I love digging into a new cookbook, although sometimes, I get so overwhelmed I don’t even know where to start. That’s kind of how I felt about this cookbook – it is huge after all – until I saw this meat loaf recipe. Yes, I know that I’ve said several times that my husband doesn’t really care for meatloaf. But I honestly think I have changed his mind. I’ve made several versions now, and every time, he has cleared his plate – and even gone back for seconds!! So I think I can officially say that meat loaf is off of the “husband won’t eat it” list!!
Thank goodness, because I am a meatloaf lover. This is pure down home, comfort cooking to me. It reminds me of Sunday dinner and family around the table. And really, what’s better than that?? This meat loaf is not the one my mamma made, but that’s ok, because this one is going up as one of my top meat loaf recipes. It’s got a few ingredients that are out of the ordinary for meat loaf – like pickles and Tabasco. Have you ever heard of pickles in meat loaf before?? If not, now would be a good time to try it!
Recipe Notes:
- There were 2 elements in this meatloaf that I absolutely loved. The pickles and the sausage. I’ve been known to throw sausage into dishes that just call for beef, so the sausage was right up my alley. And the pickles were the element that you probably couldn’t pick out if you didn’t know they were there, but you definitely sensed that there was something extra and special in there.
- I was impatient when I made this. It was hours after we normally eat, and I didn’t want to wait 10 minutes to dig in. I think that’s why mine looks like a crumbly mess. No, the pieces did not stick together well when I cut and served them, but it didn’t matter, because it was delicious!! I’m sure the tip at the bottom of the recipe about refrigerating the meat loaf for 24 hours helps with that a lot, too!
Harlem Meat Loaf
from The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook
serves 4
total time: 1 1/4 hours
1 pound ground beef, chuck or sirloin
1/2 pound sweet Italian sausages, cut from their casings
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/2 cup finely chipped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Preheat the oven to 350F.
In a large bowl, break the beef and the sausage into golf-ball sized chunks. In a second bowl, combine the 1/2 cup of the ketchup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce and pour evenly over the beef and sausage mix. In the same small bowl, combine the pickle, onion, garlic and parsley, and pour evenly over the beef and sausage. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top, then add the egg and the salt. Spread your fingers wide apart and gently mix the ingredient together – it should take 6 to 8 gathering motions to blend the mixture together.
Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 pan and pat it into a loaf shape. Put in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes.
While the meat loaf is cooking, mix together the remaining 1/4 cup ketchup, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire and 1 teaspoon Tabasco together. After the meat loaf has cooked for 35 minutes, brush the ketchup mixture over the loaf. Continue to bake until the glaze stiffens and darkens, about 15 minutes. Let the meat loaf rest 10 minutes before cutting.
For the best flavor, let the meat loaf cool to room temperature, tent with foil, and refrigerate for 24 hours. Then reheat the covered loaf in a warm oven.
Dan H says
This is a great recipe. It’s wonderful out of the oven and even better the next day (as the authors suggest). Weirdly I had no tabasco when I first made it and substituted sriracha, which works really well and complicates the flavor. I love meatloaf cooked with ketchup and I love the spicy kick of this sauce (with sriracha or tabasco) and the salty pop of the pickles with the fennelly goodness of italian sausage is genius. Thanks for sharing.
Sue says
FYI–You forgot the ketchup in the list of ingredients.
teresa says
I made this but topped it with Dickinson’s SWEET ‘N’ HOT PEPPER & ONION RELISH. I also made it in the crockpot. Probably would have been better in the oven. I loved it and made a double batch to put in the fridge for meatballs.
Deborah says
@teresa, the relish sounds like a great addition! Glad you liked it!
kid K says
not too impressed. the major flavor was the ketchup mixture which made it taste like something you buy at an amusement park. it came out good but i was hoping for a richer taste. the pickles might be a good idea though… but next time i see a recipe with so much ketchup without the word burger in it, i’ll pass.
Deborah says
@kid K, sorry it wasn’t your favorite. Hopefully the next one will be better!
Amanda says
This looks so delicious! I love the addition of the Italian sausage.
Thanks!
shari says
Made this 2 weeks ago. Was very tasty.Recipe will be a keeper.The pickles were a good addition.I used ground beef and Italian sausage.
TheeBadMonkey says
Pickles! Brilliant.
Abby says
I eat sweet pickles on my hamburgers, and I just so happen to have 20 jars of them in my fridge since I made them myself last week! Might have to try them in meatloaf!
grace says
sausage and pickles? and just like that, meatloaf becomes appealing to me. 🙂
cookinfanatic says
Wow what a fun take on meatloaf, love the addition of the pickles! My boyfriend would adore this recipe.
scrambledhenfruit says
Lovely! I like meatloaf better when it's nice and crumbly. And you put dill pickles on hamburgers, so why not in meatloaf? This is one I need to try. Thanks for sharing the recipe. 🙂
kuriouskitteh says
Oh honey, it doesn't even matter that the pieces are not stuck together all loaf-like in that picture, it's still got me salivating!
That recipe sounds so unique and wonderful, thanks for sharing!
~Kurious Kitteh
Mrs. L says
Glad I'm not the only one who sometimes is overwhelmed trying to figure out which recipes to cook from her cookbooks. So many to chose from!
LOVE the idea of pickles in my meatloaf. I need to try this ASAP!
Joanne says
Pickles. In. Meatloaf. Now that is just ingenious!
The Comfort of Cooking says
Oh gosh, I love meatloaf! I usually stick with the Italian version I know and love well, but this is definitely worth a try. I love your addition of dill pickles, that's great! You and your family have a great 4th weekend!
Monet says
Meatloaf reminds me of my sweet grandmother… we use to eat it almost every time we went to visit.
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Susi says
What a great sounding meatloaf. I don't think I would have any problems with my husband eating this one!
kat says
What an interesting take on meatloaf. I bet the pickles are great in it
Pam says
That meatloaf looks delicious! I've never made it with Italian sausage but it sounds great! Thanks for the recipe!