a food snob’s meatloaf.

I’m kind of the definition of a food snob.

I blame my mother, who only occasionally made meatloaf for my father growing up as it appealed to his down home Texas-roots, even though she herself is the ultimate food snob (LOVE you Mom!).

The name ‘meatloaf’ isn’t doing meatloaf any favors either.  I mean is it just me or is there something weird about eating anything with the word ‘loaf’ in it, especially when it involves meat?

Anyway, I’ve updated the standard meatloaf a bit, using ground chicken or turkey instead of beef and tossing in some asiago cheese and parsley.  I don’t know – it just sounded crazy enough to be good.

I keep ground chicken and turkey on hand for soups, salads, pastas, meatballs and burgers and I stock up on it when I can find it for around $2.99/lb.  Here I am getting all hands on with the mixture, which I’ll top with bacon (I use turkey).

I don’t know…maybe this recipe will change your opinion of meatloaf too.  And I’m fairly certain our food snob status can still remain in tact. 

A Food Snob’s Meatloaf

(serves 4)

What You’ll Need:

1/2 cup whole milk

3 slices wheat sandwich bread

1 pound ground turkey or chicken

1/2 cup grated asiago cheese

salt and pepper

3 tablespoons chopped italian parsley

2 whole beaten eggs

3-5 slices bacon (I use turkey)

1/2 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon brown or dijon mustard

hot sauce, to taste

*see updated note based on readers’ comments.

Instruction:

Preheat oven to 350F. Pour milk over the bread slices. Allow it to soak in for several minutes.

Place the ground turkey or chicken, bread, cheese, salt, black pepper, and parsley in a large mixing bowl. Pour in beaten eggs.

With clean hands, mix the ingredients until well combined. Place mixture in a loaf pan.  Lay bacon over the top.

Make the sauce: add ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and hot sauce in a mixing bowl. Stir together. Pour 1/2 of the mixture over the top of the bacon. Spread with a spoon.

Bake for 25 minutes, then brush another 1/2 of the sauce over the top. Bake for another 25 minutes. Slice and serve.

*I’ve heard from some readers that they prefer extra bacon and sauce after baking.  If you’re a bacon-lover or think you’d enjoy extra sauce after cooking, plan accordingly with more than the amount included in the recipe above.  Yum.  Enjoy!

TOTAL:  $6.30 or $1.58 per serving.

Wondering how on earth I arrived at these costs?  Take a look at my shopping guide to show see what I pay for items, per serving, etc.

Nutrition:

394 calories per serving

19 grams of fat

18 carbs

35 grams protein

2 grams fiber

Mosey on over to Facebook and let me know what you think!