Meatloaf that melts in your mouth? This is definitely not bland, but moist and flavorful. I heard this recipe being explained as a family favorite while listening to a guest, Lucinda Scala Quinn, on The Splendid Table and my mouth watered! I made some slight revisions and thought it would be a good recipe to share for those busy moms. This is comfort food at its best when served with mashed potatoes, gravy and a favorite veggie side. You could even make it more kid-friendly by cooking them in a cupcake pan then topping them with a scoop of mashed potatoes before serving!
Soak the panko crumbs in the milk briefly. The carrots can be shredded with a box grater or chopped fine(shown here). Blend altogether so ingredients are distributed uniformly throughout the meat.
Fill a loaf pan lined with non-stick foil with the meatloaf mixture. Create a one inch slit down the middle then pour the chili sauce over it.
Bake this at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour. It should be firm to the touch and have a minimum internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.
Let it rest for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8 servings
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 c. panko bread crumbs
- ½ c. milk
- 1 large egg
- ½ c. carrot, shredded or finely chopped
- ⅓ c. red onion, grated or finely chopped
- 4 oz. Cremini mushrooms, finely chopped(optional)
- 1 t. Kosher salt
- ½ t. black pepper
- ½ c. chili sauce
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Soak breadcrumbs in milk.
- Grate onion on a box grater or finely chop.
- Shred carrots or finely chop.
- Uniformly mix all ingredients together.
- Place in a foil-lined loaf pan for easier clean up.
- Make a 1 inch slit lengthwise and pour chili sauce into the crevice.
- Cook for about 45 minutes or until internal temperature is at least 160 degrees.
- Allow to cool slightly before cutting into 8 slices.
Another way to fix these for the small people in your life would be as mini-meatloaf servings using a cupcake pan. Bake for about 25-30 minutes. Top with a scoop of mashed potatoes for kid appeal!
