Best 2 Americas Test Kitchen Meatloaf Recipes

TEST KITCHEN'S FAVORITE ALL-BEEF MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Tear bread into pieces; pulse in a food processor to make fine crumbs (or use plain breadcrumbs) set aside.
• Cook the Vegetables:Pulse vegetables in food processor until finely chopped (or do so by hand). Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add vegetables, thyme, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, broth, and 1/4 cup ketchup. Remove from heat; let cool completely.
• Prep the Meat and Glaze: In a small bowl, stir together remaining 1/2 cup ketchup and the brown sugar for glaze; set aside. In a large bowl, combine vegetable mixture with ground chuck, egg, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. Mix with your hands until well combined.
• Bake and Let Cool:On a rimmed baking sheet, form meat mixture into a loaf that's 10 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 2 inches high, packing firmly to prevent cracking. Coat top and sides with glaze. Bake until top is caramelized and a thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 165 degrees, 55 to 65 minutes. (If top is browning too quickly, tent with foil.) Let cool at least 25 minutes, then serve with comforting sides, like mashed potatoes. and sauteed broccolini.

GLAZED ALL-BEEF MEAT LOAF (COOK'S ILLUSTRATED)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and place oven rack in center of oven.
• Prepare your cooking pan by placing a cooling rack over a baking pan with sides, then cover with aluminum foil; poke small holes every half inch or so and spray with cooking spray.
• Place the grated cheese on a plate and place in the freezer until ready to use.
• Heat a skillet over medium high heat, add butter and cook until foamy; add onions and celery, cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to caramelize, about 8 minutes.
• Add in garlic, thyme, paprika; cook, stirring, about a minute.
• Reduce heat to low and stir in tomato juice; transfer to a small bowl and let cool.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and broth; sprinkle with the gelatin and let sit 5 minutes.
• Stir in soy sauce, mustard, saltines, parsley, salt, pepper, and the onion mixture; crumble frozen cheese over top.
• Add ground beef and mix with hands until combined.
• Transfer meat mixture to prepared foil lined pan and form into a 10 x 6 inch loaf (it should be about 2 inches high).
• Bake to an internal temperature of 135 to 140 degrees F, about 55 to 65 minutes; remove from oven and set oven to broil.
• Meanwhile, combine glaze ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer.
• Stir until syrupy, about 5 minutes.
• Spread half the glaze over the meatloaf and broil until bubbly and beginning to brown at the edges; repeat with remaining glaze.
• Let sit 20 minutes before slicing.