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1
Preheat the oven to 350F.
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2
Add the crackers to a food processor and pulse until they are fine crumbs.
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3
Add the cracker crumbs to a large mixing bowl.
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Wipe out the food processor bowl and add the onion and garlic.
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Process until liquefied (about 30 seconds).
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Add about 1/3 of the onion mixture to a medium saucepan.
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This will be for the barbecue sauce.
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Add the remaining onion mixture to the cracker crumbs, which will be used for the meatloaves.
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Sauce Mixture:
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To the onion mixture in the saucepan, add the ketchup, brown sugar, liquid smoke, and cayenne (if using).
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Stir to combine but do not start heating it yet.
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Meatloaf Mixture:
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Remove one cup of the sauce from the saucepan and add it to the cracker crumbs.
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Yes the meatloaf is going to have some of the sauce baked right in!
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Also to the cracker crumbs, add the beaten eggs, salt, and pepper.
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Stir everything together.
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Add the ground beef and mix with your hands until thoroughly combined.
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Split the meat mixture in half because it will be used to form 2 loaves.
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Spray a sheet pan (with sides) with cooking spray.
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Add both mounds of meatloaf mix to the sheet pan and form 2 loaves in oval shapes about 1 1/2 thick.
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Smooth out the top and sides.
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Bake for 45 minutes (with no sauce on top).
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When the meatloaf has been in the oven for about 30 minutes, start heating the saucepan of barbecue sauce over medium heat.
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As it heats, you will need to stir it often or it will splatter all over the place.
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When it has starting bubbling well, reduce the heat to low or medium-low and continue to stir it periodically.
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After the meat loaves have been in the oven for 45 minutes, add the hot barbecue sauce to the tops of each loaf.
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Return to the oven and continue baking about 20 to 25 minutes longer or until the loaves are well browned and the sauce has thickened.
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Pull the sheet pan out of the oven and elevate one side so that the excess oil flows to one side of the pan.
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29
Allow the meatloaves to rest a few minutes before cutting into them.
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30
Meat loaf sandwiches the next day are to die for!
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Advice for Busy Moms:
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Before going to work in the morning, mix the sauce and meatloaf per the above instructions.
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Leave the meatloaf mixture in the mixing bowl, cover, and refrigerate.
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Add the sauce to a glass bowl, cover, and refrigerate.
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When you get home in the evening, just preheat the oven, shape the meat loaves, and continue cooking per the above instructions.
