Meatloaf: Tomato sauce, or brown gravy?

Per the OP, is guess that makes Chisquirrel a mutant, then.

Me too! Meatloaf with BBQ sauce! (Preferably simmered in it while cooking.)

And if there’s mashed potatoes along with, put BBQ sauce on that too!

True story: I ate often at a buffet restaurant that ALWAYS had real roast turkey (not that paper-thin pre-sliced crap) with mashed potatoes and choice of light or darker brown gravy, and a rotating selection of other dishes too. Thursdays they had “Miner’s Bones” which was juicy greasy beef ribs swimming in a pan of BBQ sauce.

I asked them for the turkey and mashed potatoes with some of that BBQ sauce for the gravy. I took a few tries to get the server to believe I was really asking for that. What, was I the only one who ever asked for that?

I once had a meatloaf recipe that I’ve long since lost and wish I still had because I don’t remember all the ingredients. But it included orange juice and powdered mustard and maybe some brown sugar and I-don’t-remember-what-all-else and it came out Hawaiian Style Sweet And Sour Meatloaf!

he wins!

Now its funny banquet who makes a meatloaf tv dinner had a brown sauce that’s flavored like its tomato covering

heres a question … veggies in the meatloaf or no ?

My standard recipe calls for onions and garlic as non-negotiable musts. When I can find decent leeks, I’ll happily use them. Hot peppers are OK but I’d rather add heat to the glaze. I’ve done grated zucchini with mixed results. Grated carrots don’t hurt anything but are entirely optional and borderline meaningless.

You might take a look at Alton Brown’s recipe for some ideas. Also, up the umami with a bit of Worcesershire and fish sauce, etc., per Kenji.

I use both (well, if ketchup counts as tomato sauce). My mom’s recipe calls for mixing ketchup with the beef (along with ground-up crackers and various spices) but then pouring brown gravy and mushrooms over the top and cooking uncovered. It’s simple, but I love it.

Brad gets it.

Damn, you guys are making me crave some meatloaf.

I top mine with BBQ sauce or a just few dashes of Tabasco.