Caramelized Onion Meatloaf
Caramelized Onion Meatloaf has so much more flavor than your typical meatloaf. Topped with tons of sweet and savory caramelized onions and a brown sugar glaze. This meatloaf is anything but boring.
The secret to making really good caramelized onions is to have lots of patience. You need the heat turned fairly low or they will burn. It will take a good 25 to 30 minutes to get them fully caramelized. But they can be made a day or two in advance.
I like to use a sweet onion for the caramelized onions. You could use a yellow onion instead. It will have a slightly stronger flavor.
Gently mix the meatloaf ingredients together. If you overmix them, you will have a tough meatloaf.
Recipe
Prep:40 minutes
Cook:60 minutes
Total:1 hr 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- ▢3 medium to large sweet onions
- ▢2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ▢1 teaspoon packed light brown sugar
- ▢1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ▢1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- ▢1/4 cup milk
- ▢2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- ▢1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- ▢1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ▢1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ▢1/2 teaspoon salt
- ▢1/2 teaspoon pepper
- ▢1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
Glaze
- ▢1/3 cup ketchup
- ▢1/3 cup BBQ sauce
- ▢1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
Finely dice 1/2 of 1 onion and slice the rest of the onion.
Heat oil over medum heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add sliced onion and cook 25 to 30 minutes or until a deep golden color. Stir frequently so they don’t burn and turn the heat down if they start to brown too quickly. You want them to brown slowly.Stir in brown sugar and vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Place breadcrumbs in a large bowl. Pour milk over breadcrumbs. Add eggs, meatloaf, diced onion, ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, salt, pepper, dry mustard.Gently mix together.
Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish and shape into a 5×9-inch loaf.Pour half the glaze on top and spread it evenly.
Bake for 45 minutes.Top with onions and drizzle remaining glaze on top of onions.Return to oven for 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with parsley and let cool 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
To make this meatloaf spicy, add half a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the meatloaf mixture.
Don’t overmix the meatloaf mixture or the meatloaf will be tough.
