Bon Appetit Beef and Bacon Meatloaf

If you have spent any time following my blog here you know that meatloaf is always been one of my particular favorites. I am pretty willing to try just about any recipe that comes along when it comes to meatloaf which is because I like to try different things with it and I do enjoy it. You can look back in the archives here and see the many different recipes that I have tried from different places like Alton Brown, America's Test Kitchen, different Food Network chefs and many other recipes that I have tried over time. When I saw the listing from Bon Appétit in an article they did last month for what they say is the best beef and bacon meatloaf recipe out there I figured it was not going to be too long before I tried it out. Sean particularly likes it when I make a meatloaf that incorporates baking in some way and this one looked like it was pretty good bet to taste good so I knew I was going to give it a try.

Bon Appetit's Best Beef and Bacon Meatloaf

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, grated with the large holes of a box grater

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

3/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3/4 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 eggs

2/3 cup fine breadcrumbs

1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 pounds ground beef chuck (15% fat)

6 thin strips of bacon

Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then parchment paper. Set the pan aside.

Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a small skillet. Cook the grated onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until both are very soft, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the onion mixture to a large bowl.

Meanwhile, bring the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper to a boil in a small sauce pan. Reduce the heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is slightly reduced and syrupy, about 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer 2 tablespoons of the ketchup mixture to a blender; add the chicken broth and parsley to the blender and blend the mixture until it is smooth. Set the remaining of the ketchup mixture aside.

Add the chicken broth mixture, eggs, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, kosher salt and pepper to the onion and garlic mixture. Mix the ingredients together until they are combined well. Add the ground beef and mix well with your hands to combine everything. Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the prepared pan and form the mixture into a long log (about 12″ x 5″), smoothing the surface of the mixture. Spread the reserve ketchup mixture over the top of the meatloaf and drape the bacon pieces in a crisscross pattern over the meatloaf, tucking the pieces underneath the meatloaf. Bake the meatloaf until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center registers 165° and the bacon is crisp, about 70 to 80 minutes. Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

I do have to say that while it may not be the best meatloaf I have ever had, it is certainly one of the top that I have made. The glaze that is used for the meatloaf is very tasty and the combination of the brown sugar, cayenne pepper, vinegar and ketchup really does seem to make a difference. Using chicken broth in the meatloaf mixture was something new for me but it did add a nice layer of flavor and there was just the right enough breadcrumbs to hold everything together nicely without completely drying out the meat. Of course, the bacon is always a nice touch to put on top of the meatloaf and actually I found that draping the bacon in this particular manner seem to work pretty well as it added good flavor to the meat without completely overpowering the dish. I will definitely try the recipe again as it was one of the tastier choices for meatloaf I have tried in a while.

That's all I have for today. Check back next time for another recipe. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day, and enjoy your meal!

arnetterepasustem.blogspot.com

Source: https://onedadskitchen.com/2015/03/31/is-this-the-best-meatloaf-recipe-bon-appetit-says-so/

Share this post