I will not post “World’s Best” recipes with abandon. So, if I say something is the world’s best, you might want to listen.And this meatloaf is the best!
According to many family members and friends, it is the best. And these people are pretty much my world. So, there you go. Proof.
This meatloaf is impressive. Juicy and delicious. And I don’t even know where to begin in describing this tomato and red pepper relish.
But with these wonderful ingredients…
When you chop and dice and simmer them all together, in no time, you will create this amazing tomato and red pepper relish! Did I say amazing? That is such a weak description. Words fail me for the deliciousness of this sauce. Just make it and see for yourself.
Tomato and Red Pepper Relish is added into the meat with fresh thyme for the juiciest meatloaf ever. More relish is smothered on top before baking and bacon gets layered on top of that. You will have plenty of relish to spoon onto each plate and then sit back and wait for the compliments. My oldest son said “Mom, you could open a restaurant with this!” Que the finale music after that comment. What more could a mother ask for?
World's Best Meatloaf with Tomato Relish
Ingredients
For the Tomato Relish:
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 2 whole red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and finely diced
- 2 to 3 whole tomatoes, halved, seeded, and finely diced
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1- 12 oz. bottle ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Meatloaf:
- 2 ½ pounds good quality ground beef
- 3 eggs
- Leaves from 2 fresh thyme sprigs
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¾ to 1 cup bread crumbs, or 2 or 3 slices stale bread, crusts removed, pulsed in the food processor
- 3 slices bacon
Instructions
One Quick Tip:
- Cut and chop all the vegetables and herbs for the sauce before you even begin so you can add everything quickly.
- Coat a skillet with a 2-count of oil and place over medium heat. Saute 1 diced onion, 2 minced garlic, and 2 bay leaves for a few minutes to create a base flavor. Throw in 2 diced red peppers and cook them for a couple of minutes to soften. Now, add 2-3 diced tomatoes; adding them at this point lets them hold their shape and prevents them from disintegrating. Stir in ¼ cup parsley, 12 ounces ketchup, and 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire; season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer the relish for 5 minutes to pull all the flavors together. Remove it from the heat; you should have about 4 cups of relish.
- Preheat the oven to 350F. This is where you get your hands dirty! In a large mixing bowl, with your hands, loosely combine 2 ½ pounds ground beef with 1 ½ cups of the tomato relish, 3 eggs, and thyme; season with salt and pepper, tender meatloaf (and meatballs, but that's another recipe). You want all the ingredients mixed well but use a gentle hand. That is one secret to Add ¾-1 cup bread crumbs in stages, starting with ¾ cup; you may not need all of them. I just keep adding until the mixture is still pretty moist. Most times I only the ¾ cup of bread crumbs.
- Turn out your meat mixture onto a baking sheet or roasting pan. Mold loosely into a loaf shape. Cover with another ½ cup of the tomato relish. Lay 3 slices bacon across the top lengthwise.
- Bake the meatloaf for approximately 45-50 minutes. If you're using the baking sheet method, you don't need to cook longer than this. Don't overcook your meatloaf so it doesn't dry out. (If cooking in a loaf pan, you will need to cook for 55 to 60 minutes.)
- During the last 5 minutes of cooking, I usually turn the oven onto low-broil and watch carefully just to crisp the bacon a bit more. Remove meatloaf from the oven and let it rest 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with the remaining tomato relish on the side. This is unbelievably moist.
Cook's Note:
- Turkey may be substituted in place of the ground beef, just lessen cooking time to around 40 minutes and only add about ½ cup bread crumbs.
I hope this meatloaf becomes your world’s best! It truly is mine.
Adapted from Tyler Florence’s Real Kitchen.
The only change I might make next time would be to reduce the amount of tomatoes in the relish. Other than that, it’s a total home run and we’ll definitely make again!
This is absolutely delicious! And easy to double for a large group. Thanks for sharing
This was super easy to make. It was a hit with my family! Turned out very moist and flavorful!
Really moist and almost sweet from the relish. We loved it!
I made it exactly to the recipe and it was really, really good! My wife liked it, only the second meatloaf she has ever liked so that’s saying a lot!
I loved this meatloaf! The relish adds a nice twist and the bread crumbs keeps it moist. I add a few of my personal favorite spices like celery salt and also fresh parsley, but it has become my husbands favorite meatloaf recipe.
If I could give this 10 stars, I would. This is meatloaf to perfection!!! It is just yummy and everything about it is perfect, taste, texture, everything. Turned out perfect! Thanks Sally!
Such a delicious, and refreshing recipe! I found the combination of flavors spot on for me. Thank you Sally, it’s a keeper!
My all-time most favorite meat loaf recipe!