If you have a veggie hater at your house, then this Hidden Veggie Meatloaf is for you. It’s a simple, healthy recipe you can feel good about serving.
Picky eaters can sniff out the smallest veggie before it hits the dinner table. It’s like they have super powers!
This Hidden Veggie Meatloaf gets the fussiest of eaters to consume veggies by pureeing (or finely chopping) food. This meal comes together quickly and is devoid of any broccoli flavor. It will boost your family’s health and save your sanity. The best part is that you can adapt it with whatever veggie you have on hand (just remember to puree or finely chop them so no one sees).
Can this meal be prepped the night before?
Yes, follow the prep instructions (stop just before baking), cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from fridge and bake!
How to puree your broccoli
Pureeing is MUCH more simple than it sounds. Basically, all you need is a steamer, pot or microwave to soften your veggies, a food processor or high-speed blender and a little water. We often make a big batch, pre-portion it in mason jars and store it in our freezer. That way we can use it as necessary and simply replenish it whenever necessary.
Boiling on stovetop:
- Buy a big bag of frozen, pre-chopped broccoli.
- Put 1-2 inches of water in the bottom of a pot and bring to a boil.
- Add your frozen broccoli and reduce heat to a simmer.
- Loosely cover the pot with a lid and steam until broccoli is tender when pierced with a fork.
- Let the broccoli cool, then put into the food processor and puree until smooth and creamy. Add a few tablespoons of liquid (water or cooking juices from boiling/steaming) to help the pureeing process, if necessary. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, food processor or immersion hand blender, mashing your broccoli will suffice.
- Any other veggies to suggest?
Broccoli works well in this dish, but you can also get away with using a few other veggies the same way. Carrot puree and other hearty veggies that you would traditionally pair with meatloaf will likely work well (butternut squash puree, pumpkin puree, etc). Get creative and let us know in the comments section what you’ve tried and loved!
You can also substitute the veggie puree with finely chopped veggies (1:1). Some of the best veggies that easily disguise themselves in meatloaf are finely chopped mushrooms, cauliflower rice (often found in the refrigerator or freezer section), yellow bell peppers and zucchini.
Canned purees
Pureeing veggies is easier than you think, but when in a pinch, you can always head to the baby food aisle to snag a jar of pureed veggies or grab a can from the baking aisle (such as butternut squash, sweet potato or pumpkin puree). If using canned, the only ingredient listed should be the veggie itself. We’ve done this in the past and have been successful.
Some ways to top your Hidden Veggie Meatloaf
- Sliced avocado (our favorite)
- Ketchup
- Spaghetti sauce
- BBQ sauce
- Grated cheddar cheese
Freezer Friendly
For busy nights when there’s barely enough time to get dinner on the table, we’ve found that having frozen meatloaf on hand, that can be heated in a pinch, is massively helpful.
To freeze leftover meatloaf, allow it to cool completely. Individually wrap pieces in parchment paper and place in a large freezer bag, remove excess air from bag and seal. Label your bag and freeze for up to 2 months. You can also prep your meatloaf ahead, prior to cooking, freeze it and defrost it in the fridge overnight for an easy weeknight meal.
Ways to reinvent leftovers
- Wrap: Place meatloaf in a wrap with tomato, spinach, Swiss cheese and Dijon mustard.
- Meat tacos: Warm corn tortillas and top with meatloaf, red cabbage, cilantro, Greek yogurt and your favorite hot sauce.
- Stuffed peppers: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Halve bell peppers and clean out seeds. Place in pan and bake 15 minutes. While peppers are baking, combine cooked grain of your choice (optional), meatloaf and some of your favorite spaghetti sauce in a bowl. Mix. Remove peppers from oven, stuff with meatloaf mixture and bake an additional 7-12 minutes until peppers are desired texture. Serve with avocado and enjoy!
- As a tasty bagel pizza topping: Toast half of a bagel and top with a tablespoon of tomato sauce, finely chopped onion, crumbled meatloaf and your favorite cheese.
- Tossed in scrambled eggs or added to a breakfast quesadilla: We’ll throw anything in scrambled eggs. It’s literally one of the BEST ways to mix and match leftovers! Scramble your eggs with crumbled meatloaf and some of your family’s favorite leftovers from the fridge (Caramelized Onions, Sweet Potato Home Fries, cheese). Top with avocado slices and/or salsa and BAM! You’ve got yourself an amazing brekki!
More picky-eater hidden veggie food options
Here are some other healthy, hidden veggie meals that your family won’t turn up their noses at:
- Healthy Blueberry Coconut Bars
- Hidden Veggie Breakfast Quesadillas
- Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
- Bean and Cheese Enchiladas
- Chocolate Fondue Dip
If you made this Hidden Veggie Meatloaf, please leave a comment below sharing what you served it with and how your picky eater responded to it. We love hearing from you and your ideas inspire us all!
Print
Hidden Veggie Meatloaf
-
Course: , -
Prep Time: 15 minutes - Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
-
Yield: 8 1x
Description
If you have a veggie hater at your house, then this Hidden Veggie Meatloaf is for you. It’s a simple, healthy recipe you can feel good about serving.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup milk or almond milk
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup broccoli puree (or puree of choice)
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons hot sauce (yields very mild heat)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl thoroughly mix all ingredients. Press mixture into a large casserole dish greased with coconut oil (we typically use a round Dutch oven dish).
- Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes or until no longer pink in the center (timing may vary based on dish size and thickness). Top each slice of meatloaf with desired toppings, such as avocado. Serve with ketchup and enjoy!
Notes
Always check for FfL-friendly ingredients.
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Keywords: Meatloaf, Hidden Veggie, Hidden Veggie Meatloaf
Category :Recipes
Method :Make Ahead Meal
