THE BEST MEATLOAF WITH THE BEST GLAZE

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Tear the bread into small pieces and place in a small bowl with the milk.  Soak for 15 minutes.

Add the eggs, onion, ketchup, A1, horseradish, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to the bowl and stir until well combined and the bread is broken into very small pieces.

Add the Italian breadcrumbs, parmesan, and ground beef to the bowl (break up the ground beef with your hands as you add it).  Mix thoroughly, kneading with your hands, to ensure that all of the flavors are mixed throughout the meat – but do not over mix.  You just want all of the ingredients well combined – overmixing will make the meatloaf tough.

Coat a standard 9” x 5” loaf pan with non-stick spray.  Use the loaf pan as a mold and press the burger mixture into the pan.  Turn the ‘loaf’ out onto the prepared baking sheet.  Note – you can also free-form the mixture into a loaf with your hands on the baking sheet.  OR you can bake right in the loaf pan, but I feel the edges get crispier and the glaze can better coat the meat if it is baked on a sheet pan with the sides exposed.

Bake for 30 minutes and remove from the oven.

Combine all of the glaze ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.  Spread the glaze all over the top of the meatloaf, letting it drip down the sides.  Bake for another 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160-165 degrees.  Remove and let rest for 15 minutes before cutting.

NOTE – if you would like to add broccoli to the sheet pan, place the florets on the pan around the meatloaf after it has cooked for 40 minutes (15-20 minutes before the meatloaf is done).  Toss in any fat on the pan.  If there is not enough fat to lightly coat the broccoli, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  You can also add potatoes or carrots, cut into 2” pieces and add to the pan after 15 minutes of cooking (drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper).

This meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food that reminds me of home.  This classic recipe, like many of the others in my repertoire, have been passed down through several generations – my grandmother, my mother…  However, like with most recipes passed down and often not penned to paper, each generation has added their own twist making it uniquely their own.  That said, memories flood in with every bite of this hearty, moist, and flavorful meatloaf.

And, make sure to make meatloaf sandwiches with the leftovers!