What’s for Dinner: Perfect Meatloaf Recipe

Drew loves meatloaf, but I had never had a meatloaf I really enjoyed. I always thought they were dry and flavorless and needed a ton of ketchup.
But since Drew constantly requested meatloaf for dinner, I started trying out different recipes. While I never found a perfect meatloaf, I think learning from all the ones I attempted help me create my own and Drew swears it is his favorite.  So, here’s the recipe!

 

Not only are the ingredients a component, there are a  couple of tips and tricks that really make a difference in how well meatloaf turns out. Watch this recipe video for a full explanation/ demonstration.

INGREDIENTS:
-2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
-1 large yellow onion, chopped finely
-2 bell peppers, chopped finely (I use red and orange)
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1/2 tsp dried thyme
-2 lbs ground turkey
-1 lb ground chuck
-1/2 cup rolled oats
-1/3 cup milk
-2 tbsps Worcestershire
-1 cup tomato/spaghetti sauce
-2 tsp cajun seasoning
-1 tsp Greek seasoning|
-1 tbsp tomato paste
-2 eggs, beaten
-1 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp black pepper
-1/4 cup ketchup
-1/4 cup brown sugar
-2 tsp mustard

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Heat a sautée pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, onion, and
bell peppers.  Stir occassionally until onions are translucent, about
5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and thym and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring
occasionally. Set aside for later.
4. In a large bowl, add ground turkey, ground beef, oats, milk,
Worcestershire, tomato sauce, cajun seasoning, Greek
seasoning, tomato paste, eggs, salt, pepper, and cooked veggies
from steps 1 and 2.
5. With a fork, fluff/ mix everything gently. You want to keep it
aerated and light, not condensed.
6. Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard and set aside.
(If you like a thicker coating on meatloaf, double this recipe.)
7. On a sheet tray, mold the meatloaf into an even loaf shape. Add
the topping mixture from step 5 evenly to cover all of the tops and
sides of the meatloaf.
*Important tip* Before putting meatloaf into oven, place a baking dish
with warm water on a rack below the meatloaf. The evaporating water
will keep the meatloaf moist.
8. Place meatloaf in the oven for 1 hour and 15 min, or until its internal
temperature reaches 155-160 degrees.
9. Let rest for at lest 10 minute before slicing. Enjoy!

If you give this recipe a try, let me know what you think!

Perfect Meatloaf

Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 bell peppers, finely chopped I use red and orange for great color
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 lbs ground turkey
  • 1 lb ground chuck
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup tomato/ spaghetti sauce
  • 2 tsp Greek seasoning
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tsp mustard yellow or dijon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Heat a sautée pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, onion, and bell peppers.  Stir occasionally until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add garlic and thyme and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside for later.
  • In a large bowl, add ground turkey, ground beef, oats, milk,Worcestershire, tomato sauce, cajun seasoning, Greekseasoning, tomato paste, eggs, salt, pepper, and cooked veggiesfrom steps 1 and 2.
  • With a fork, fluff/ mix everything gently. You want to keep itaerated and light, not condensed.
  • Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard and set aside.(If you like a thicker coating on meatloaf, double this recipe.)
  • On a sheet tray, mold the meatloaf into an even loaf shape. Addthe topping mixture from step 5 evenly to cover all of the tops andsides of the meatloaf.
    *Important tip* Before putting meatloaf into oven, place a baking dishwith warm water on a rack below the meatloaf. The evaporating waterwill keep the meatloaf moist.
  • Place meatloaf in the oven for 1 hour and 15 min, or until its internaltemperature reaches 155-160 degrees.
  • Let rest for at lest 10 minute before slicing. Enjoy!
Keyword meatloaf, perfect meatloaf, recipe, amy westerman, veggie meatloaf, best meatloaf,

Recipe: Hearty Chili….psst….don’t tell anyone it is vegan.

I entered a chili contest at my Dad’s church, here is southern Arkansas, to raise funds for a mission trip- one that happens to be going where my sister, Kelsey, lives as a full-time missionary. So, this would be an amazing trip to help not only the school they work out and the children, but Kelsey and other missionaries there.
My dad was entering as well, and I know he is a great cook, but we are very competitive. So, I was going to make a chili so unique and so delicious that there was no way it wouldn’t win.
When I told my dad I was making it vegan (honestly because one of the most flavorful “meats” I have tasted have been a vegan “chorizo” and I thought that would be perfect in a chili!) he laughed and said no one at his church would like a vegan chili.
Well, I’m stubborn and did it anyway and it turned out great. It was not only one of the best chilis I have ever had, it also would fool any meat eater.

Needless to say, my dad was right. I heard so many people make comments like “If there isn’t meat in it, it isn’t chili” and “This one is great! Oh wait, what? Vegan? Gross!”. Or my favorite “I don’t care what’s in it, it is delicious!”.
My dad won first place, but to be fair, his chili was delicious! Just like I like it, so it was a well deserved win.

