Make Meatloaf Juicier With A Simple Store-Bought Ingredient (Hint: Its Not Butter)

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If you weren't raised with meatloaf as a regular weekly item on the home menu, it may seem a bit anachronistic, something quaint and midcentury. But a simple meatloaf recipe can be an easy, hearty dish, full of nuance when you do it right. And regardless of whether you're already a fan or need a little nudge to become a true aficionado, you might want to think about using store-bought Stove Top Stuffing in your meatloaf for a dense but airy, perfectly juicy bite with every slice.

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The beauty of using Stove Top Stuffing in your meatloaf is that the flavor and other ingredients are (almost) all there. Any meatloaf recipe needs a binder, usually breadcrumbs, dried bread, or flour. Stuffing mix works great because it's ready to go right out of the box, and it has more flavor components in the package. While you can simply mix the dry stuffing crumbs directly into your ground beef along with eggs and a liquid like water or broth, you can also swap in milk or melted butter if you want more creaminess.

Whatever brand of boxed stuffing you're using, once it's all mixed together, we suggest forming it in a loaf pan. It will be easier to cut and produce more uniform slices. 

While the seasoning in the stuffing mix may be plenty to flavor your meal, you can spread your wings and dive into some other ingredients that will upgrade your meatloaf. A bit of sauteed onion is always good, or maybe some fresh garlic or chopped bell pepper for more aromatic flavor. You want additions that will enhance the flavor but won't overpower it. Fresh parsley or dried Italian herbs will give it a nice pop. And it goes great with any number of sides, like tender, crispy green beans, Brussels sprouts, or mac and cheese.

A simple spread of ketchup on top is easy, but if you mix in brown sugar, white vinegar, garlic, and onion powder, you'll get a glaze that's more complex and super easy to make. And whether you're serving it atop mashed potatoes or with a side of greens, a good gravy adds a touch of down-home flavor — and this is where the butter should come in. For a simple brown gravy, you can just melt some butter with finely minced onion, then add some beef stock and a slurry of cornstarch and water until it's nice and thick. Making meatloaf can be super simple with some help from boxed stuffing, and you can follow the flavor from there to get it dialed in exactly as you'd like it.