Gourmet Meatloaf that lives up to it’s name with every tender, juicy bite. Easy to prepare and bursting with flavor. Try my simple trick to keep it moist.
Justin Timberlake brought sexy back (where did it go exactly?). Meghan Trainor brought booty back. I am going to do so much more than that. I am bringing meatloaf back! I am going to single handedly restore Gourmet Meatloaf to the dinner table where it has always belonged. There is an argument here that my accomplishment is much more useful than Timberlake’s but never mind that.
Great Tender Meatloaf
Somewhere in the last 20-30 years of cooking history meatloaf picked up a reputation as cheap, dry, overcooked, and a meal to avoid. This really is sad. Meatloaf is a classy dish, rich in flavor, tender and juicy. It is a friend to my beloved mashed potatoes and a hit at dinner parties! Really, you need to invite meatloaf over sometime.
Last fall we hosted my husband’s work team and their families for a dinner party. It was not a formal affair by any means but I wanted to assemble a memorable and classy dinner menu that would honor our guests. It was a group of more than 20 that included children so I needed food that everybody would like and that I could do most of the work ahead.
When I suggested meatloaf my husband was about one step below horrified. This was NOT his idea of nice food. Thankfully I’m married to a man who trusts and respects me. We talked about it and he agreed to let me give it a shot.
The party was a smashing success and the meatloaf was the star of the show. Over and over guests expressed their surprise that meatloaf could be so delicious. I have thrown dinner parties with meatloaf as the main dish several times in the past decade with a similar response. It really is a gourmet main dish.
The term “gourmet” sometimes implies complexity and difficulty but when it comes to Gourmet Meatloaf nothing could be further than the truth. You need a good recipe and 15-20 minutes to mix a few things together. Bake and wow your dinner audience.
My “secret sauce” for this recipe is our family’s beloved spicy ketchup. It boosts the flavor without adding any serious spiciness to the loaf. It is also easy to make and has many uses beyond meatloaf. You might even wonder how you ever lived without it.
The other “secret” for this meatloaf is a digital thermometer. Lots of people overcook meatloaf. This is a terrible crime against meatloaf but not yet punishable by law. Don’t worry Americans, I’m sure the government will remedy that soon!
Because meatloaf has ketchup in it, you might find it hard to tell when the meat is cooked. By the time you are sure it is safe to eat the damage is usually done – particularly for less experienced cooks. Using a inexpensive thermometer eliminates the guessing game and tells you exactly when the food is done every time.
So, ready to help me in my crusade to bring meatloaf back? Make it, share it, pin it, tell the world about it and above all else, enjoy it. I suggest serving it with some really good mashed potatoes and a green vegetable like asparagus, zucchini or snow peas. Enjoy!
Gourmet Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1/2 onion minced
- 1 stalk celery minced
- 1/2 red bell pepper minced
- 1/2 carrot grated
- 1 oz water optional
- 1 egg beaten
- 3/4 cup spicy ketchup (1/4 cup inside the meatloaf and 1/2 cup for the top glaze) - see note
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 pound hamburger 12% fat (more fat is too rich, less fat is too dry)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Put a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and onion. Sauté for a few minutes until the onion starts to turn color a bit.
- Add the celery, bell pepper and carrot to the pan. Continue to cook stirring often. If the mixture starts to stick to the pan, add a big splash of water, about 1 oz. Cook for about 7 minutes until all the veggies are tender.
- Meanwhile add everything else but the meat to the mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
- Crumble the meat into the mixing bowl but don't stir.
- When the veggies are tender, add them to the mixing bowl on top of the meat. Use your hands to gently combine everything. Do not over mix.
- Gently press the meatloaf into a loaf pan. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of spicy ketchup.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 20-30 min. Do not overcook as this will make it dry. The meatloaf is done when it shrinks away from the edges of the pan slightly and a thermometer inserted into the center reads 160F.
- Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes. This helps it retain its juices. Serve with mashed potatoes and additional spicy ketchup.
Helpful Recipe Notes
Your Rating Matters
When you leave a comment or star rating, it means more than you might think. It helps me understand what you’re enjoying, builds trust for other readers, and supports real, tested cooking content. If you have a moment, I’d truly appreciate you sharing your experience. - Mirlandra
Nutrition Estimate
A Note on Nutrition
Nutritional info is an imperfect estimate. Please take it with a grain of salt.
I read each and every comment and I try to respond to questions asap, so ask away! If you’ve made a recipe, I would love to hear about it! Please come back and share your experience and give the recipe a 5-star rating so other people will know how much you loved it!
mirim says
This is truly marvelous meatloaf – moist and subtly flavorful, unlike the usual kind, which is either bland or spicy/hot but lacks depth of flavor. I like your idea of letting it rest before serving so the juices don’t escape. I never understood how my meatloaf ended up sitting in juice while the loaf itself was pretty dry.
Mirlandra says
Thank you! And yes, the resting makes SUCH a big difference!
Janet Goetz says
Hi Mirlandra. How many servings does this recipe make? We are very carb conscious (my husband is pre-diabetic) so with this dish being 51 net carbs, I need to really understand the portion size. I have never been a meatloaf lover, mainly for the reasons you have mentioned above, but my husband loves meatloaf so this may be one I try out. Thanks!!
Mirlandra says
Hi Janet – Thank you for asking! I’m glad you are able to work with your husband to find great ways to eat that are healthy for him. He is lucky to have you!!! This recipe makes five servings. So if you cut the pan into five slices each one would be one serving. I’m not a dietitian or a doctor but I do understand food well. There are two big places that carbs come into this recipe. One is going to be the ketchup and another is the Panko bread crumbs. If you know of a low carb ketchup or want to make your own that could really help. My friend Victoria has a low carb ketchup recipe that is simple (https://www.amodernhomestead.com/low-carb-healthy-ketchup-recipe/). I also have friends that make meatloaf Keto style by using gluten free crackers instead of bread crumbs. They crush up the Simple Mills brand Gluten Free Almond Flour Crackers and use those as a 1 to 1 replacement for traditional bread crumbs. Both of these are going to change the flavor of the recipe some but if you are willing to experiment a little bit I think you could find a winning combination that would work well! This recipe does get a lot of flavor from the carrots, celery etc so it gives you more room to experiment without loosing flavor! Please let me know if I can answer anything else for you and how it turns out!
Chelsa says
Can I make it all ahead and store it in the fridge for a few hours until I’m ready to bake it?
Mirlandra says
Absolutely! You can do that even the day before. It works great 🙂
Haley says
My favorite meatloaf recipe, I make nothing else, shared with many friends and always get compliments
Mirlandra says
Awe, thank you! This makes my day! I’m so glad you are enjoying it!
Rachel says
I LOVE this recipe. This meatloaf is divine. My kids will eat this and not the mashed potatoes we serve with it. But I love that its filled with veggies. So flavorful.
Mirlandra Neuneker says
Wow! That’s amazing!!! Your kids have great taste 🙂 I’ve been serving this at dinner parties for about 20 years and it is always a hit.
Caryn says
Despite never having been tempted to make meatloaf in my life, I couldn’t resist my curiosity after reading the story on this recipe. It turned out lovely! I cut down on the spice just a little for the kids’ sake, and they liked it better than they expected to. The baked-in veggies are a plus!
Mirlandra Neuneker says
Oh wow! I love this! I’m so glad you gave it a try and your family enjoyed it!