Thursday, October 16, 2008

Buttermilk Brown Sugar Meatloaf - This Working Title is Not Working for Me

I am still working on a name for this video recipe as the title sounds a little too desserty. If you have any ideas, feel free to comment. I usually like to include the main ingredients in the name, but maybe in this case I should have just gone with "JJ's Magic Meatloaf," or "Mitz-a-loaf."

I had some leftover buttermilk in the fridge and I wondered what would happen if used it to replaced the milk in my meatloaf recipe. I know you've read my various posts on buttermilk's delicious, tenderizing effects on meat, so at least my idea had some proven food science behind it. So, I decided to go for it, and was very happy with the results.

This meatloaf recipe is very flavorful, and as the proverbial description goes, "melts in your mouth." As far as vegetables, I only used onions, but their sweetness, along with the simple brown sugar glaze were a great counterpoint to the others flavors.

Even if you don't use this exact recipe, you should try your own famous meatloaf recipe with buttermilk. Its effects were subtle, but noticeable. Enjoy!



Ingredients:
2 1/2 lb ground chuck
1 onion, diced
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp dried tarragon
1/2 tsp dried Italian herbs
1 tsp black pepper
2 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup ketchup
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 cup plain breadcrumb
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp hot sauce
Glaze:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp Dijon
1 tsp cider vinegar

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

i Love meatloaf, the food and the singer!

Anonymous said...

Classic comfort food recipe.
Going to try this out recipe soon.

Hey Chef John, would you make a dish with quinoa when you have the time? Supposedly really healthy...

Thanks so much for all of your superb recipes!

-D.W.

Anonymous said...

"Savory Buttermilk Meatloaf"

Very nice recipe...I thought you were just going to put that speck of hot sauce on there, and I was thinking "YOU WIMP!", but I knew there had to be a problem. Anyways, the song's really scaring me.

Anonymous said...

Very appropriate music lol

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking... D'Angeloaf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq_EfpGAH4o

TIPICHiC said...

I definitely have to try this one...my boys are meatloaf maniacs!

Anonymous said...

hmmm, I never seem to make meatloaf the same way twice but have to admit I've never used milk in one, never even heard of it before now. Is this a regional thing or ???????

Chef John said...

not sure, but I think it adds a little extra moisture.

Ruthie said...

That looks delicious! :-)

Jimmy said...

I was just playing that song the other day, and my girl was criticizing me for listening to 'such terrible music'!

I'm definitely going to have to make this tomorrow.

DRC son said...

@chef john: hysterical video... gonna try the meatloaf soon.

keep up the good work.

Elaine said...

What about Buttermilk Sugared Meatloaf or Brown Buttermilk Meatloaf?

Anonymous said...

I wish you would come out with a cookbook. I would buy it. I love your videos. You are so funny and your videos brighten my day not to mention the food is good too! Thanks

Rye Seronie said...

Dear Chef,
Thank you for this amazing recipe. I was looking for something to replace the dry bland meatloaf my chef has been serving. This is now a staff favorite. I wanted to ask what kind of storage time / reheating instructions for this meatloaf.

Anonymous said...

Recipe is a home run! Absolute paradise by the oven light.

Autumn said...

Hey Chef John! How about "Glazed Buttermilk Meatloaf"?

Sounds delectable and I can't wait to try it! I agree with Elaine about that cookbook. :)

Anonymous said...

I just copied your meatloaf recipe into my "recipe bible". I'm calling it "Chef John's Buttermilk Meatloaf". It's a no-brainer. If a recipe starts with "Chef John" I know it's a great one. If I add "buttermilk" into the name, I'll realize that I need to get some before starting the recipe. I don't care much for Meatloaf (the singer)- my father used to play Paradise by the Dashboard Light over and over on family car trips when I was 14. Awkward! 31 years later I'm still not over it...

Anonymous said...

Wow! this is my first meatloaf. It turned out delish even though I used milk instead. I did not have tarragon. I also subsitute breadcrumb with tofu humbergur mix. Thanks Chef John.

Aleksandra said...

