How to cook a meatloaf the kids will love!

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Believe it or not my kids actually love meatloaf! No, they are not aliens from another planet. What is my secret? How do I get them to eat meatloaf? I let them help make it and I use one of their favorite foods in the mix, Goldfish® crackers.

How to cook a meatloaf the kids will love!

My children love to help out in the kitchen. I always find that they eat better when they help prepare dinner. This meatloaf recipe has lots of tasks that young kids can do.

My youngest son is 5 and for him I choose simple and fun jobs in the kitchen. He loves to measure so I let him measure the Goldfish crackers. I also let him crush them by putting the crackers in a zip close bag and using a rolling pin. In my experience, little boys love to crush things. Then he can dump the crackers into the meatloaf mix.

Mini Meatloaf Recipe

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs ground beef

1 egg

1 Tbsp fresh garlic, chopped

1 Tbsp  fresh cilantro, chopped

1 cup Goldfish crackers, crushed

salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

 

1. Preheat oven to 375 F
2. Crush the Goldfish crackers in a zip close bag.
3. Add all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.
4. Put the mix into individual muffin tins.

5. Cook meatloaves for 25-30 minutes

While the meatloaf is cooking, make the mashed potatoes and a side dish. We love instant mashed potatoes, I know gasp! Sorry I can’t help it they are good and so easy to whip up.

Then I give my oldest son the job of scooping the mashed potatoes on to the top of the meatloaves. My kids love to use the ice cream scooper and something about an ice cream scoop of mashed potatoes on top of meatloaf makes them smile.

Goldfish crackers are the perfect solution for my kids snacking and mealtime recipes. As a reminder that the meatloaf recipe has their favorite snack crackers in it I add a few to the top of the mashed potatoes, a little silliness at the dinner table makes everyone happy.

 

I always stock up on Goldfish crackers at Walmart. I get the big 30oz box and then I don’t feel guilty when mommy and daddy also snack on the Goldfish crackers.

Be sure to check out more delicious recipes. I’d love to hear about your favorite recipe and how you keep the kids in the mix! Do you let them help you cook? What are their favorite kitchen jobs?