meatloaf... ketchup or not?

meatloaf is a great great and easy dish to make, not to mention i think it is pretty tasty. i know that my mom doesnt put ketchup or anything like that INSIDE the meatloaf, but use generous amounts of ketchup after it has already been cooked.

With four children meatloaf became a staple dinner in our home as the children were growing up. Having learned from my mother how to make meatloaf (she used hamburger meat, ketchup, egg, spices, onion and green pepper) that is how I made it when I started a family. One night I had no ketchup and I substituted barbeque sauce! The kids loved it! Another time I substituted worchestire sauce and they loved that too! When I do use ketchup, I spread a bit on top of the meatloaf as well. When using barbeque sauce I spread some of that on top too. One thing that my kids enjoyed me doing was to make little individual 'loafs' in my muffin pan rather than a regular loaf. This was everyone got some 'crunchy' part (they fought over the end pieces of the loaf!) I suppose if making individual 'loafs' like this, you could separate your burger and make half with ketchup and half without!

I can't believe you don't put ketchup in meatloaf!! What you are making is a huge meatball:) I saw Martha Stewart one time making a meatloaf and she said the key ingredient is the ketchup. She said you can never add too much ketchup in a meatloaf. I like it with gravy on top too, but that ketchup is still inside. Hey...if your son eats it that way, stick with it.

I like ketchup with brown sugar added to mine and I put it on the top of it and let it bake longer after I've drained the excess grease from it. I also like to add shredded carrots to mine. I like the cheese idea added in the middle of it!

Ok, I am one of the crazy ones who loves ketchup with my meatloaf. But what I do is cook a plain meatloaf(just put seasonings in it) and then make a gravy on the side. And that we all eat it the way we want. Mine with ketchup, others with gravy and my sons plain, tasting more like a burger.

I prefer meatloaf with ketchup, too, but I don't think you're crazy because you prefer your meatloaf with no ketchup.

I don't put it in it. I put it over it in the last ten minutes of cooking it.

I add the ketchup to the top of my meatloaf and bake it so thats its baked on not burned just baked I also will add a bit to mine after it cooked when i get it on my plate cause my fiance isnt a big fan of ketchup

No ketchup on my meatloaf, no way! I like my meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy and it all tastes great together!

Hi there... I definetly put tomato sauce in our meat loaf, for new zealanders, tomato sauce is what you would call ketchup, and without it meat loaf does not taste the same... Have great day...

"Very ordinary" meatloaf could be helped with ketchup. But I think maybe your meatloaf would have the finer taste of spices and cheeses and it would be a pity to drown that taste off with strong tasting ketchup. No need to worry about being crazy because you don't add ketchup to your meatloaf. Surely, good old meatloaf can be eaten anyway one chooses.

My mother used to bake it with some stewed tomatoes on top I do sometimes Im not a huge ketchup fan but I think it can be tasty with or without I put a number of things in mine along with fresh whole or sliced mushrooms sometimes even jalapenos

I make meatloaf with ketchup but not as much as some people I know. My family doesn't like it without it. Now, I have a friend who's hubby doesn't like ketchup so she puts in bbq sauce instead. I've never tried it this way, but I've thought about it.

You know everyone has their own way of making meatloaf. I actually tried it both ways and found that I prefer it with ketchup just because it gives it a little extra flavor but its not to say that I can't cook it without the ketchup and put it on the side to dip the meatloaf into it. I know many people who don't like ketchup on their meatloaf. I have found that a good number of people like to put beef gravy over it which sounds kind of yummy too. Everyone is different.

I don't put ketchup in my meatloaf either. Sometimes I put it on top when I eat it. It is usually so full of flavor it doesn't need ketchup. I put diced onions and green peppers in mine, sometimes garlic, seasoned breadcrumbs, and that is usually enough flavor for me. My mom used to make it just putting the ketchup on top before it goes into the oven. There are dozens of recipes. Try mixing it up sometimes and do different things with it. I do that with all of my recipes. It keeps them from getting old.

I love ketchup on top of meatloaf it is also good with gravy. I saw an Indian recipie once that called for yogurt and cardammon it was ok, but there alot of steps and I may have mesed somehting up.

I have always wondered what meatloaf is so please excuse me for answering your question as I dont make meatloaf, Being british I have heard of the dish but have never tried it myself. Could anyone tell me what exactly is in it?

I'm sure other people have revamped the recipe, but I think most people put ketchup on it, I just think that's what people think of when they here the word meatloaf, a log of beef with red topping LOL...

LOL! I put ketchup IN it and on it. My meatloaf includes chopped onion, chopped green or red pepper, a packet of dry onion soup mix, oatmeal, salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, worcestershire sauce, ketchup, etc. I spread ketchup on top before I bake also. I have tried pizza sauce on top instead of ketchup and that is good too! I used to have a recipe for one that made its own gravy, I think that I wrapped it in foil and covered it with dry onion soup mix, then poured some hot water on top. As it baked, it would turn into gravy to serve with it over mashed potatoes. Mmmm! My regular one just has the onion soup mix mixed in and brings out the flavor.

Meatloaf with ketchup is the only way to GO! I couldn't imagine it without it. But that's how my mother used to make it, so that's how I make it. I probably could live with putting it on top or with gravy!