Classic Meatloaf

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Description

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.

Ingredients

  • 1 carrot, coarsely chopped
  • 1 rib celery, coarsely chopped
  • ½ onion, coarsely chopped
  • ½ red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
  • 4 white mushrooms, coarsely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
  • 2 ½ pounds ground chuck
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup plain bread crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • hot pepper sauce to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a baking dish with lightly greased foil.
  2. Place carrot
  3. celery
  4. onion
  5. bell pepper
  6. mushrooms
  7. and garlic in a food processor; pulse until very finely chopped
  8. almost to a puree. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  9. Add ground chuck to the vegetables
  10. along with Worcestershire sauce
  11. egg
  12. Italian herbs
  13. salt
  14. black pepper
  15. and cayenne. Mix gently with a wooden spoon until ingredients are just combined. Sprinkle in bread crumbs and gently mix with your fingertips until just combined; don’t overmix.
  16. Shape the mixture into a loaf
  17. about 4 inches high by 6 inches across. Place in the prepared baking pan.
  18. Bake in the preheated oven just until the meatloaf is hot
  19. about 15 minutes.
  20. Meanwhile
  21. stir brown sugar
  22. ketchup
  23. Dijon
  24. and Sriracha for glaze in a small bowl until brown sugar has dissolved.
  25. Remove meatloaf from the oven. Spoon glaze on the top of the meatloaf with the back of a spoon
  26. then pull a tiny bit glaze down the sides.
  27. Return to the oven
  28. and bake until no longer pink inside
  29. 45 to 75 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the loaf should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C)
  30. so start checking at 45 minutes and continue baking until meatloaf reaches that temperature.
  31. Cooking time will depend on shape and thickness of the meatloaf.

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Servings: 10

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