Sweet Swap Family Meatloaf Recipe

Did you ever notice that every one thinks their meatloaf is “the best”? “It’s grandma’s secret recipe”. “It’s the only thing my kids will eat”. “My husband says it’s better than his mothers”. You get the idea, and you’ve heard all of that and then some. This meatloaf, the one right here in this post, really is the best.

One of the most well known ways to get your kids to eat things they don’t want to eat is add cheese. There’s a better idea. Add sugar. Better yet, swap out the sugar for a sweetener to save on calories - such as SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener. Yes, I put brown sugar in my meatloaf and the glaze. Why? Because it makes it taste like candy and the kids eat it almost entirely by themselves.

What you need:

• Foil
• Meatloaf Pan
• 2lb. Ground Beef (as lean as possible)
• 1c Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1c Ketchup (divided)
• 1/2c Splenda Brown Sugar Blend (divided)

What you do:

PREP: Line the meatloaf pan with foil. Be sure that the foil is long enough to wrap under the sides. The sauce for the meatloaf can goo up the sides and this saves on mess. Plus, after the meatloaf cooks it’s easier to lift out of the pan to cool.

COMBINE: Put the meat, Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs, half of the Splenda Brown Sugar Blend, half of the ketchup and eggs into a bowl. You know the drill… get your hands in there and smush it up. Form the meat into a squ-oval shape and be sure it’s patted enough so that it’s all sticking together. Place it into the foil-lined pan and use your hands to flatten the top a bit.

MAKE THE GLAZE: Take the rest of the Splenda Brown Sugar Blend and ketchup and combine them into a small bowl. Stir them together with a fork until it’s smooth.

COAT THE LOAF: Dump the entire contents of the bowl onto the meatloaf length-wise. If you use a small spatula it will help get it all and also it’ll help spread it around. I like to make sure the glaze covers the entire surface of the meatloaf and also starts down the sides.

COVER & COOK: Cover the meatloaf with another piece of foil (I make sure the middle area of the top foil is lifted a bit so it doesn’t press onto and ruin the glaze). Put it in the oven - I use the center rack - for 1 hour at 375.

WHEN IT’S DONE: Take the meatloaf out of the oven and uncover. Let it sit for about 5 minutes and then carefully pull the foil away from the outside of the pan (see below). Lift the loaf out of the pan using the foil and place it on a plate. Let it sit like that for another 5 minutes then gently pull the foil away from the sides of the meatloaf. Carefully lift the meatloaf off of the foil and place it on your serving platter.

CUT & SERVE TIPS: I usually allow the meatloaf to cool a bit more before I cut it so that it slices nicer and I also use a bread knife for cleaner cuts.

The trick to making this meatloaf so decadent and sweet is by using Splenda Brown Sugar Blend over regular brown sugar, a Sweet Swap if you will. SPLENDA® is a brand dedicated to adding sweetness to life without all of the extra calories. Swapping out just one cup of sugar with one cup of SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated, can save more than 600 calories. This helps with calorie reduction which in turn helps with weight management! With the new year upon us it’s important to know how to still indulge but be smart about it. By doing the SPLENDA® SWEET SWAPS™ in your cooking you can continue to enjoy foods you love and feel good about the choices you’re making.

What recipe would you swap SPLENDA® into? Find recipes, tips, tricks and more at SweetSwaps.com.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.