I have this thing for meatloaf and meatballs…that should be apparent by my myriad meatloaf recipes on here (ie. Cheeseburger Meatloaf and Meatloaf with Carrots and Potatoes being my two favorites). Where some women can’t say no to chocolate, I can’t say no to meatloaf. It’s bad…really bad.
What’s worse is if it’s a meatball. I might be stuffed silly from 8-10 large meatballs…but that little meatball will look at me and say “Hey…I’m just a little ole thing – you can eat one more.” And I do. I’m so weak. I need AA for meatloaf.
I hit the ball out of the park with this recipe – it’s now my #1 favorite meatloaf recipe…and that’s saying a lot, because I have a love of all things cheeseburger. It’s SO moist (moist is a gross word) and just falls apart and melts in our mouth. Oh dear. I need a meatball.
This recipe was born when I saw the idea for putting a small amount of grated carrots into meatloaf to use as a filler…but I didn’t have any carrots – I had sweet potatoes. AND who wants to put a piddly little ole 1/3 cup of grated veggies in their loaf? If I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna do it big. Go big or go home. Embrace the big meatloaf.
I ended up adding 3 cups of grated sweet potato to this meatloaf – and it was a thing of beauty. I wept. I cried. I ate a second helping. I ate most of the leftovers myself. I am not ashamed. Meat is just so stinkin’ beautiful.
Now, as usual, I used ground venison. You could use beef or even ground turkey. The potato is going to keep it nice and moist (blech!) no matter what meat you use. However, depending on the type of meat you use, you might end up with a bunch of grease. When I use venison, that’s not a problem – but it’s easy to drain off no matter.
Mix up your stuff in your meatloaf mixing bowl – because everyone has one of those, right? And then press it into your crock. I do grease my crocks for meatloaf, even though they’re going to get really greasy – I err on the side of caution…I don’t like spending my evening scraping the crock. Plop some ketchup on top because ketchup is beautiful too. Meat + ketchup = true love.
I used my 5 quart crock, but a 4 quart would work as well. If you doubled the recipe, you could use a 5-6 quart. Whatever floats your boat.
This is where I usually set my crock while it works. Why? So it doesn’t take up any of my precious counter space. And also because Annie can’t reach it there and turn my knobs – meatloaf at high for 7 hours = fire and fire rescue teams.
I removed my loaf in two pieces when it was done so it wouldn’t sit in the little bit of grease in the bottom. It lifts out very easily…but if a chunk falls off, it’s okay to eat it – even if you have to “accidentally” break that chunk off yourself. *Cough*
This makes about 6 large servings – because we like meat around here. If you eat smaller servings, it would serve 8. But really…meatloaf should be eaten in large quantities. Go big or go home. I <3 meat.
Crock Pot Sweet Potato Meatloaf
- 2 pounds ground meat (I use venison)
- 3 cups peeled, grated sweet potato (about 2 small/medium)
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Ketchup
- Combine all ingredients except ketchup in a mixing bowl.
- Press into greased 5 quart crock.
- Cover top with ketchup.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour.
- Turn to LOW and continue to cook for 6 more hours.
Yield: 6-8 servings
Why did I not find you this morning when I was preparing my conventional meatloaf??? I have plenty of sweet potato!!! Grrr! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Well, the good news is…there is never too much meatloaf. 🙂
Hi Stacy, just threw this into my crock with turkey meat and although I did have some sweet pots on hand, I decided to use up the on-the-way-out canned pumpkin I had in the fridge. I have subbed pumpkin for sweet pots in the past and it came out yummy. Not all your recipes say something about THM compliant. Do you only THM sometimes or did you start the plan after this post was written, just curious. Well I think this is E based on my turkey saying it was 94% fat free or something, yes the turkey spoke to me 🙂
I also used ketchup on the top and realize it is not THM friendly, but hey, meatloaf needs ketchup and I did not have tomato paste on hand to make my own. Guess I will start that once I use up my Sam’s supply of ketchup…that could take awhile. Thanks again for all you do, this site and THMer’s like Gwen and others have changed me life. I just saw that Julie’s father from a new lighter life just died suddenly from a farm accident, did you know?
I didn’t start THM until January – and not everyone that reads my blog is THM. 🙂 So, I try to keep everyone happy. Enjoy!
