Hidden Veggie Meatloaf
This tender, flavorful meatloaf is a regular in our household! This hidden veggie meatloaf with blue cheese is smothered BBBQ sauce and can be made in the oven or instant pot!
I understand meatloaf can be a hit or miss at the family table, especially with children. I understand because I was that child. The child that was not a big meatloaf fan. I would always pick the slice with the most amount ketchup and the least amount of chopped onions. It wasn’t until I began to make meatloaf myself that I got to experiment with different flavors. Then when I met my husband, he introduced me to the hidden veggie method, which I thought was brilliant.
This hidden veggie meatloaf is a delicious recipe for your kids and getting them to eat their vegetables. I use ground turkey, but ground beef or chicken will also work great. The flavors will still taste amazing. I also add blue cheese into ours because we are blue cheese lovers. It also really lifts the flavor of the meat. Gorgonzola, parmesan cheese, cheddar, and pepper jack cheese are also great substitutes.
I am still not a fan of just all ketchup being on the top of the loaf. To me, the sauce is like icing on the cake, which is why I love this sauce combo. It gives a savory, yet slightly sweet flavor. I have both baked and pressure cooked this hidden veggie meatloaf. Both option work great and taste amazing. And the best part, your kids won’t taste the vegetables.
I hope you enjoy this as much as we do and would love to see your creation on Instagram or Facebook!
Hidden Veggie Meatloaf with Blue Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground meat
- 2 cups frozen mixed veggies
- 1 cup milk or broth
- 1 cup panko
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tbl. Onion powder
- 1 Tbl. Garlic powder
- 2 Tbl. Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- 1 cup blue cheese crumbles
- 2 Tbl. Brown sugar
- 2 Tbl. Prepared mustard
- 3 Tbl. Ketchup
- 3 Tbl. BBQ sauce of your choice
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, pulse the veggies until pulverized and well blended. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, mustard, ketchup, and bbq sauce. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix the meat, blended veggies, egg, onion powder, garlic powder, milk, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper together (Mix in the blue cheese if using as well.) Place mixture into the pan and form into a loaf. Then pour the sauce on top.
- To Bake: Bake for 1 hour at 350℉ in a lightly greased pan. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- To pressure Cooker: Place the formed meatloaf on a piece of foil and fold the edges upwards. Add 1/2 cup of water into the instant pot. Then place the instant pot's steam rack in the pot, following with the meatloaf on top. Pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. Once done, release the steam and serve with your choice of sides.
Notes
About Nicole
Hey There! I'm Nicole, and I have been making food for as long as I can remember, from a little girl cooking with her grandmother to making new dishes and using her husband as a taste tester.
