Golden Corral Meatloaf Recipe

Golden Corral is the self-proclaimed America’s #1 Buffet Restaurant. They serve all-you-can-eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with an extensive menu of delicious home-cooked meals. From sirloin steaks to huge bowls of vegetables, there is something for everyone.

One of the favorite dishes of diners is their signature “Golden Corral meatloaf”, which is served during the dinner buffet. It’s made with premium ground beef, seasoned with garlic, onion, oregano, and basil, and baked to perfection.

It’s a fantastic meal that can satisfy the whole family, plus It’s very easy to do. Today we share with you this copycat golden corral meatloaf recipe so you can prepare it at home whenever you want.

How to make Golden Corral Meatloaf

Meatloaf is already great to work with. It is moist, it is tender, it is plump and it is also adaptableso you can season and spice it however you like.

It does not need much preparation time, since it only takes 15 minutes in baking it, and then you are free to work on other tasks while it cooks.

Ingredients:

(12 servings)

• 1 and 3/4 pound ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 stalk of celery chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup of tomato sauce

Instructions:

The nice thing about this recipe is that all the ingredients are pretty standard and you may already have most of them in your spice rack.

There are many different brands and types of beef, but depending on how concerned you are about your health, we recommend that you buy one with a slightly higher fat content. This will reduce during the baking process and make everything deliciously moist and tender.

We also have suggestions for great alternatives if you can’t get a good cut of beef.

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Step 2:

In a large bowl, combine the meat with all the spices (this includes garlic powder, oregano, basil, ground cloves, salt, and pepper).

Step 3:

Next, we can add the onion, celery, breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Step 4:

In another large bowl, beat the milk and eggs well.

Step 5:

Transfer the meat and spices to the bowl of milk and eggs and mix everything together.

Step 6:

Add the tomato sauce and olive oil to the mixture, and mix everything well with your hands.

Step 7:

Transfer this final mixture to a bread mold and bake it for approximately 1 hour. Once cooked, take it out of the oven and let it rest for about 15 minutes.

Step 8:

Lastly, cut the meatloaf into slices and place on a plate. Next, pour the sauce of your choice, for example, extra tomato sauce or meat sauce.

And that’s it. Enjoy your delicious Golden Corral meatloaf!

Ingredient Substitution

Fundamentally, meatloaf is nothing more than minced meat that is combined with spices and breadcrumbs, and then baked. This simple meat and spice formula means there are plenty of possibilities to make substitutions and additions.

They are especially useful if you can’t get a specific ingredient, or if you want to enhance the flavor.

1. Ground turkey

It can be used as a full substitute for beef or as a supplement to beef, giving it that extra flavor, texture, and protein density per pound.

In terms of taste and nutrition, it is perfect. The main problem with turkey is that once ground, it becomes very mushy, making it difficult to slice like we would a traditional meatloaf.

We need to add some kind of binder – some people like to add an extra egg, or another option is to just use half turkey and half beef to give it that structural stability.

2. Pig

Another fantastic meat alternative, pork works especially well because it tends to be higher in fat than turkey and veal (depending on which one you buy).

This fat can break down and act as a binder, giving you those delicious slices of meatloaf once cooked.

Feel free to use it as a full substitute or just mix some into the mince for the same flavor benefit.

3. Minced garlic

If you’ve suddenly run out of garlic powder (surprisingly common in any kitchen), just grab a few garlic cloves and chop them as finely as you can.

Make sure you mix everything really well, as it’s a bit harder to distribute evenly than garlic powder.

With what to accompany the Golden Corral meatloaf

Meatloaf, especially when served with gravy, makes a delicious main course. It is rich in protein and fat, and fills and satisfies.

So when looking for things to serve it with, we often want to complement those meatloaf qualities. That is, something a little more nutritious, vitamin and tasty, like vegetables or a good source of carbohydrates.

dinner rolls

If you’ve ever eaten meatloaf at a restaurant, you’ll already know that dinner rolls are very commonly served with meatloaf.

Not only do they provide that much-needed source of carbs, but they’re also great for soaking up all that meat or tomato sauce once you’re done with the meatloaf.

Mashed potatoes

Not everyone likes bread, in which case mashed potatoes will be your best bet.

Bake them with a bit of garlic, butter, and herbs to make the perfect companion to meatloaf.

Fried vegetables

Sometimes a salad can seem a little “too” fresh and out of place next to meatloaf. But maybe you still want that good source of healthy greens.

In this case, frying up some nice vegetables like asparagus, Brussels sprouts, bell peppers, and carrots can be a great accompaniment to the meatloaf. Season with salt, pepper and, if you like, a little butter. They will perfectly accompany the meatloaf!

How to Reheat Golden Corral Meatloaf

Because of the style of cooking, it’s easy to make a huge meatloaf all at once and save it for later. It keeps very well and allows you to make better use of cooking time.

Here are some tips on how to reheat Golden Corral meatloaf.

How to Reheat Golden Corral Meatloaf in One Pot

Add a little water to the pot and transfer all of your meatloaf slices directly from the fridge to the pot.

Put it on medium-high heat and put a lid on. Let it cook for 8-10 minutes and it should be piping hot. Feel free to add a little butter at this point.

How to Reheat Golden Corral Meatloaf in the Microwave

To prevent the meatloaf from getting too dry, place the meatloaf slices on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 1 minute, then flip slices over, and microwave for 1 more minute.

How to Reheat Golden Corral Meatloaf in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 250°F and place the meatloaf slices in a baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and cook for 25-30 minutes.

How to Reheat Golden Corral Meatloaf in an Air Fryer

Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Line the base of the fryer with baking paper or parchment.

Brush both sides of each meatloaf slice with oil to help it fry. Then heat up for 4-5 minutes.

How to Preserve Golden Corral Meatloaf

Meatloaf is a very filling dish, so there’s a good chance you’ll have leftovers that you need to reheat later. Here’s how to properly save it for later.

Store in the fridge

Once the meatloaf has cooled to room temperature, wrap the slices tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Or you can just use an airtight container.

Once refrigerated it will keep for 4-5 days.

Store in the freezer

If you plan to store the meatloaf for longer, you will need to freeze it. For maximum protection, wrap it in plastic wrap first, and then place it in a freezer bag, making sure to squeeze out all the air beforehand.

Once frozen, it should keep for 3-4 months.