Description
Ina Garten’s Meatloaf is a classic, easy-to-make comfort food recipe that features a juicy and flavorful ground beef loaf topped with ketchup. This recipe balances savory seasonings and moist texture, baked to perfection for a satisfying main course that’s perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatloaf Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 1/2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
- 1/2 cup plain dry breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup ketchup (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for baking the meatloaf evenly.
- Cook the Onions: Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion, salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until onions are soft and translucent but not browned.
- Add Sauces and Stock: Stir in Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste to the onions. Mix well and let the mixture cool slightly to avoid cooking the eggs when added to the meat.
- Combine Meatloaf Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, and the cooled onion mixture. Mix gently with a fork just until combined to keep the meatloaf tender.
- Shape the Meatloaf: Form the mixture into a loaf shape on a parchment-lined sheet pan for easy handling and clean-up.
- Add the Topping: Spread ketchup evenly over the top of the meatloaf. This adds flavor and helps keep it moist while baking.
- Bake: Place the meatloaf in the oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) ensuring it is fully cooked.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes after baking to let the juices redistribute, then slice and serve.
Notes
- Using 80/20 ground beef provides the perfect balance of flavor and moisture for a juicy meatloaf.
- Ground turkey can be used as a substitute; however, reduce baking time and increase seasoning to maintain flavor and moistness.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute plain dry breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Do not overmix the meat mixture to avoid a dense, tough meatloaf.
