thyme?
- Meat: 1 pound ground beef, 1 pound ground pork
- Rice: 1 cup cooked rice
- Binder: 1 large egg, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (or crushed crackers)
- Flavor: 1 small onion, chopped (garlic optional, fresh herbs if you got ‘em)
Okay, so now you gotta mix it all up. Get yourself a big bowl and dump everything in there. Meat, rice, egg, breadcrumbs, onions, all of it. And then you gotta get your hands in there and squish it all together. Yeah, it’s messy, but that’s the best way to do it. Make sure everything is mixed up real good, you don’t want no big clumps of nothin’.
Now, some folks like to add milk to make it moist, I heard tell. Or beef stock, or chicken stock, even water. Or that non-dairy milk stuff the city folks use. Me? I just use what I got, if the meat ain’t too lean, it’ll be moist enough. If you’re worried, splash in a little milk, why not? It ain’t gonna hurt nothin’. Some folks also put in cheese, that parmesan stuff. I ain’t got nothin’ against cheese, but I don’t usually put it in my meatloaf. Keeps it simple, that’s my way.
Once it’s all mixed, you gotta shape it into a loaf. I just use my hands, pat it down nice and smooth. You can put it in a loaf pan if you want, makes it all neat and tidy. But you don’t have to, you can just put it on a baking sheet, it’ll be just fine. Just shape it like a loaf, that’s all.
Now, you gotta bake it. Put it in the oven at about 350 degrees, and let it cook for about an hour, maybe a little longer. You gotta check it, make sure it’s cooked all the way through. Stick a knife in the middle, if it comes out clean, it’s done. If it’s still pink in the middle, it needs more time. Don’t want nobody gettin’ sick now, do we?
And that’s it, that’s how you make meatloaf with rice. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good, and it fills you up. Perfect for a family dinner, and it don’t cost an arm and a leg neither. You can serve it with mashed potatoes, or some green beans, whatever you like. Good, honest food, that’s what it is. And it makes enough for leftovers, which is always a good thing. Kids these days, always hungry, I tell ya. This meatloaf, it keeps ‘em full, at least for a little while.
Oh and one more thing, some folks put a glaze on top, somethin’ sweet and tangy they say. Me, I don’t bother with that. Too much fuss. But if you want, go ahead, I ain’t stoppin’ ya. Just bake it like I said, and it’ll be just fine. This meatloaf, it’s a winner, juicy and flavorful, just like it should be. And it’s easy too, takes maybe ten minutes to get it ready, then you just stick it in the oven. Perfect for a busy weeknight, when you don’t have time to be fussin’ around in the kitchen. So there you have it, my easy meatloaf recipe with rice. Go on, make it, your family will thank ya.
Tags: [meatloaf, rice, easy recipe, family dinner, ground beef, ground pork, comfort food, homestyle cooking, budget-friendly, quick meal]
