Recipe Background
Tennessee Meatloaf combines savory meats, tangy-sweet glaze, and a hint of spice for a delicious dish.
Tennessee Meatloaf is about bringing hearty comfort to your table with an irresistible Southern flair. The aroma of caramelized brown sugar mingling with cider vinegar and hot pepper sauce lures you in from the very first whiff. With every bite, there’s a delightful harmony of flavors as savory thyme and seasoned salt marry with the richness of ground beef, pork, and veal. The ketchup glaze on top offers a subtle tang and sweetness that complements the meat’s robust taste perfectly. An unexpected crunch from the quick-cooking oats gives it a unique texture, elevating the whole experience from ordinary to something quite special.
Don't be fooled by the name; this isn't your average middle-of-the-week loaf. The combination of Worcestershire sauce and mustard gives it that extra punch, balancing out with the smooth creaminess of milk. While it's easy to prepare, yielding to kitchen novices, there’s artistry in blending the ingredients just right. The green bell pepper and onion infuse the loaf with freshness and depth, adding those little bites of green and white that break the meaty monotony. It’s a straightforward yet rewarding dish to prepare, ideal for those family dinners where you want to impress without the stress. Just ensure you let it stand a bit before serving, letting all those savors become even more pronounced.
Ingredients
For the glaze:
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
For the meatloaf:
- 1 onion chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons prepared mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2/3 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 pound ground veal
Directions
- Combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and cider vinegar together, mixing well.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray two 9x5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray or line them with aluminum foil.
- Place the onion and green pepper in a covered microwave container and heat in the microwave until softened, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the garlic, eggs, thyme, seasoned salt, black pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, milk, and oats, mixing well.
- Stir in the softened onion and green pepper.
- Add the ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal, and work the mixture together until everything is completely mixed and uniform.
- Divide the meatloaf mixture evenly between the two prepared loaf pans.
- Brush the tops of the meatloaves with 1/2 of the glaze.
- Bake for 50 minutes.
- Remove the loaf pans from the oven and drain off any excess fat expelled during the cooking process.
- Brush the remaining glaze on the top of the loaves.
- Return the loaf pans to the oven and bake until the internal temperature of the loaves is 180 degrees F, about 10 minutes.
- Remove the pans from the oven and allow the meatloaves to stand for 15 minutes before serving.
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