The Overpowering Herb You Might Want To Avoid When Making Meatloaf

Meatloaf is the perfect dish when you're looking for something easy that won't break the bank. In the United States, meatloaf became popular in the 1800s, but the dish became a household staple during the Great Depression. Most families in the U.S. were facing financial trouble in the 1930s, so they wanted to make a little bit of meat go a long way; meatloaf was the answer.

Today, it's still a quick and easy meal that makes a popular weeknight dinner — and there are countless variations using different types of ground meat, various seasoned bread crumbs, and plenty of different herbs. 

Anyone who cooks meatloaf seems to have a personal spin on it, but herbs are a must if you want the dish to be well-seasoned with plenty of flavor. However, if you're in the market for making homemade meatloaf, there's one herb that's better kept off the ingredients list.

Adding herbs to meatloaf will give it an instant flavor boost. But rosemary is one herb you might want to avoid adding to ground meat. 

Rosemary has an earthy, woodsy aroma and flavor, and a little goes a long way. Because rosemary is such a flavorful herb, using it to season meatloaf could result in too much of a good thing. Herbs are meant to add to the main ingredients in a dish. But in this case, adding rosemary might hijack the flavor, rather than enhance it.

The easiest way to season meatloaf is to pair it with Italian-style breadcrumbs. This low-effort method will give you a flavorful loaf without the added effort of chopping fresh herbs. If you choose to use fresh herbs, consider using a bright-flavored green, such as parsley, and make sure to generously season the meat with kosher salt before cooking.

Rosemary is an herb that should be used delicately. And while it might not fare well in ground meat, it certainly has a home in other meat-based dishes. 

Steak, for example, can be easily enhanced with rosemary butter. If you're cooking the steak in a pan, melt butter in the pan along with the meat and add a sprig of rosemary. Baste the steak in the butter while it cooks, which will help infuse the rosemary flavor into the meat without pulling in too much of the rosemary's flavor.

Rosemary sprigs are also a great addition to chicken dishes. Chicken can be cooked in a simple sauce made of butter, dry white wine, garlic, and rosemary. The poultry will pick up on the flavors and aromas as it cooks. Rosemary can also be used as garnish to improve the look of the plate.