Hearty Meatloaf "Grandma's Style" with Gravy

Instructions

1. 11

   Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a loaf pan or a baking dish.

2. 22

   For the meatloaf, soak the day-old bread in milk in a small bowl for about 5-10 minutes until softened. Squeeze out any excess milk and crumble the bread.

3. 33

   Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic.

4. 44

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, soaked bread, chopped onion, minced garlic, egg, Dijon mustard, marjoram, thyme, and paprika powder. Season generously with salt and black pepper.

5. 55

   Using your hands, thoroughly mix all ingredients until well combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatloaf tough.

6. 66

   Form the mixture into a loaf shape and place it into the prepared loaf pan or baking dish.

7. 77

   Bake in the preheated oven for 60-75 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C). If the top browns too quickly, you can loosely cover it with aluminum foil.

8. 88

   While the meatloaf is baking, prepare the gravy. Once the meatloaf is done, carefully remove it from the oven and transfer it to a cutting board to rest. Reserve any pan drippings from the baking dish.

9. 99

   In a saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to create a roux.

10. 1010

    Gradually whisk in the beef broth and tomato paste, stirring until smooth and thickened. Add the reserved pan drippings from the meatloaf. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the gravy to thicken to your desired consistency.

11. 1111

    Season the gravy with salt and black pepper to taste. Slice the rested meatloaf and serve hot with the homemade gravy.