Mom's Meatloaf

This is a great recipe and best of all it is easy. Meatloaf gets a bad rap and I never understood why. Maybe it's because my Mom is a great cook and I never had "bad" meatloaf? So if you think you don't like it, try this recipe, it will change your mind! 

Meatloaf

From: Judy R

2 lbs. 80/20 ground beef
20 saltine crackers, crushed 
2 eggs
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup ketchup (plus more for top)
1/2 cup milk
about 4 cheese slices
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven at 350. Mix all ingredients together well (easiest to do with your hands). Place in loaf pan and bake at 350 for about an hour, or until middle reaches 160 degrees. In last 5 minutes of cooking take out of oven, place slices of cheese across top to cover then "drizzle" ketchup across cheese. (do not cover entirely!) Put back in oven for remaining 5 minutes for cheese to melt. 
*Note* you don't HAVE to use a loaf pan if you do not have one. Mom has formed it into a loaf and placed it in the middle of a 9x13 pan lots of times and it is fine. It may cook faster if you do it this way so be sure to keep an eye on it. 
Also- I don't recommend using ground turkey in this case. It is the first recipe I have found that it wasn't as good with ground turkey. In most cases I think it actually tastes better with ground turkey, but when we did the meatloaf it wasn't great.