The Best Taco Meatloaf I've Ever Had

If you think you don’t like meatloaf, think again! Taco Meatloaf combines all the Mexican food flavors your love with three types of meat for a mouthwatering comfort food recipe sure to become your new favorite. Recipe makes 2 meatloaves too!

It never ceases to amaze me how when the weather changes so does one’s palate; as in digital shift. For me gone are the days of tossed green salads at home to be replaced by soup. Where I could not bear to turn on the oven for months, I cannot fathom going without eating something warm and soul-satisfying once a chill is in the air. Enter Taco Meatloaf, a fantastic recipe for a crowd or to make any dinner special.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 medium Yellow Onion , chopped
• 1 Red Bell Pepper , cored and chopped
• 3 large Garlic Cloves , minced
• 1 28- ounce can peeled , crushed Tomatoes , drained
• 1 pound Ground Sirloin
• 1-2 fresh Jalapeno or Serrano Peppers , cored and diced (remember to wear gloves!)
• 1-2 tablespoons Chili Powder (pick the amount of heat you want)
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 2 teaspoons Mexican Oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground Cumin
• ½ pound Ground Round or Ground Chuck
• ½ pound spicy Italian Breakfast Sausage or Chorizo (loose)
• 1 cup dried Bread Crumbs (if making gluten free use gluten free bread)*
• 2 Eggs , lightly beaten
• 1 cup Corn Kernels , fresh or frozen and defrosted
• 8 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese , grated
• 3 Scallions , sliced thinly

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large, heavy pan heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion, bell pepper, garlic, jalapenos or Serrano chiles, and seasonings until beginning to soften and onion becomes translucent (about 5-7 minutes).
3. Add tomatoes and cook at low temperature, covered, for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
4. In a large bowl combine the ground beef, sausage, vegetable mixture, bread crumbs, eggs, corn and green onion; mix until fully combined.
5. Divide evenly into 2 9x5 inch loaf pans. Bake for 50 minutes. Drain any juices, spread grated cheddar cheese evenly on the tops of the loaves and bake until melted. Allow to cool slightly before serving (10 minutes).

NOTES:

• *To make your own Bread Crumbs process dried or stale bread in a food processor until forming crumbs. I do this often with the end of homemade gluten free bread loaves and store them in the freezer for use.

Source: boulderlocavore.com