Serves 8
80 min
Cajun Meatloaf
Recipe GLPRe30ac521f53ae3
A bold and flavorful meatloaf combining ground beef and pork with a classic Cajun vegetable base. Onions, bell peppers, and celery are sautéed in butter with garlic and warm spices like nutmeg and cayenne, then mixed into the meat mixture along with breadcrumbs, eggs, and milk. The meatloaf is topped with a honey-sweetened ketchup glaze and baked until golden, delivering authentic Cajun taste in every slice.
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Ingredients
3 medium bell peppers, diced
2 medium onions, diced
5-6 celery ribs, diced
8-10 cloves garlic, minced
6 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
A few shakes hot sauce, optional
2 cups ketchup, divided
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 pounds lean ground beef (92% lean)
1 pound ground pork
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons honey
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a loaf pan or standard meatloaf baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced bell peppers, onions, celery, and minced garlic. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables are softened and the onions become translucent.
Stir in the salt, black pepper, ground nutmeg, and cayenne pepper into the sautéed vegetables. Add a few shakes of hot sauce if desired. Cook for 1-2 minutes more to allow the spices to bloom. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
In a small bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the ketchup, the Worcestershire sauce, milk, and breadcrumbs. Let this mixture sit for a minute to allow the breadcrumbs to absorb the liquid.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef and ground pork. Add the cooled vegetable mixture, the ketchup-breadcrumb mixture, and the three eggs. Using your hands or a large spoon, mix gently until just combined—do not overmix, as this can make the meatloaf tough.
Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared loaf pan, pressing gently to form an even loaf. Smooth the top with the back of a spoon.
In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 1 cup of ketchup and the honey until well combined. Spread this glaze evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
Bake in the preheated 350°F oven for 55 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F when measured with a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf.
Remove from the oven and let the meatloaf rest in the pan for 5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute. Serve hot with the pan drippings spooned over each slice if desired.