Though, I still had questions about what meat substitute I used and the recipe, so here it is, my losing vegan chili. =)

Ingredients

-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
-3 Field Roast Mexican Chipotle “sausages” (vegetarian)
-2 bags Boca Veggie Crumbles
-1 red bell pepper, chopped
-1 orange bell pepper, chopped
-2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
-1 large yellow onion, chopped
-8 ounces diced green chiles
-6 cloves garlic (6 tablespoons minced)
-1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons salt
-2 bay leaves
-1 teaspoon cayenne powder
-1 teaspoon smoked paprika
-1 tablespoon cumin
-2 tablespoons chili powder
-1 teaspoon oregano
-4 tablespoons brown sugar
-1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, or red wine vinegar
-2 tablespoons Worcestershire
-2 teaspoons soy sauce or tamari
-1/2 cup 60%, or darker, dark chocolate chunks (I used Private
Selection)
-2 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
-1 can regular beer (not dark, not light)
-1/2 cup vegetable broth
-3 tablespoons masa
-1 can chili hot beans, drained, but not rinsed
-1 can dark red kidney beans, rinsed.
-1 can black beans, rinsed.

Directions

1.  Open and break up the chipotle “sausages” to resemble ground
meat.
2. In a medium-high heated pan, with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive
oil, add the veggie sausages, veggie meat crumbles,  the chopped bell
peppers, jalapeños, dices green chiles, and onion. and sear until browned.
3. Add the minced garlic for only a couple minutes while everything
else is browning- garlic will burn easily.
4. Add all your seasonings and herbs and liquids: salt, bay leaves,
cayenne powder, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, oregano,
brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, soy sauce or
tamari, and dark chocolate. Then, adding your crushed tomatoes
and beer.
5. In a separate cup, mix your veggie broth with the masa and add to
the chili. (This thickens the chili and gives a slight hint of corn flavor.
If you like runnier chili, feel free to leave this step out.)  Stir well and
bring to a simmer. Then, lower heat to medium low, cover, and let sit,
stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes- 1 hour. You can go longer, if you
prefer it to break down even more.
6. At least 15 minutes before you serve, put your beans in. Feel free to
use any canned beans you like, I liked the variety. And drain any kind
except 1 can of chili hot beans- this gives the chili good flavor, imho.
You can add them earlier if you don’t mind them a little softer.
7. Always taste for any extra needed salt or spicy to make the chili
taste just the way you like. Add whatever toppings you prefer
(cilantro tastes great with this one) and enjoy!

Overall, the event was super fun with a great band, tons of chili and all the fixins and then more delicious desserts than I could eat.  Good money was raised for a good cause and everyone had a great time. Good times!

Hearty Chili….don’t tell anyone it is vegan.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 Field Roast Mexican Chipotle "sausages" (vegan) Any vegan chorizo should work!
  • 2 bags Boca Veggie Crumbles
  • 2 bell peppers, chopped I use red and orange for great color
  • 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 8 oz diced green chiles
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced or 6 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp and 2 tsp salt
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 2 tbsps chili powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 4 tbsps brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or red win vinegar
  • 2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp soy sauce or tamari
  • 1/2 cup 60% or darker dark chocolate chunks/chips
  • 2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can beer (not light)
  • 1/2 cup vegetable broth
  • 3 tbsp masa
  • 1 can chili hot beans, drained but not rinsed
  • 1 can dark red kidney beans, rinsed
  • 1 can black beans, rinsed

Instructions
 

  • Open and break up the chipotle "sausages" to resemble groundmeat.
  • In a medium-high heated pan, with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin oliveoil, add the veggie sausages, veggie meat crumbles,  the chopped bellpeppers, jalapeños, dices green chiles, and onion. and sear until browned.
  • Add the minced garlic for only a couple minutes while everythingelse is browning- garlic will burn easily.
  • Add all your seasonings and herbs and liquids: salt, bay leaves,cayenne powder, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, oregano,brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, soy sauce ortamari, and dark chocolate. Then, adding your crushed tomatoesand beer.
  • In a separate cup, mix your veggie broth with the masa and add tothe chili. (This thickens the chili and gives a slight hint of corn flavor.If you like runnier chili, feel free to leave this step out.)  Stir well andbring to a simmer. Then, lower heat to medium low, cover, and let sit,stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes- 1 hour. You can go longer, if youprefer it to break down even more.
  • At least 15 minutes before you serve, put your beans in. Feel free touse any canned beans you like, I liked the variety. And drain any kindexcept 1 can of chili hot beans- this gives the chili good flavor, imho.You can add them earlier if you don't mind them a little softer.
  • Always taste for any extra needed salt or spicy to make the chilitaste just the way you like. Add whatever toppings you prefer(cilantro tastes great with this one) and enjoy!
Keyword vegan, recipe, amy westerman, hearty chili, vegan chili,