Food & Cooking Cooking How-Tos & Techniques How to Make the Perfect Meatloaf Our test kitchen's secrets to getting this comfort-food classic just right. By Claire Sullivan Claire Sullivan Website Claire is an associate editor at Martha Stewart Living. Editorial Guidelines Published on February 26, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Lennart Weibull A few humble but high-impact tricks make our classic meatloaf thoroughly modern: Use coarsely ground beef for a juicier bite, precook the vegetables so they're tender (not mushy or crunchy), and then form it on a sheet pan to invite an all-around caramelized crust, any way you slice it. Here's our new classic meatloaf recipe and two tasty and altogether different versions. Pro-tip: Power up your food processor to make quick work of mincing vegetables and turning day-old bread into fluffy breadcrumbs for meatloaf. HOW TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE LASAGNA Grocery List Day-old white bread or plain breadcrumbs1 yellow onion1 medium carrotCeleryExtra-virgin olive oilFresh thymeWorcestershire sauceLow-sodium chicken brothKetchupLight-brown sugar2 pounds coarsely ground chuck, preferably 85 percent leanLarge eggs Lennart Weibull Cook the Vegetables Preheat oven to 350°. If not using store-bought breadcrumbs, tear 2 slices bread into pieces; pulse in a food processor to make fine crumbs and set aside. Cut onion, carrot, and 1 celery stalk into chunks, then pulse in food processor until finely chopped (or do so by hand). Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add vegetables, 2 tablespoons chopped thyme leaves, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup broth, and 1/4 cup ketchup. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Lennart Weibull Prep the Meat and Glaze In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup ketchup and 1 tablespoon brown sugar; set aside. In a large bowl, combine vegetable mixture with ground chuck, 1 lightly beaten egg, 1/2 cup reserved breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. Mix with your hands until well combined. Brown sugar's sweetness and ketchup's acidity create this easy, tangy glaze. For a spicy twist, replace the ketchup with Heinz Chili Sauce. Lennart Weibull Bake and Let Cool On a rimmed baking sheet, form meat mixture into a loaf that's 10 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 2 inches high, packing firmly to prevent cracking. Coat top and sides with glaze. Bake until top is caramelized and a thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 165°, 55 to 65 minutes. (If top is browning too quickly, tent with foil.) Let cool at least 25 minutes, then serve with comforting sides, like mashed potatoes and sautéed broccolini. Get the Test Kitchen's Favorite All-Beef Meatloaf Recipe Lennart Weibull More Loaves to Love Crazy about meatloaf? Then considering adding two new takes on this family-dinner favorite to your weeknight routine. These twists on the classic are sure to please even the pickiest palate in your home. Bacon-Cheeseburger Meatloaf Omit carrot, celery, and thyme, and use 2 onions. Just before forming loaf in step 3, gently fold 1½ cups grated cheddar into meat mixture. Brush loaf with half of glaze, then top with 8 slices (6 ounces) bacon, overlapping slightly and tucking ends under. Brush remaining glaze over bacon slices. Bake as directed in step 3, and serve slices on buns, with iceberg lettuce and Russian dressing. Get the Bacon-Cheeseburger Meatloaf Recipe Lennart Weibull Turkey Meatloaf with Hoisin Glaze Replace carrot, celery, and thyme with 2 tablespoons each minced garlic and fresh ginger; swap in 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil for the Worcestershire. In step 2, for the glaze, replace ketchup mixture with 1/4 cup each ketchup and hoisin sauce. Replace beef with ground turkey (85 percent lean) and stir in ½ cup finely chopped cilantro. In step 3, sprinkle meatloaf with sesame seeds before baking as directed. Serve with Bibb lettuce, carrot ribbons, and cilantro, or with a peppery watercress salad. Get the Turkey Meatloaf with Hoisin Glaze Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit