Meatloaf is one of those irresistible American classics. From serving it doused in brown gravy over a pile of buttery mashed potatoes to taking that first delectable bite of a white bread and mayo-slathered meatloaf sandwich the next day, this is one dish that’s hard to go wrong with.
While just about any combination of ground beef, pork, ketchup and spices makes a decent loaf, what most of us crave is that roll-your-eyes-in-the-back-of your-head kinda loaf, and this recipe fits that bill. Incorporating a homemade, tangy barbecue sauce instead of just plain ‘ole ketchup along with adding a few secret ingredients into the meat mix (think buttermilk and horseradish), this recipe might involve a few extra steps, but I can promise you it’s well worth the effort.
Ingredients
For the barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 small onion, minced
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce, (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the meatloaf
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1/2 cup carrots, diced
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, or a mixture of pork and beef
- 3/4 cup uncooked oats or breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon horseradish
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat a medium-sized pot to medium-high. Saute onion until soft. Add garlic. Saute one more minute.
- Add the rest of your ingredients and simmer on medium-low for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.
- In a large sauté pan, sauté onion, carrot and celery until soft in vegetable oil. Remove from pan a set aside to cool in a large bowl.
- In a separate medium-sized bowl mix oats (or breadcrumbs), buttermilk, eggs, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper. Add in ¼ cup of the barbecue sauce and blend well.
- Add ground meat to the bowl of cooled onion, carrot and celery and mix gently with your hands. Then, add in the buttermilk/oats/barbecue sauce mixture. Blend well using your hands until fully incorporated.
- Gently form into an oval loaf in a shallow baking dish. Spread the top with additional sauce saving some to serve on the side. Bake for about 1 hour or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.
Helpful hints:
- Meatloaf can also be baked in a nonstick oblong meatloaf pan.
- Need to drain off some meat fat during cooking? Use a turkey baster.
