Homemade Meatloaf from Minced Meat: Czech Recipe

Making homemade meatloaf from minced meat is a traditional and simple dish that tastes great both hot and cold, and that is also a big advantage. If you make a lot of meatloaf, you can also enjoy it the next day. For example, my dad usually eats meatloaf cold the next day, spreading a slice with mustard and adding chopped onions between two slices of bread. Here is a simple recipe for homemade meatloaf from minced meat, the way we make it in the Czech Republic. Instead of breadcrumbs, we usually use older white bread such as baguettes or buns soaked in milk. The result is the same as with breadcrumbs, so it depends on you which method you prefer or what you have on hand.

Recipe

Ingredients in this recipe

• 1 kg (2 lbs) minced beef (you can also use a mixture of beef and pork)
• 1 cup breadcrumbs or about 120 g (4.2 ounces) of older white bread
• 1 cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup ketchup (optional)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Slices of bacon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1

• In a small bowl, soak the breadcrumbs or diced older white bread in the milk and let it absorb.

Step 2

• In a large bowl, mix fresh quality minced meat (or a mix of beef and pork), soaked breadcrumbs, egg, chopped onion, minced garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix all ingredients until well combined. This mixture is best mixed by hand.

Step 3

• At this point, turn on and preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).

Step 4

• Shape the finished meat mixture into a loaf and place it in a greased or baking paper-lined baking pan. You can make one larger loaf or two smaller ones.

Step 5

• You can spread a thin layer of ketchup on top of the meatloaf. This will add flavor and help keep the meatloaf moist. We usually add slices of bacon to the meatloaf. Feel free to put them on ketchup or not to put bacon; I’ll leave it up to you.

Step 6

• Place the roasting pan in the preheated oven and bake the meatloaf for approximately 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches around 70 °C (160 °F). The baking time may vary according to the size of the loaf, the type of oven, etc., so it is advisable to check the meat with a thermometer. This is the most accurate indicator of how the meatloaf is doing.

Step 7

• Leave the baked meatloaf to rest for a few minutes before slicing. This redistributes the juices and keeps the meatloaf moist.

Step 8

• Slice the meatloaf and serve it with your favorite side dishes, such as mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, fries, vegetables, or a vegetable salad. You can also serve it cold with fresh bread, which is also an excellent combination, and you can easily take the meatloaf between slices of bread as a snack on a trip.

Enjoy homemade meatloaf from minced meat. Feel free to adjust the recipe by adding herbs, spices, or vegetables to your taste. Likewise, serving meatloaf is up to you. It’s a great dish that everyone will enjoy in their own way. Do you have a special recipe or custom that makes your meatloaf unique? I would be very happy if you write to me in the comments.