# Meatloaf: Tomato sauce, or brown gravy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382 "2020-01-14T00:25:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/81 "2020-01-16T02:37:32Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Hunger is always the best sauce. But Desperation is a Stinky Cologne. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/82 "2020-01-16T02:45:45Z")
Just because the cat has her kittens in the oven doesn’t make them biscuits. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/83 "2020-01-18T17:49:26Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever made meatloaf with either one but a ketchup based sauce is what I’d expect as default. I smoke meatloaf and roughly follow the Ol’ Man Jim’s recipe and use the tangy mustard/vinegar/sugar glaze recipe: > **[Ole Man Jim's Meat Loaf](https://tvwbb.com/threads/ole-man-jims-meat-loaf.28144/)** > > Reposting this recipe here from the Beginner's Forum. > > \----------- > > Many people are raving about this recipe. I think it came from Q-Fest in Glen Rose, TX...not the Jack Daniels like I had thought. Anyway, it is great, I just had some for... > [@Mangetout](#): > > It depends - and I’m probably about to commit heresy here, but sometimes, I like meatloaf with liver included in it - in which case, I prefer a meaty brown gravy. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about a liver-y meatloaf with gravy since reading this a few days ago. Do you have a particular recipe to share? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/84 "2020-01-18T17:57:09Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I haven’t been able to stop thinking about a liver-y meatloaf with gravy since reading this a few days ago. Do you have a particular recipe to share? > **[Pork Faggots Homemade & Delicious!](https://www.krumpli.co.uk/faggots-and-mash-with-peas/)** > > Pork Faggots were the meatballs I grew up with, a staple of the Midlands in the UK have sadly fallen out of favour but I love 'em! ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/85 "2020-01-18T18:22:46Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > A glaze of ketchup, cumin, honey, Worcestershire and hot sauce. Don’t judge me. Like you, I’m obviously a mutant with regards to meatloaf. I also glaze. Chili sauce (which is nearly ketchup and ketchup can be substituted for the chili sauce), cane vinegar, dark brown sugar, hot sauce. I also only cook meatloaf free-form on a rack to allow the grease to escape. I cook at high temp to brown the outside, then glaze to caramelize the glaze, with some reserved for serving. Come mid-spring through early fall, like **jnglmassiv** , I’ll smoke my meatloaf at moderate temperature. Less browning before glazing, but nice smokiness. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/86 "2020-01-18T19:53:58Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I’m a Brown Gravy Girl, and here’s why: I like meat loaf with mashed potatoes. There’s something… unseemly about mashed potatoes with tomato sauce. > > Once in awhile I prefer macaroni and cheese with meat loaf, in which case I omit the gravy. I don’t much care for tomato sauce with mac and cheese, either. +1 for the mashed potatoes which is why I voted for brown gravy. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/87 "2020-01-18T20:49:41Z")
See, we always had potatoes au gratin with meatloaf. No need for gravy. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/88 "2020-01-18T20:55:31Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Just because the cat has her kittens in the oven doesn’t make them biscuits. Wasn’t that a “Polish Proverb” from _Banacek_? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/89 "2020-01-19T01:33:25Z")
Query: for those favouring a brown gravy option, how do you make it? I don’t like «gravy» out of a pouch, add water, etc. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/90 "2020-01-19T01:53:58Z")
See Post #71. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/91 "2020-01-19T02:20:18Z")
Missed that, thanks, but wouldn’t work for my recipe - it’s a baked meat loaf, no pan frying. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/92 "2020-01-19T02:24:58Z")
I’ve long been in the habit of keeping excess beef drippings in the freezer. When I make brown gravy for meat loaf, I generally pour off whatever drippings accumulated during the baking of the meat loaf, then add some extra drippings from the freezer if there isn’t enough fat. Make a roux with flour and seasonings. Add beef broth, maybe some leftover wine. (Yeah, right! Open a new bottle!) Bob’s yer uncle. Gravy for the mashed potatoes that go alongside the meat loaf. 🙂 ETA: **Northern Piper** , I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned how much I adore your tagline. Love it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/93 "2020-01-19T02:43:39Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Query: for those favouring a brown gravy option, how do you make it? I don’t like «gravy» out of a pouch, add water, etc. Make a roux; add some beef broth/stock, a bit of soy/Worcestershire/Kitchen Bouquet/Better Than Bouillon for color and additional umami, and that’s it. I also like adding just plain ol’ beef bouillon powder. If you can get some browned bits from the loaf pan, add that, too. But you don’t have to overthink this. Just broth + thickener essentially. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/94 "2020-01-19T03:54:07Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Wasn’t that a “Polish Proverb” from _Banacek_? 🙂 I think it’s a Mary Cooperism. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/95 "2020-01-19T04:40:40Z")
**burpo** ’s the winner. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/96 "2020-01-19T09:08:27Z")
My parents make meatloaf in the pressure cooker. Ground beef, saltines, onions, egg. It’s basically gray when it’s cooked. My mom adds ketchup and my dad uses French’s yellow mustard. My recipe is from Cook’s Illustrated and cooked in the oven, wrapped in bacon, with a ketchup and brown sugar sauce. There’s a bit of dijon mustard mixed in with the meat, as well as Worchestershire sauce. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/97 "2020-01-19T09:23:02Z")
hey you can split the difference like banquet does in its meatloaf tv dinner/ pack … just color your tomato-based sauce brown … hungry man does the same tho i perfer it with bbq sauce … but then ill put bbq sauce on anything ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/98 "2020-01-20T04:43:36Z")
Brown gravy over tomato sauce, I guess, but I’m more likely to just give it a good dose of ketchup. Don’t you judge me! ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/99 "2020-01-20T13:10:06Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > My wife admits that I make a better meatloaf than her mother did. When we visited our daughter and her new baby over Christmas, I made three for her freezer. > > If you need either, your meatloaf must be deficient. I make mine with barbecue sauce mixed in, and some bacon on top while it is cooking for extra flavor and moistness. And it is nice and juicy without adding anything after. > > Brown gravy is good with mash potatoes and turkey of course, even chicken. Have nothing against it. But not needed for my meatloaf. Yes. There should have been a choice for neither. But I’ll go one further and say that if the meatloaf is deficient, slathering stuff on top not only won’t help it any, it will likely make it even worse. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382/100 "2020-01-20T13:33:35Z")
ETA: Not sure why it double posted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meatloaf-tomato-sauce-or-brown-gravy/846382.md?page=6)