Pimiento Cheese Meatloaf

Pimiento Cheese Meatloaf

from southernliving.com
Entree
90 min
8 servings

This meatloaf is hiding a few cheesy secrets: Cheez-It crackers (instead of breadcrumbs) in the meatloaf mixture adds the exclamation point to pimiento cheese both in and baked atop the loaf.

Ingredients

  • cooking spray
  • ½ cupgrated yellow onion (from 1 medium [7 oz.] onion)
  • 3 tbsp.whole milk
  • 3 mediumgarlic cloves, finely chopped (about 1 tbsp.)
  • 2 largeeggs
  • 4 tbsp.ketchup, divided
  • 2 tbsp.plus 1/4 tsp. worcestershire sauce, divided
  • ¾ cupfinely crushed bite-size cheddar cheese crackers (about 1 1/4 cups whole crackers, such as cheez-its)
  • 2 lb.90/10 lean ground beef
  • 2 tsp.paprika
  • 1 ½ tsp.kosher salt
  • ½ tsp.black pepper
  • 6 oz.extra-sharp yellow cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups), divided
  • 2jars diced pimientos, drained and divided
  • ¼ tsp.cayenne pepper, divided
  • ¼ tsp.granulated garlic
  • ¼ tsp.onion powder

Directions

  1. 1

    Gather all ingredients.

  2. 2

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8 1/2- x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; line a large rimmed baking sheet using aluminum foil.

  3. 3

    Whisk together onion, milk, garlic, eggs, 2 tablespoons of the ketchup, and 2 tablespoons of the Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl until evenly combined. Stir in crushed cheese crackers until combined; set aside, and let crackers hydrate for 5 minutes.

  4. 4

    Add ground beef, paprika, salt, pepper, 1 cup of the cheese, 2/3 cup of the pimientos, and 1/8 teaspoon of the cayenne to cracker mixture in large bowl; gently stir together until combined. Firmly press beef mixture into prepared loaf pan; invert pan onto prepared baking sheet to release meatloaf. (Alternatively, shape meat mixture into a 8- x 4-inch loaf shape on baking sheet by hand.) Brush top and sides evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons ketchup.

  5. 5

    Bake in preheated oven until a thermometer inserted into center of meatloaf registers 155°F, 45 to 50 minutes.

  6. 6

    While meatloaf is baking, stir together granulated garlic, onion powder, and remaining 1/2 cup cheese, 1 tablespoon diced pimientos, 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne in a medium bowl until well combined.

  7. 7

    Remove meatloaf from oven, and sprinkle reserved cheese mixture evenly over top of meatloaf. Return to oven, and bake at 350°F until cheese is melted and a thermometer inserted into center of meatloaf registers 160°F, about 8 minutes.  Let cool slightly, about 10 minutes, before slicing and serving.