Southwest Toasted Meatloaf Melt with Avocado Salsa and Cilantro Mayonnaise

This recipe is awesome. It became an instant favorite. I won this cook book on the Picky Palate back in the summer. Anyway, this was her recipe featured in the cook book and she has it on her blog. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

Southwest Toasted Meatloaf Melt with Avocado Salsa and Cilantro Mayonnaise

Meatloaf
1 lb lean ground beef
1 egg, slightly beaten
½ Cup garlic and herb dry bread crumbs
4 oz can diced green chilies
¼ Cup finely chopped onion
¼ Cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Salsa
2 ripe avocados peeled, seeded and diced into ½ inch cubes
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2/3 cup tomato diced
1/2 cup finely diced red onions
¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro leaves
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, pressed

Mayonnaise
¾ Cup mayonnaise
¼ Cup fresh chopped cilantro leaves
1 tea ground cumin
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

4 slices cheddar cheese
8 slices sourdough bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl combine the ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, green chilies, onions, bell pepper, garlic, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper. Gently mix until just combined. Form into loaf and place into meatloaf pan that has been lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until meatloaf is cooked through and top has browned. Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

Meanwhile in a medium bowl combine diced avocados, lime juice, cumin, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, salt and pepper. Toss gently, cover and refrigerate until serving.
In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, cilantro, cumin and black pepper. Mix until well combined. Set aside.

When meatloaf has been removed from oven, preheat oven’s broiler. Place cheese onto 4 of the slices of bread. Place all 8 slices under broiler for 1-2 minutes or until lightly toasted and cheese melted. Spread generous portions of the cilantro mayonnaise onto the insides of the 4 toasts without the cheese. Slice the meatloaf into 8 equal slices. Place 2 slices of meatloaf onto the cheese side of the toasts. Top the meatloaf with divided avocado salsa, and place the remaining toast on top to close sandwich.

Sweet and Sour Meatloaf

I had a neighbor family over for dinner last week and made this meatloaf. It was SO GOOD and it freezes great for a make ahead meal.

1 (12 ounce) jar red currant jelly
1 (12 ounce) jar chili sauce

1 pound ground beef
1 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup dried chopped onions
1/2 teapsoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 egg
1/2 cup ketchup

To prepare sauce, combine red currant jelly and chili sauce in a saucepan. Heat until jelly is melted and well-blended.

For meatloaf, combine the rest of the ingredients and mold into a 5x9 loaf pan. Pour half of the sauce over meatloaf and bake for 1 hour at 400 degrees. Heat remaining sauce and serve with meatloaf.

Meatloaf Muffins

This may not be a new idea to many of you, but I thought it was ingenious. One of Mary's friends recommended making meatloaf in a muffin tin.

The other day I tried it and it was tasty. I liked that there was a lot of crispy crust. Plus, it baked so quickly. Rachael Ray recommended baking for 20 minutes on 450. (edited to note: the first time I did these, I baked at 350 for 20 minutes... they actually needed a few minutes more. The second time I did it at 450 for 20 minutes and they got a bit burned. So - just watch them. Maybe 20 minutes at 400 would be perfect)

I basically used my mom's recipe with a few changes. I added a little green pepper, with a sauce of A1, Worcestershire, tomato sauce, and a wee bit of ketchup. I used Italian bread crumbs which I had on-hand. I also put a little extra sauce on top before baking.

Here's the original that was in the family cookbook:

Meat Loaf (Shari Price)

1 pound ground beef
1 egg, beaten
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup sauce (ketchup, barbeque sauce, tomato or chili sauce)
3/4 cup dry bread cubes (some wheat and some white)
1/2 cup quick oats
1 Tbsp grated onion
just under 1/4 cup finely chopped celery

Beat egg, sauces and spices together. Add remaining ingredients. Form into 1 or 2 loaves.

Bake in 350 oven for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours with foil or sauce spread on top for last 10 minutes.

Here are some other tasty-looking meatloaf recipes posted on this bloggie too.