Moist Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy
This meatloaf recipe with mushroom gravy is packed with finely chopped vegetables, making it a moist, nutritious and delicious home-cooked meal.
Just a simple American classic dish and old-fashioned comfort food.
I didn’t grow up with meatloaf, but my husband is a big fan so I’ve certainly made a few over the years, trying to find the right taste and textures. The trick, for me, was finding the right ratio of breadcrumbs (too much creates a mushy texture) and making the meatloaf light and moist.
I like sauce or gravy on almost anything, so adding a mushroom gravy was a no-brainer. This meatloaf would also work, though, with the traditional ketchup-based glaze (instructions are in the recipe). Or with a plain 5-minute beef gravy recipe without drippings.
Bottom line: This is a moist, tender, flavorful meatloaf with lots of vegetables and a delicious mushroom gravy for a great finish. Leftovers are great the next day.
Ingredients – tailored to your taste
Here are some variations and substitutes you can try to adjust the recipe to your liking of what you have on hand.
- Meat: Use a mixture of different ground meats such as ground turkey, beef, veal or ground pork.
- Vegetables: Instead of baby spinach and bell peppers, try shredded carrots, celery, mushrooms or swiss chard. I don’t suggest skipping the onions as they add a lot of flavor.
- Other fillings: You can add one or two of the following if you like to the meat mixture – chopped sundried tomatoes, olives, crumbled bacon or 1/2-1 cup shredded cheese.
- Gravy options: Leave out the mushrooms or substitute them with 1 cup sautéed onions for an onion gravy.
- Topping instead of gravy: Feel free to use the classic ketchup-based topping (see instructions in the recipe)
Step by step instructions
Can you make meatloaf healthy?
Meatloaf is not known to be healthy. It typically has high saturated fat, high calories and high salt content.
My goal was to make a flavorful, moist meatloaf that is health-ier for those who are interested. Here’s what I did.
- used lean ground beef with only 10% fat.
- incorporated spinach and red pepper for moistness and added nutrition.
- used tomato sauce instead of ketchup which contains a lot of sugar.
- swapped oats for the breadcrumbs for added fiber.
- cut down the salt
So yes, as meatloaf goes, this one is at least healthier than many you will buy or make. Here is an article by Livestrong suggesting ways to make meatloaf healthier.
What to serve with meat loaf
Since we’re talking old-fashioned comfort food here, I love serving this vegetable meatloaf recipe with mashed potatoes and green beans.
Other great options are coleslaw, quinoa and butternut squash salad, root vegetable mash, mashed potato pancakes (use store bought or leftover mashed potatoes for a shortcut) or roasted zucchini.
For a lighter option, try our low carb lemon-herb cauliflower rice stir fry.
Shortcuts
- Use a processor to finely chop the vegetables
- Skip the gravy and make a classic glaze topping that covers the meatloaf before baking (instructions in the recipe card). Or even quicker, use a bottle BBQ sauce for the glaze.
Make Ahead
See instructions in the recipe notes for:
- Make ahead without baking
- Freeze without baking
- Bake loaf to serve the next day
How to use leftover meatloaf
Oh, so many ways! Here are a few options:
- as an appetizer – warm it and serve small pieces with mustard
- in a sandwich
- in shepherds pie
- crumbled into a soup
Here are some great ideas for leftovers: best leftover meatloaf recipes and 8 things you never thought to make with leftover meatloaf.
Love meatloaf?
If you love meatloaf and want an even lighter version, try our chicken meatloaf with vegetables. Or how about a soup version like our simple ground beef vegetable soup or a stir fry like a one-pan ground beef stir fry?
