Diane Sawyers Meatloaf Recipe

This is supposedly Diane Sawyers Meatloaf Recipe. But if I remember the show on Good Morning America correctly it’s actually her mothers’ recipe. It doesn’t matter! It’s a great recipe.

Diane was born and raised in Kentucky so that makes this a truly Southern meatloaf. The diced celery is really nice. I think the next time I make it I’ll add a little more.

Diane Sawyers Meatloaf Recipe

2 pounds ground beef
4-5 slices of white bread toasted and finely crumbled, to make 1 cup
3/4 cup whole milk
1 egg
3/4 cup diced canned tomatoes, drained
3 tablespoons finely chopped sweet onion
3 tablespoons finely chopped green pepper
3 tablespoons finely chopped celery
3/4 cup ketchup (in the meatloaf)
1 cup ketchup (for meatloaf topping)
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl combine the toasted breadcrumbs, the milk and the egg. Mix together with a fork. Let stand 10 minutes.

Add the ground beef, tomatoes, onion, green pepper, celery, 3/4 cup ketchup, and the salt and pepper. Mix together with your hands.

Put in the center of an iron skillet. Shape into a loaf. Pour the cup of ketchup over the entire top, thickly.

Place the skillet into the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees (check with an instant read thermometer).

Let the meatloaf stand in the juices until cool and firmer.

Diane Sawyers Meatloaf Sandwiches

I usually make meatloaf sandwiches with just cold sliced meatloaf and mayonnaise but this is gonna’ be my method from now on. Great sauce!

Diane Sawyers Meatloaf Sandwich Sauce

1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Heinz 57 sauce
1 tablespoon A-1 sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground black pepper

Diane Sawyers Meatloaf Sandwich Ingredients

16 slices of white, rye or whole wheat bread
8 tablespoons sweet butter, softened
1 sweet onion sliced thin
3 ripe tomatoes sliced
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded

In a medium bowl mix the sauce ingredients together with a spoon. Set aside.

Cut the meatloaf into 8 thick slices.

Spread softened butter on both sides of each slice of bread.

In a large frying pan "grill" each slice of bread on both sides until golden brown.

Then "grill" each meatloaf slice on both sides, in the same frying pan until browned nicely. (You may have to do this a few slices at a time.)

Top one side of grilled slice of bread with some of the sauce. Place one slice of meatloaf on top of the sauce. Place sliced tomato, onion and lettuce on top. Top with more sauce, then another slice of grilled bread and serve.

Makes 8 sandwiches