**Meatloaf: A Classic Comfort Food Dish with Endless Variations**
Meatloaf, a delectable combination of ground meat, savory seasonings, and a tangy glaze, is a timeless classic that has graced dinner tables for generations. This versatile dish offers a canvas for culinary creativity, with countless recipes that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. From traditional beef-based meatloaf to innovative vegetarian and vegan alternatives, this hearty dish promises satisfaction with every bite. Whether you prefer a classic meatloaf with rich tomato glaze, a zesty Tex-Mex version, or a lighter turkey meatloaf, this article presents an array of recipes that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
GOOD EATS MEATLOAF
For an easy weeknight standby, try Alton Brown's Good Eats Meatloaf recipe from Food Network, made complete with a tangy ketchup glaze.
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories main-dish
Time 1h10m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a food processor bowl, combine croutons, black pepper, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and thyme. Pulse until the mixture is of a fine texture. Place this mixture into a large bowl. Combine the onion, carrot, garlic, and red pepper in the food processor bowl. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped, but not pureed. Combine the vegetable mixture, ground sirloin, and ground chuck with the bread crumb mixture. Season the meat mixture with the kosher salt. Add the egg and combine thoroughly, but avoid squeezing the meat.
- Pack this mixture into a 10-inch loaf pan to mold the shape of the meatloaf. Onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, turn the meatloaf out of the pan onto the center of the tray. Insert a temperature probe at a 45 degree angle into the top of the meatloaf. Avoid touching the bottom of the tray with the probe. Set the probe for 155 degrees.
- Combine the catsup, cumin, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce and honey. Brush the glaze onto the meatloaf after it has been cooking for about 10 minutes.
MEAT(LESS)LOAF
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h55m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Pulse the mushrooms and onions in a food processor until they are pea-sized pieces.
- Toss the mushroom/onion mixture in the olive oil in a roasting pan. Roast for 20 minutes. Stir the mushroom mixture. Roast an additional 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, use the food processor to roughly chop the zucchini. Place it aside.
- Puree the chickpeas and add the paprika, cumin, salt, pepper and chile powder. Combine with the mushroom mixture, then add the zucchini and breadcrumbs. (The mixture should be damp but not wet; add more breadcrumbs if necessary to tighten it up.)
- Form the mixture into a loaf in a loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
- Top the mixture generously with the Spicy Ketchup and bake until the meatloaf is quite firm (with the texture of meatloaf), about 40 minutes.
- Let rest 10 minutes before slicing or chill it if using later.
- Serve with your favorite sides. We recommend good, old-fashioned mashed potatoes or cheesy grits and sautéed seasonal vegetables.
- Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, hot sauce, black pepper and habanero in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate or use immediately.
FOOD & WINE'S NO-APOLOGIES MEATLOAF
Being a Midwesterner born and bred, I (Heather) have had more than my fair share of meatloaf. As a child, I ordered open-faced meatloaf sandwiches every single time I went to my grandparents' diner. My grandpa said it was going to come out of my ears! :-) This recipe from Food & Wine magazine (Feb 1989, p. 131-132)is by far my favorite. The flavors are well balanced, and the oats redeem this fat-laden dish with a whole grain.
Provided by Heather3271
Categories Meat
Time 1h35m
Yield 20 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over moderate heat. Add the onion, green pepper, celery, and thyme. Reduce the heat to low; cook covered, stirring one or twice, until the vegetables are very soft (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat; cool to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 350°F In a large bowl, combine cooked vegetables and beef. Add oats, 1/3 cup ketchup, eggs, salt, and pepper; mix well. Spoon the meat mixture into a large shallow baking dish. Form the meat into a flat loaf about 2 inches high and smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Spread the remaining 1/3 cup ketchup over the loaf; arrange the bacon strips on top.
- Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour or until it is just cooked through and shows no trace of pink. (A thermometer will register 145°F in the center of the loaf). Let the meatloaf stand for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
- NOTES: For my large family, I double the recipe and increase cooking time to approximately 1-1/2 hours. A dash of Worcestershire sauce or Pick-A-Pepa kicks up the flavor nicely. You can also substitute turkey bacon, or omit the bacon and add a dash of liquid smoke. Using tomato paste on top of the meatloaf instead of ketchup adds a tangy flavor.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 138.8, Fat 8.5, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 57.5, Sodium 390.2, Carbohydrate 4.7, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 2.4, Protein 10.7
"BETTER THAN BEEF" MEATLESS MEATLOAF
Thanks to caramelized brown onions, there's some real magic going on in this meatless meatloaf! Despite having no beef in it, it's super savory with a meaty texture and flavor. With just enough binder to keep it together, it's slightly crumbly, but still melt-in-your-mouth tender and moist. Serve with mashed potatoes, green beans, and gravy.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Meatloaf
Time 2h25m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 26
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Very generously grease a loaf pan.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms and 1 teaspoon kosher salt and sauté until nicely browned and juices have evaporated, about 10 minutes. Stir in onion and cook until soft, another 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add celery, tomato paste, and beef base; cook and stir until tomato paste begins to toast on the bottom of the pan, about 3 minutes. Stir in water and turn off the heat; let sit for about 3 minutes.
