I don’t remember eating meatloaf as a kid. But I do remember hearing my cousins, who lived just down the road from us (or across the corn field), talk about their mom serving it now and then. And I recall being secretly thankful that my mom didn’t make us eat meat logs (yuck!) at our house!
Now I sorely realize how much I was missing out on, however.
Some time after we were married, I asked Blake if we should dare to experiment with making a meatloaf. Of course, he was all for trying something new. And the recipe’s title had the word “meat”. The decision was a no-brainer.
We’ve gone through a number of different meatloaf recipes over the years. And quite honestly, we haven’t met one we didn’t liked. But one thing I learned was that I don’t like crunchy onions in my meatloaf! The courseness and sharper bite never settles right with me, amongst the loaf’s otherwise softer components. So whatever recipe I now make, I’m certain to always saute the onions before adding them to the meat mixture.
This Meatloaf with Chili Sauce has been an ever evolving favorite recipe for our family. It has a beautiful little kick to it, without being completely spicy. Our oldest daughter’s tastebuds continue to develop more and more heat tolerance, and she now loves this chili sauce version. Our youngest daughter, however, does not share her sister’s same enthusiasm. Although she likes meatloaf, she votes for a slightly tamer one, eliminating the cayenne, and swapping the chili sauce for good ol’ ketchup.
Did you grow up eating meatloaf?
Do you like it now, as an adult?
Meatloaf with Chili Sauce
Ingredients
- FOR THE MEATLOAF:
- 1 T. olive oil
- ½ c. finely chopped onion
- 6 large garlic cloves minced
- ½ c. milk
- 4 slices white bread torn into pieces
- 1-1/2 lbs. ground sirloin
- 1 lb. ground pork
- ½ c. prepared chili sauce
- ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp. cumin
- ½ tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ c. finely chopped fresh parsley
- ½ c. grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- FOR THE GLAZE:
- ⅓ c. prepared chili sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until soft and the onion is translucent. This should take about 5 minutes. Remove the onions and garlic to a plate to cool.
- In a large bowl, pour milk over torn bread and let soak for about a minute. Add the remaining ingredients, from the sirloin to the black pepper, plus the cooled onions and garlic. Using your hands, mix until just combined.
- Divide meat mixture in half and very gently pat each half into an 8-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ loaf pan. Try not to press the meat too much.
- Place both loaf pans on a jellyroll pan, to catch any possible drips, and place in the oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Spoon the remaining 1/3 cup of chili sauce onto the loaves and continue cooking for about 15 minutes longer. The meatloaves will be done when the juices run clear and a thermometer inserted into the middle registers 160°.
- Remove loaves from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes. The temperature of the loaves will continue to rise a bit. Turn loaves out of the pans. I run a knife around the outside of the pan and then firmly stab a fork into each end of the loaf and lift it out. Slice into 3/4″ to 1″ thick slices.
Nutrition Information:
That sounds good!!! We have meat loaf quite a bit at our house. When my mom made it, she would make a sauce to put on it….it wasn’t the same as what you have here….(yours sounds better than my mom’s) :)
Nice to hear from you, Rita Jean – thanks!
I know that it can sometimes get a bad wrap but I LOVE meatloaf! I also LOVE spicy. This sounds like the perfect meatloaf for me! Thanks sweetie!
It does sound perfect for you – thanks, Wenderly!
We grew up with meatloaf but I hated it. I now make meatloaf muffins, which is the only way I can get my kids interested in meatloaf. I’m going to have to try this sauce!
I like the idea of meatloaf muffins – that would be a fun way to change it up. Thanks, Kristen!
We always had meatloaf growing up, and I’ve talked about it several times on the blog, including within the past few months after I made a delicious meatloaf with ground chicken.
I do love a good meatloaf, although I never use ground beef anymore. Sometimes I indulge in a mix of it, with pork for good measure (not to mention a lot of good calories) but I do find that I can get the same hearty flavor and satisfaction using a leaner type of meat.
The best part, however, is the next day when you make a cold meatloaf sandwich.
Hi Kate! I’ve never had chicken meatloaf…I’ll have to check out your post. Thanks!
My dear, you managed to take pretty pics of meatloaf – well done. It looks delicious, can’t wait to make it (I’ll just sub gluten-free bread). I love meatloaf for breakfast, actually, wish I had some right now!
Meatloaf DOES make a great breakfast! Thanks, Stephanie!
I’m one of those people who grew up eating meatloaf once a week. I love it, expecially when it is nice a moist. This recipe looks really good so I will be trying it next week. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful!! Please let me know what you think!
I really like the sound of Chili Sauce on my meatloaf. I do the traditional Ketchup, but I think the Chili Sauce sounds divine! I actually have some in the cupboard – can’t wait to try this! Oh and I’ve always loved meatloaf – my mom made the best meatloaf. She used to used fried onions so I have since lightly cooked prior as well.
Wonderful to hear from you, Courtney – thanks for stopping by!
That chili sauce looks incredible. And I’m with you, I don’t like crunchy onions in my meatloaf, or in my meatballs either, for that matter. This looks delicious!
Ditto on the meatballs!! Great to hear from you, Tracy.
Thanks for posting this recipie for meatloaf, I’ve always heard about it but I’ve never looked up a recipie for it before. My housemates like chillies so the chilli sauce idea looks brilliant! I’ll have to try this out. Elimitating crunch onions though as like you, I cannot stand them!!!
Your housemates are a lucky bunch, Harriet, to have you cooking for them! :)
This meatloaf looks so tasty! I do remember making meatloaf a few times, but not often. And your Dad remembers it too. For a while Ann Landers meatloaf was in the papers a lot, and I remember making that. But, the chili sauce sounds much better. Another recipe to try!!
Well, Mom, I probably just blocked out those few times from my mind! I remember having very negative feelings about meatloaf as a kid. I’m sure it was good, though! :)
I didn’t grow up eating meatloaf either but I soon learned what I was missing when I visited my Mother in law in PA and she made meatloaf sandwiches. So delish. We make meatloaf now and use the recipe in Best Recipes by America’s Test Kitchen. The glaze is outstanding and so is the bacon topping.
Meatloaf makes great leftovers. Meatloaf sandwiches – yum!! I’ll have to check out the recipe you mentioned – thanks!
I never grew up eating meatloaf, my parents aren’t originally from the US so it’s just not something they even knew about. You know I don’t think I’ve ever had any to this day, my husband on the other hand likes it, he grew up eating turkey meatloaf.
Hi Sylvie! If you like hamburgers, there’s something very similar with meatloaf.
I personally love a GOOD meatloaf… the more it resembles burger consistency and less like a shmoosh of meat the better for me! :) Yours looks fantastic!
Thank you, dear Amanda!
Beautiful photography! This looks delicious!
Great blog; happy I found you!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
Thanks, Mary – wonderful to hear from you!!
This sounds very much like my family favorite and I do use Chili Sauce in mine (Heinz). It makes such a taste difference. I never liked meatloaf until I started using chili sauce in my recipe. This recipe is a little different and I will have to try it.
Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook
Please let me know what you think of this, Carolyn – I’d love to compare notes!