Sunday Meatloaf

I’ve been craving meatloaf the last few days!

Meatloaf has always seemed like a Sunday meal to me. It’s comfort food that satisfies everyone at the table.

I have made it a hundred times over the years and every time I make the first cut into it, I hold my breath making sure it will hold together and taste good.

There are variables to making meatloaf, like the quality of ground beef and the type of breadcrumbs used. I think its tough to duplicate the recipe time after time with the same results.

When I was twenty years old, I worked part-time at a locally owned fine dining restaurant. I mostly waited tables during the four years I worked there, but for one summer, due to a scheduling conflict with my full-time job, I worked early morning prep in the kitchen.Our chef was not thrilled to have someone that never cooked before in charge of the entire prep for the restaurant. He worked with me daily teaching me tricks of the trade. His passion exuded through his food. I learned to make New England Crab Cakes, Chicken Velvet Soup, and some of the best salad dressings I ever tasted.The one recipe that Chef entrusted me with was for his mother’s meatloaf. Every morning at 6 AM I would start my day by making 10 lbs of it. My meatloaf has been years in the making. I love the combination of the dried and fresh herbs. I always use ground chuck because it has the perfect fat content.My recipe for meatloaf is not fancy. It will not be served in fine dining restaurants but its perfect for the Sunday dinner table.

It’s kind of funny that 30 years after my time at Pipers Cafe’ the memories of that time are of that summer prep cooking at one of the cities best restaurants.

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Sunday Meatloaf

This recipe never fails. The meatloaf will hold together and be moist and flavorful. The added bonus is...the leftovers make great sandwiches. 

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword meatloaf

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 8 searvings

Author Doug Bakes Staff

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped plus few sprigs for garnish
• 1 onion, diced
• 1/4 cup grilled jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
• 1/2 cup grilled red pepper, finely diced
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup dried breadcrumbs
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
• 1/3 cup ketchup

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

   
   

2. In a bowl, combine beef, egg, onion, red pepper, jalapeno, milk, oregano, thyme, and breadcrumbs. Salt and pepper to taste. Put in a lightly greased 5 x 9 inch loaf pan.

   
   

3. In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard, and ketchup.Mix and pour over the meatloaf.

   
   

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes 

5. Let the meatloaf rest 5 mins before removing it from the pan.

   Garnish with sprigs of thyme on top of the loaf if desired.