Moist Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 small onion, cut in quarters
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach (or 3-4 ounces frozen spinach – about 1/3 of a 10 ounce frozen package – thawed and squeezed dry)
- 1 red or green pepper, cored and seeds removed, cut in large chunks
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup oats (or breadcrumbs)
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce (or ketchup)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound lean ground beef (or any mixture of beef, veal, turkey, pork)
Mushroom Gravy
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 2 cup chopped mushrooms (8 ounces)
- 2 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 1 1/2 cup beef stock or beef broth I use 1 cup/237 ml of canned Campbell's undiluted broth plus 1/2 cup/118ml water
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- PREHEAT OVEN to 350F/176.7C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, sprayed with oil. Instead, you can use a 5-inch loaf pan (13 cm), sprayed with cooking spray or lined with parchment.
- PREP THE VEGGIES: Put onion, pepper and spinach in a food processor. Pulse until vegetables are finely chopped. Alternatively, you can finely chop the vegetables with a knife.
- MAKE THE MEAT MIXTURE: In a medium mixing bowl, add all the rest of the meatloaf ingredients except the meat. Stir to combine well. Add the meat and chopped vegetables. Mix until fully combined using a light touch (I use my hands).
- BAKE THE MEATLOAF: Place the mixture onto the lined baking sheet and shape into a loaf, about 4 inches/10 cm high. Or place in loaf pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reads 155F/68.3C. Let sit for 5 minutes before slicing.
- MAKE THE GRAVY (Note 1): While the meatloaf is baking, heat oil to medium-high heat in a medium-size saucepan. Add mushrooms and sauté until water is evaporated and mushrooms are tender. Add flour and continue cooking for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add some broth and whisk until smooth. Add the rest of the broth, wine and thyme. Cook for a few more minutes until thickened. Add a bit more broth or water if you prefer a thinner consistency. Serve over sliced meatloaf or pass the gravy on the side.
Recipe Notes
- Instead of gravy, use the classic ketchup glaze/topping: Combine 1/4 cup ketchup, 2 teaspoons brown sugar and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire in a small bowl. Brush or spoon on glaze over meatloaf, then back. Or, for an even easier option, brush on your favorite bottled BBQ sauce
- Variations and Substitutions
- Meat: Use a mixture of different ground meats such as ground turkey, beef, veal or ground pork.
- Vegetables: Use other vegetables such as shredded carrots, celery, mushrooms or swiss chard
- Other fillings: You can add one or two of the following if you like to the meat mixture – chopped sundried tomatoes, olives, crumbled bacon or 1/2-1 cup shredded cheese.
- Gravy options: Leave out the mushrooms or substitute them with 1 cup sautéed onions for an onion gravy.
- Topping instead of gravy: Feel free to use the classic ketchup-based topping (see instructions above)
- Make Ahead:
- Make ahead without baking: Make the loaf. Cover it well with plastic wrap or foil and keep it in the fridge for up to two days. Then bake.
- Freeze without baking: If you are not using the meatloaf within two days, freeze it. Wrap unbaked loaf in plastic wrap then place in an airtight container or ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 6 months. When ready to use, thaw the meatloaf in the fridge overnight. Place on a lined pan and bake. If you forget to thaw the loaf, bake it for about 1.5 hours.
- Bake loaf to serve the next day: Bake the loaf for about 35-40 minutes. Reheat the next day for 15 minutes at 350F/177C. Or slice and reheat in the microwave for a minute or two.
I made this last night. My husband raved and said it’s the best meatloaf he’s ever had! I used frozen spinach, chopped carrots and celery. Served it with mashed potatoes and steam in bag frozen peas. Perfect comfort food dinner for a cold snowy night.
Please thank your husband for the high praise! With mashed potatoes, peas and gravy, you’re right – the best comfort food 🙂
Made this unique and delicious meatloaf this evening. Different from any meatloaf i’ve ever made. The vegetables made it so moist. Made it on a sheet pan but would try a loaf pan next time to get more height.
Glad you enjoyed it Karyn. I like that the veggies add extra nutrition too. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Always appreciated!
Was so delicious 😋
Was a huge hit
Happy to hear Janet! Thanks for the comment.
Easy and delicious recipe. Lots of flavour. Will be making this regularly! Thanks Cheryl!
So glad you liked it Silvia! Thanks so much for leaving a comment. 🙂