I made this recipe yesterday. The inside was really nice, but I did not like the glaze - it was just too sweet for my taste (I used the exact measurements). Next time I will use less sugar and a bit more vinegar (it seems that your "splash" of vinegar is a bit more than a teaspoon. Regards from Ljubljana!

Chef John said...

Yes glazes are personal, adjust and adapt. I didn't measure, maybe it was 2 tsp.

Anonymous said...

Chef John,

Im a student at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada. I was browsing your blog after I found your chicken wing recipe for superbowl (which was Fantastic by the way). Im about to undertake this Meat Loaf and cannot wait to see how it turns out. Thanks a ton for all these phenomenal recipes, the ladies have been thoroughly impressed with my (yours) cooking abilities :). Ill repost and let ya know how it ends up!! Thanks again!

Zach

Anonymous said...

Chef John

All I can say is wow. My friend and I just finished dinner, and it was fantastic. The sweet glaze really kicked off the flavors and seasoning in the meats and the slow cook made it really tender. My only Question is how to make it keep its shape better? I know probably just to keep forming it as ur putting it on the pan but do you have any other suggestions?? Cheers!!!

Zach

Surly said...

This is an awesome recipe, and I scored major brownie points with my family for cooking this. I suggest adding diced red capsicums and fried lean bacon bits to the meat along with the onions. The complementing flavours are really good :)

BTW, love your recipes, you inspire me to cook.

gdarby said...

I wrapped this sucker in bacon and it was the best meatlof I have ever tasted. MMMMMM...BACON!!!

Anonymous said...

I have NEVER been able to make a decent meatloaf and I've tried many times. But then I tried Chef John's savory buttermilk version and it was truly incredible! DELICIOUS. meatloaf at its best.
Thanks Chef John for sharing this recipe.
Chris

George said...

This might be your best video ever, I love the way you incorporated good ol' meatloaf songs! However, about the healthy part, it's not actually all that bad, unless you eat the greasy stuff left on the silicone mat, I mean, a lot of the fat just melts out, right?

Anonymous said...

Meatloaf is inexpensive to, but I shyed away from it because it's "yucky" when I make it according to my children, husband, and even me.
I had to sub and leave out some of the sexier ingredients that I didn't have in the house and it was still delicious. No left overs for the dogs this time!
Thank you, chef John!

Anonymous said...

This was sooooo good. I have never made meatloaf that taste this good!! Thank you for your expertise, Chef John!!!

Anonymous said...

How about Butter Sweet Glazed Meatloaf?

Matt said...

I know this is old, so I doubt anyone will even see this, but being British, I have to ask, what is wrong with you lot? Why do you pronounce Worcestershire sauce so oddly? It is read as "Wuss-ter" sauce. That is it. Maybe it is a long running gag no one but you guys understands, but no one pronounces shire other than the North Americans.

Unknown said...

Matt--we just try to say it like it looks!! I have never been sure how in heck one is actually supposed to say it, but the way Chef John says it in the video would be about how I do say it. If we just called it "Wuss-ter" sauce, noone here would have any idea what we meant, most likely ;)


Chef!! I dunno if you read comments on posts this old, but I wanted to thank you ever so much again for doing what you do. I would not be nearly so brave in the kitchen if it were not for you and your videos!! Please do them forever! ;)

Unknown said...

Chef John,

Another great recipe. I do have another story about my wife however :^). As I was cooking down the onions (she hates onions)she had this look of disdain on her face. I ignored it (safe thing to do) and continued making the meatloaf. I served it with your warm brussel sprout salad with the bacon dressing. So as we are about to dig in, she says "Well this will be a first...I HATE meatloaf." I say "Wait, what? You've made us meatloaf before." My daughter pipes up and says "Yeah but she never eats it...she has a salad those nights." So anyways I wait for her to turn her nose up and poo poo all my hard work. She takes a bite and says "Hmmm...this is pretty good." She then explains how most meatloaf tastes like a big hamburger that people smother with ketchup. She was thoroughly impressed...so much so that she took leftovers to work for lunch the next day! Another great job Chef John!

Debbie said...

So, I’m obviously 10 years behind but BEST meatloaf ever. Just say’n.
Thanks Chef John.