Stacy – I made this today as we had a bass lesson and play rehearsal and…well – lots of kid activities on the schedule – so a super, busy, like normal, night. The amazing smell of dinner hit us when we walked in the door – and the entire family cheered for you. What a HIT! I did substitute homemade BBQ sauce for the ketchup as there are no ketchup fans in our house. A pound of Grass fed beef mixed w/a pound of ground buffalo & shredded sweet taters? It was delish! Thank you for the amazing recipe! Going grain-free we haven’t had meatloaf in a while as I hadn’t found the right “filler”. This is definitely a new fave!
Hooray!!! That gives me BIG smiles!
Just made this for dinner and I have never had such a quiet table! My boys were stuffing their mouths! Thank you for a way to sneak in some needed veggies.
You made me hungry all over again.
I love your build up to this recipe. You had me hooked before I even got to see what was in it! (You are a wonderful writer.) It is printed and I can’t wait to try it-just bought ground turkey on sale, so looking forward to tomorrow’s dinner.
🙂 Yum! I love beef, but I love a good turkey loaf too!
so you’re a meatloaf/meatball-a-holic…..same here…..sweet spuds, eh? will certainly try that…..young’un detests them BUT when i make stew/soup, i cut them as close to carrot-looking as possible (diced), he just thinks they’re overly soft carrots and scafs them up…..(heh-heh)…..i put grated carrots and celery in my meatloaf, for the added nutrition……they keep the loaf/balls from being too dry, since i also use ground chia seeds and wheat germ as the binder…..glad to know there’s another meatloaf/meatball fiend out there ;o)
You could totally pass them off as carrots! Don’t ask, don’t tell. 😉
I LOVE meatloaf and meatballs too! Whenever I go to cracker barrel, I can’t not order it. I love trying new ways to make it too. I’ve used black bean and corn salsa as a mix in, and then topped with a tomato salsa, hubby loved that one. Love the idea of sweet potatoes for filler because they are so good for you! Also, if you don’t like the word moist, maybe you could try juicy, since meat is supposed to be juicy, right 😀 Or not…juicy meatloaf….hmmm?
Yes, juicy….that’s my new word for moist (blech!).
I love meatloaf! Thank you for a new recipe!
Meatloaf!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love thee.
Not that your sweet potato meatloaf dosent sound good,but I however despise sweet potato’s however you mentioned a cheeseburger meatloaf that’s awesome I would love t see the recipe for that. If you don’t mind I would really like to see that recipe. By the way I’m also a huge fan of meatloaf I know it’s not a culinary masterpiece and it is not the best looking meal,but hands down it still lands in my top ten. Anyway I would really appreciate if you would forward the recipe.. Thanks a lot George Sparks. Gsparks@insightbb.com
Hi George! If you’ll scroll over the Cheeseburger Meatloaf title with your mouse, you should be able to click on it and it will take you straight to the recipe. 🙂
Yum! I will be taking it BACK to your inspiration and make it with carrots since those are GAPS legal. 😀 I need a meatloaf that does not use bread crumbs without subbing coconut or almond because that does not sound good to me.
That recipe only called for a piddly 1/2 cup. Who just grates 1/2 cup of carrot? If I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna DO IT. 😉
I plan on doing your recipe… just with carrots. 😀 Mark can not have even that though for now so I will have to wait.
Let me know how it turns out!
This sounds delicious! My only question before I try to pass it off to my hubby (who detests sweet potatoes): what does the added sweet potato do to the flavor? Is it obviously a sweet potato meatloaf?
I didn’t notice that it was flavored – Barry didn’t even know until I told him. I just think it helps keep it really moist. You could do the same amount but with carrots. 🙂
You and I girl, we think alike. This is a good thing 🙂
A very good thing – especially about meatloaf.
Juicy is a good synonym for moist. 🙂
Sounds yummy.
YES! I should use that word instead.
How do you grate the sweet potatoes?
I have a box grater and I just use that. 🙂
You know, I was going to make meatloaf today. Might just try this out.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
I also LOVE meatloaf!! We have a lot of venison to use up, so this is a recipe I will try over the weekend, thank you!!!
I love venison – it’s just so tasty. Good luck! 🙂