Chili-Glazed Meatloaf Sandwiches

It somehow seems vaguely inappropriate to be posting about meat for Valentine’s Day.

[PS – if someone wants to buy me this, feel free]

While I’m not planning on celebrating the ol’ day-o-love, I am planning on going out to dinner. Why? Because I’ll be hungry. My hunger doesn’t stop just because it’s February 14th. I’m hoping to re-create equally hilarious Valentine’s Day dinners gone by that involve completely empty, fully decorated Thai restaurants where the owners thought Andrew dined and ditched me or Ethiopian restaurants that insist on a someone playing love ballads on a Casio keyboard. I cannot make this stuff up. These are the kinds of things that happen when you don’t try to make things happen, and I’m all the better for it. Memories, people, memories.

This meatloaf is my new favorite meatloaf [sorry, mom]. This meatloaf reached high honors from Andrew, especially when I pan fried a thick slab of the leftovers and threw it between fresh rosemary focaccia, sliced Manchego cheese, and sautéed mushrooms. Ah-mazing.

You use grated potato and crushed Ritz crackers as your binder. Genius, I say. I kind of thought the potato might be a little too wet, and I did have a lot more liquid than I was used to when it baked out, but it definitely wasn’t a problem. It didn’t make things soggy or affect the taste. It was dang delicious. The chili ketchup can be as spicy as you want it, since you’re mixing it yourself, but it really doesn’t bring much in the way of heat. If you’re thinking a two pound meatloaf is ridiculous for two people like I did, make it anyway. Meatloaf sandwiches are the best thing ever. EVER.

Inspiration: Things We Make

Ingredients

  • 2lbs ground beef
  • 1 potato, peeled and grated [about the size of a baseball — how’s that for accurate]
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 ounces melted butter
  • 2 ounces milk
  • 1/4 cup chili ketchup [mix hot sauce with ketchup]
  • 130g of Ritz crackers, crushed [if you don’t have a scale, do some simple math based on the number of grams on the box]
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350° and line a 9″x5″ bread pan with foil. In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together except for a tablespoon or two of the ketchup. Only when it’s thoroughly combined, squish the contents into the pan and flatten it out with your hands. Place into the oven for 90 minutes. If you’re worried about leaking, place a baking sheet underneath it. I didn’t have any issues, though.

The internal temperature of a meatloaf should be about 160°. I’m convinced that checking for this more so than the timing contributed to the best texture. When you pull it out, brush the remainder of the ketchup while it’s still hot.



7 thoughts on “Chili-Glazed Meatloaf Sandwiches”

  • Salami bouquet – hilarious! I laughed out loud at the casio keyboard music! You have to update on how your night goes. Mine will be spent ordering Pizza Hut and playing the Harry Potter Lego video game with my boyfriend! 🙂
    The meatloaf looks great, but I think I’d want some extra sauce! I really really love sloppy meatloaf 😉

    • Harry Potter Lego! I have that game. I’m like 75% through it, and then completely lost interest in sitting down in front of the TV to play. I’d spend HOURS playing. I need to pick it back up though. PIzza Hut is a total weakness, too. Seriously, your Valentine’s Day wins.

      • Hahaha you are the first person who even knew what I was talking about when I said I was playing that game! So I don’t know if that makes you cool or what. 😉

          • It’s ok! I still have like two months until I move. I’m so excited!!! I’m actually researching places to apply for jobs as we speak (type).

  • Man, that bouquet looks even better than I thought it was going to be! And the meatlaof sounds wonderful. I can’t remember the last time I made meatloaf, but I certainly have many fond memories of eating it growing up. Especially in sandwich form! Meatloaf: the only sandwich on which ketchup is acceptable. 🙂

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