Today I am featuring the second recipe in my series of back to school meals. The first delicious and hearty meal I featured was Baked Ziti with Meatballs. This week I have a great recipe for you that was created by my mother-in-law Nancy. It’s her famous BBQ Meatloaf. She loves to serve it with baked potatoes and a vegetable and it is delightful! Nancy has made this meatloaf many times and it pleases all of the picky eaters in my family! This comforting meatloaf is highlighted with savory onions and a delicious bbq topping. You can conveniently whip all of the ingredients together in one bowl and then shape it in a 9″x 13″ pan. So you won’t have to dig out your loaf pan from the dark depths of your cupboards. And don’t forget that the leftovers make the best meatloaf sandwiches. So let’s get to mixing.

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.  Then put 20 saltines crackers (about 1/2 of a sleeve) in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling-pin.

Now chop 1/2 cup of onions into fine pieces.

Now in a bowl mix the 2 pounds of ground beef with the 20 saltine crackers that you crushed, the 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 eggs that you have beaten in a bowl, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Mix this together and form in into a loaf in your 9″x13′ pan.

Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Then add 1/2 cup of your favorite bbq sauce to the top of the meatloaf and then bake it for an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until the meatloaf reaches a temperature of 165 degrees on a meat thermometer. 

Now you are ready to enjoy this weeknight favorite with your family.