The Best Meatloaf

I took Ina's recipe <3 , and tweaked it a bit, to add more veg and flavor.

This is the best meatloaf I've made to date and it's also seriously fantastic cold. Meatloaf sandwiches anyone? This holds about 2 1/2 lbs of meat, and 3 1/2 cups of veggies. This beauty's a smash hit for friends and family. Enjoy.

Ingredients

• 2 turns olive oil

• 2 yellow onions, chopped (2 cups)

• 3 carrots, chopped

• 2 ribs celery, chopped

• 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

• 1 tsp. garlic powder

• 2 tsp. kosher salt

• 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

• 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

• 1/4 cup chicken stock

• 1/4 cup marinara

• 1 Tbsp. tomato paste

• 1 lb. ground beef

• 1 lb. ground turkey

• 2 Italian sausages, casings removed and broken up

• 2 extra-large eggs, beaten

• (1/2 cup gluten-free bread crumbs, optional - I don't use them, but if you have to, Enter-G is a great brand for gf bread crumbs)

• ½ cup Ketchup

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325° F.

2. Heat the olive oil in a medium sauté pan. Add the onions, season a bit and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for several minutes, to sweat, then add the rest of the veg. 10-15 minutes. Don't worry about time, I know it says 10-15 minutes but recipes always lie and short you on time. Go by how they look, until the onions are translucent and giving off a hint of brown. 3. Off the heat, add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, marinara, and tomato paste. Allow to cool a bit so you don't cook the eggs in the next step.

3. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, turkey, sausage. Season it, and lightly fork toss it together. Keep it loose, Don't make mush.

4. Add the onion mixture, (bread crumbs if you must), and eggs; mix lightly with a fork. Don’t mash or the meatloaf will be dense. Shape the mixture into a rectangular 7x11 loaf or casserole pan. Spread the ketchup evenly on top.

5. Bake for 1-1 ¼ hours, until internal temperature of loaf reaches 160° F, and meatloaf is cooked through.
   

Notes: Use any veg you like. Green beans? Sure. Mushrooms, yes, but watch liquid ratios. Want to use bacon instead of sausage? Go for it, darlin. Tasso or Andouille? Yas gurl. Beyond Meat products? Tofu? Yes! Go wild! You wanna get really crazy and use BBQ sauce and cheddar on top instead of ketchup? Go for that Smokehouse glory! Just make sure it's 2 1/2 lbs of meat or meat substitute, total. (Reminder: bangers, seitan, and some sausages aren't gluten free) This is about stretching a dollar but also about fantastic flavor. I think the peppers really make this special, but that may be my New Orleans roots showing. (that trinity goodness, ya heard?)