- Transfer mushroom mixture into a food processor. Add cooked lentils and pulse until finely chopped but not pureed.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and add eggs, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, oregano, thyme, cayenne, ketchup, bread crumbs, oats, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer mixture into the prepared loaf pan, then wrap with foil and place on a sheet pan.
- Bake in the center of the preheated oven until firm to the touch, about 1 hour.
- Remove the loaf from the oven and place on a wire rack. Remove the foil and place it on the baking sheet. Grease the foil with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Let the loaf sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- While the loaf is resting, make the glaze: Whisk ketchup, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar together in a small bowl.
- Invert the loaf onto the foil and spread glaze all over the surface, mostly on the top but some on the sides.
- Return to the oven and bake until the glaze is cooked on, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the loaf onto a cutting board. Cut into 6 slices and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 367.2 calories, Carbohydrate 37 g, Cholesterol 73.7 mg, Fat 17.9 g, Fiber 6.2 g, Protein 18.4 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 1547 mg
CLASSIC MEATLOAF
The secrets to this meatloaf are fresh, very finely diced vegetables that give it moisture and flavor--and a light touch in mixing together the ingredients. This hearty meatloaf is the perfect meal for cool fall and winter evenings, served with mashed potatoes and simple mushroom gravy.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Main Dish Recipes Meatloaf Recipes Beef Meatloaf Recipes
Time 1h15m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Place the carrot, celery, onion, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic in a food processor, and pulse until very finely chopped, almost to a puree. Place the minced vegetables into a large mixing bowl, and mix in ground chuck, Worcestershire sauce, and egg. Add Italian herbs, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix gently with a wooden spoon to incorporate vegetables and egg into the meat. Pour in bread crumbs. With your hand, gently mix in the crumbs with your fingertips just until combined, about 1 minute.
- Form the meatloaf into a ball. Pour olive oil into a baking dish and place the ball of meat into the dish. Shape the ball into a loaf, about 4 inches high by 6 inches across.
- Bake in the preheated oven just until the meatloaf is hot, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, ketchup, Dijon mustard, and hot sauce. Stir until the brown sugar has dissolved.
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven. With the back of a spoon, smooth the glaze onto the top of the meatloaf, then pull a little bit of glaze down the sides of the meatloaf with the back of the spoon.
- Return meatloaf to oven, and bake until the loaf is no longer pink inside and the glaze has baked onto the loaf, 30 to 40 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the loaf should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Cooking time will depend on shape and thickness of the meatloaf.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 284.1 calories, Carbohydrate 14.8 g, Cholesterol 85.3 mg, Fat 14.9 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 21.6 g, SaturatedFat 5.6 g, Sodium 755.4 mg, Sugar 5.3 g
SPICY MEATLOAF SANDWICHES
Who says sandwiches are for the second night of meatloaf? You'll want to serve this clove-spiced meatloaf warm from the oven between thick slices of bread.
Provided by Annacia
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h20m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In medium bowl combine eggs, bread crumbs, onion, tomatoes, raisins, salt, cloves, and pepper.
- Add meat; mix well.
- Lightly pat meat mixture into 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.
- Bake 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until internal temperature registers 160°F.
- Spoon off fat.
- In bowl combine ketchup and brown sugar; spread over meat.
- Bake 5 minutes more.
- Let stand 15 minutes.
- Using two spatulas, lift meatloaf from pan to cutting board.
- Cut into 12 slices.
- Stir together mayonnaise and horseradish. Spread mayonnaise mixture on bread.
- Top bread with 2 meatloaf slices.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 491.7, Fat 19.9, SaturatedFat 6.3, Cholesterol 147.7, Sodium 1117.8, Carbohydrate 45.5, Fiber 2.9, Sugar 9.2, Protein 31.5
Tips:
- Choose the right ground beef. An 80/20 blend of ground beef is ideal for meatloaf. This means that it contains 80% lean beef and 20% fat. The fat will help to keep the meatloaf moist and flavorful.
- Don't overmix the meatloaf. Overmixing can make the meatloaf tough. Mix the ingredients just until they are combined.
- Use a loaf pan that is the right size. A 9x5-inch loaf pan is a good size for a standard meatloaf recipe. If you use a larger loaf pan, the meatloaf will be thinner and may not cook evenly.
- Cook the meatloaf at the right temperature. The ideal temperature for cooking meatloaf is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help to ensure that the meatloaf cooks evenly without drying out.
- Let the meatloaf rest before slicing. After the meatloaf is cooked, let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This will help the meatloaf to retain its juices.
Conclusion:
Meatloaf is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious and flavorful meatloaf that your family and friends will love. So next time you're looking for a hearty and satisfying meal, give meatloaf a try. You won't be disappointed!
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