Not Your Mama's Meatloaf
For some reason, I LOVE meatloaf and once in a while I crave it. Funny enough, I never liked it as a kid. But, when it is done right, don't mind if I do have a helping or TWO!! And my son loves this recipe too! Mom WIN for me, maybe for you, too! (Wow, I totally just rhymed! Haha.)
Honestly, keeping it simple is best, I don't even use bread crumbs...I mean, its not called "bread loaf", right?! The more meat and less other ingredients, the better, in my book!
This always comes out really flavorful, juicy and the cheese in the middle gives it a creamy, cheesy little kick so it melts in your mouth! You might never make meatloaf any other way again ;)
What you'll need:
- 1 lb lean ground beef (you could use turkey as well)
- 1 medium white onion, diced (about a half a cup, slice in half, then each half into thin strips, then into cubes)
- 2 to 3 large fresh garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 egg
- 3 Tbsp Salsa, I use medium but you could use hot or mild (this is my secret, NOT SO SECRET anymore ingredient)
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
-1 to 2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
- 4 to 5 slices of provolone cheese, cut into halves (you can also use mozzarella)
How to make it:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Throw all ingredients into a large mixing bowl. I mix and mash it with my hands until everything is combined well.
Take half of the meatloaf mixture and spread it into a small, ungreased, square or rectangle baking dish. I prefer for mine to be glass.
Spread out evenly on the bottom of the dish and press it down firmly with your fingers or knuckles so it is your first layer. Now, lay your provolone cheese on top of this layer, so it is distributed evenly. It will all melt when baked, so it does not matter if there is little gaps between the pieces.
Add the second half of the meatloaf mixture on top of the layer of cheese. Again, spread out evenly and press down to create the top layer. Voila!
Now, throw it in the oven for about 25-30 minutes. I take it out after about 15 and drain out some of the excess fluid or oil that may come from the onions and cheese, then pop it back in. A few minutes before its done, pull it out and cover with some ketchup (I made my own, will share that recipe soon too!). And throw it back in the oven for about 3 minutes.
BAM! You are done. Let it rest for a few minutes before you cut it into slices. I serve it with roasted broccoli and mashed sweet potatoes(that recipe is coming too!) YUM!
ENJOY!
This makes 4 servings.
If you are on the 21 Day Fix, I count one serving as 1 red, 1/2 blue, 1/4 green.
