The perfect meatloaf with liver recipe: Savoring tradition (2024)

Hey there friend! I’m excited to share this meatloaf with liver recipe today.

This is aWeston A. Price foundation inspired recipe. If your family has a hard time eating liver recipes, try this sneaky way of incorporating it into their diet.

A classic family favorite with a nutritious twist! ground beef and liver meatloaf with quinoa instead of bread crumbs.

The perfect meatloaf with liver recipe: Savoring tradition (1)

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Nutritional Value of Liver: One of the most nutrient-dense foods

While there are legitimate concerns regarding the consumption of liver, its nutritive value far outweighs the negatives.

“Liver provides copper, zinc, iron, and vitamins A and D in abundance, but it is also a rich source of antioxidants – substances that help your own liver remove toxic substances from the body.”

Excerpt from the bookNourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon

Most cultures around the world eat a plethora of organ meats because of the essential nutrients they offer. Growing up in Mexico, liver and onions was a staple dinner at our house along with many other meals that included heart, kidney, and sweetbreads.

Tips when adding liver to recipes

The perfect meatloaf with liver recipe: Savoring tradition (2)
  • Buy only grass fed, organic liver as it will be free of all the extra toxins and heavy metals.Fed From The Farmis a wonderful family farm you can order good quality meats and liver from. Or try to source liver from your local farmers market when possible.
  • Make sure to not over cook liver. it turns hard and it kills most of the nutrients.

Meatloaf with liver Recipe

We’re taking the classic meatloaf and giving it a delicious twist by adding liver. Trust me, it’s a game-changer you won’t want to miss. So, grab your apron and let’s get cooking!

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GROUND BEEF AND LIVER MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS

You can use whatever meat mixture you like best. 1 lb Ground beef or 1lbground pork will work with the liver. And for the liver, you can use either beef or chicken liver.

  • 1 lb ground pork or beef
  • 1 lb chicken or beef liver
  • One bunch of green onions finely chopped
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3-6 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 Tbsp Ketchup
  • 3/4 cup of prepared quinoa
  • 1/3 cup of milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp of salt
  • 1/4 tsp of ground black pepper

Meatloaf Sauce Ingredients

The perfect meatloaf with liver recipe: Savoring tradition (4)
  • 1 cup of ketchup
  • 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar or kombucha
  • 2 1/2 tbsp of brown sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • salt to taste

Meatloaf recipe instructions

  1. In a large mixingbowl combine all the ingredients and mix well.
  2. If you have time set the meatloaf mixturein the refrigerator for 4-6 hours to allow all the flavors to incorporate well. If you don’t have the extra time no worries, I’ve skipped this step many times and it still tastes great!
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. and line a 9 by 5 loaf shape pan with parchment paper or grease with a bit of olive oil.
  4. Add meat to the pan and bake for 40 minutes.
  5. While the meatloaf bakes mix all ingredients for the sauce together and set aside.
  6. Pour the sauce on top of the loaf and put back in the oven for 8-10 minutes.
  7. Let the meatloaf rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes:

If you or your kids notice a strong liver flavor and don’t really like it, I suggest using half a pound of liver instead of one whole pound. You might need to play around with the amount of liver you use if your kids don’t like it, but you still want to make sure they get the benefits of this real superfood.

Use a food processor or meat grinder to make sure the liver is well ground up and incorporated with all the other ingredients.

Place the meatloaf pan on a baking sheet when it goes in the oven during cooking time in case the juices overflow.

Meatloaf with Liver recipe

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Can You Freeze Liver Recipes Like This Meatloaf?

Yes! You can freeze most meatloaf recipes including this one. Freeze after you mix all ingredients together and before baking. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and put inside a freezer bag.

Defrost for 24 hours in the refrigerator and continue with baking instructions.

I hope you enjoy this Meatloaf with liver recipe!

So, there you have it! Meatloaf with liver is a tasty twist on a classic dish that not only amps up the flavor but also packs in some extra goodness. It’s a win-win for your taste buds and your health! So go ahead, give it a try, and enjoy these yummy and healthy recipes that’ll keep you coming back for more.

If this is your first time using this most nutrient dense food we call liver, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

For most people it takes a few tries before you really start to enjoy it so I hope you do keep trying it. Happy eating!

What are some of your favorite liver recipes? Please share below!

More Recipes

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  • One pot summer meal: Shrimp Ceviche
  • Roasted Salsa Recipe
  • Round up: 20 Instant pot shrimp recipes
The perfect meatloaf with liver recipe: Savoring tradition (7)

The Perfect Meatloaf with Liver

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

A classic family favorite with a nutritious twist! ground beef and liver meatloaf with quinoa instead of bread crumbs.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground pork or beef
  • 1 lb chicken or beef liver
  • One bunch of green onions finely chopped
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3-6 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 Tbsp Ketchup
  • 3/4 cup of prepared quinoa
  • 1/3 cup of milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp of salt
  • 1/4 tsp of ground black pepper

