Today I am using our meat rations to make these delicious mini meatloaves for 1940s Days! It takes a handful of ingredients and is easy to prepare. You can also press this into one large meatloaf and cook that way – it’s a versatile recipe!
Meatloaf in the 1930s was a way to stretch small portions of meat into a larger meal that would otherwise be gobbled up. Meatloaf in the 1940s was a marker of wartime ingenuity using an array of meats including offals like liver, meat like beef and pork and fillers like stale bread or oatmeal to create a meal staying within rations. Moving into the 1950s, meatloaf became a staple combining meat, seasonings and breadcrumbs to create a delicious meal the whole family would enjoy.
Let’s get started!
Combine bread, milk, ketchup, salt, pepper, 3 onion seasoning, garlic powder and flour altogether. Let sit 5 minutes.
Add ground beef.
Add bacon. I’m using half of one ration.
Mix well.
Shape into large meatballs and lightly press. Place in roasting pan.
Bake at 350F for 1 to 2 hours. I cooked for 2 hours.
Carefully flip. Mix brown sugar and ketchup together and spread over meatloaves.
Return to oven and bake for 25 minutes.
Place cheese on top. We are not adding much because I am using our cheese rations. Turn oven off and place meatloaves in oven for 8 minutes or until melted.
I am serving these yummy meatloaves with pan-fried vegetables, fried mashed potatoes and of course bread because bread in the ‘40s was served at each meal! So yummy!
Mini Meatloaves
2 slices bread, torn into pieces
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 tsp salt
Fresh cracked pepper
1/2 tsp 3 onion seasoning
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp flour
1 lb ground beef
Few pieces bacon, chopped
Topping: 1/4 cup ketchup and 1 tbsp brown sugar
Few pieces of cheese for on top of meatloaves
Combine bread, milk, ketchup, salt, pepper, 3 onion seasoning, garlic powder altogether. Let sit 5 minutes. Add ground beef. Add bacon. Mix well. Shape into large meatballs and lightly press. Place in roasting pan. Bake at 350F for 1 to 2 hours or until cooked through. Carefully flip. Mix brown sugar and ketchup together and spread over meatloaves. Return to oven and bake for 25 minutes. Place cheese on top. Turn oven off and place meatloaves in oven for 8 minutes or until cheese is melted.
enjoy from Our City Homestead to yours