MEATLOAF SAUCE INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup of ketchup
  • 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
  • 2 1/2 tbsp of brown sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients and mix well.
  2. If you have time set the meatloaf mixture in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours to allow all the flavors to incorporate well. If you don’t have the extra time no worries, I’ve skipped this step many times and it still tastes great!
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. and line a 9 by 5 loaf shape pan with parchment paper or grease with a bit of olive oil.
  4. Add meat to the pan and bake for 40 minutes.
  5. While the meatloaf bakes mix all ingredients for the sauce together and set aside.
  6. Pour the sauce on top of the loaf and put back in the oven for 8-10 minutes.
  7. Let the meatloaf rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • If you or your kids notice a strong liver flavor and don't really like it, I suggest using half a pound of liver instead of one whole pound. You might need to play around with the amount of liver you use if your kids don't like it, but you still want to make sure they get the benefits of this real superfood.
  • Use a food processor or meat grinder to make sure the liver is well ground up and incorporated with all the other ingredients.
  • Place the meatloaf pan on a baking sheet when it goes in the oven during cooking time in case the juices overflow.
The perfect meatloaf with liver recipe: Savoring tradition (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

How to add liver to ground beef? ›

Cut the liver into smaller chunks, add the chunks to the blender and blend until it is almost smooth. You want it small enough to mix in well with the ground beef. I typically buy liver by the pound and blend it all at once and store it in ¼ pound servings in the freezer until I am ready to use it.

Why do you put flour on liver before cooking? ›

Another great way to make Liver and Onions is to dredge the liver in flour before frying. The flour gives the liver a flavorful crust and a more nutty flavor, which some people find more palatable.

What not to put in meatloaf? ›

8 Common Mistakes That Will Leave You With Subpar Meatloaf
  1. You're Not Sufficiently Seasoning the Meat.
  2. You're Using Lean Meats.
  3. You're Not Adding a Sweet Component.
  4. You're Not Adding a Starch.
  5. You're Adding Raw Vegetables to the Meat.
  6. You're Slicing Into the Loaf Too Early.
  7. You're Not Doubling the Batch.
Aug 25, 2021

How do you sneak beef liver into a recipe? ›

The easiest way we've found to hide liver is to make a liver cube and cook one cube with one pound of ground beef. As long as the ratio is 1:1 (1 liver cube to 1 pound of ground beef), the liver flavor is unnoticeable.

What does milk do to liver before cooking? ›

Soak the liver in a dish or bowl of milk for 30-60 minutes. This is an important step in removing the bitter flavor from the liver. Salt and pepper the liver generously, and leave it out at room temperature while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Pat the liver dry.

What makes beef liver taste better? ›

It's very simple to make but the three things that will set your liver above all others are: 1) soak in milk, 2) turn the liver as little as possible when cooking, and 3) don't overcook.

Do you rinse off liver before you cook it? ›

Do not wash or rinse raw meat or poultry before you cook it. Washing can cause bacteria found on the surface of meat or poultry to be spread to ready-to-eat foods, kitchen utensils, and counter surfaces. This is called cross-contamination. Rinse fruits and vegetables before eating.

How do you cook liver so it is not tough? ›

Since a raw liver has high water content, you have to cook it rapidly with medium to high heat. If you try slow cooking a liver, the meat will become dehydrated, leading to tough fibers and dry, chewy meat. Cook liver and other organ meats until they reach a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why soak chicken livers in milk? ›

This is because buttermilk (and milk in general) contains calcium. The alkaline calcium interacts with chicken liver and tempers its acidic nature to leave a mild-tasting liver. Milk also helps remove any blood left in the liver, making it taste less metallic.

How to make a Bobby Flay meatloaf? ›

directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. ...
  3. Whisk together the eggs and herbs in a large bowl. ...
  4. Whisk together the remaining ketchup and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl then brush the mixture over the entire loaf.
  5. Bake the meatloaf for approximately 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

How does Ina Garten make meatloaf? ›

Ina Garten's key to a delicious meatloaf is to not pack the mixture of ground chuck, sauteed onions, dried breadcrumbs and eggs too densely. Hand-mixing the ingredients will ensure the meatloaf is aerated enough to cook evenly in the oven.

Why milk instead of water in meatloaf? ›

The only way to guarantee tender meat is not to overcook it. And that's a simple matter of using a thermometer when you bake the meatloaf. Milk does, on the other hand, add moisture and fat and is worth including for that fact alone.

What is the best binder for meatloaf? ›

If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes! However, bread is still the best choice of all the potential options.

How to firm up meatloaf? ›

One of the most common reasons meatloaf is watery is an overabundance of liquid ingredients. Adding broth, milk, or eggs can enhance flavor and moisture, but too much can lead to a soupy consistency. Use these ingredients sparingly, and consider adding breadcrumbs or oats to absorb excess moisture.

Why do you put milk in meatloaf? ›

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

What to use in meatloaf to bind it together besides breadcrumbs or saltine crackers? ›

Oats are a great breadcrumb substitute when used as a binder in meatballs or meatloaf. Try them in one of Ree Drummond's favorite recipes: BBQ comfort meatballs. Just keep in mind that they don't add much flavor, so if you're using them in a recipe that calls for breadcrumbs, you may need to add extra seasoning.

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