Cheeseburger Meatloaf

By ccavaletti

Ingredients

• 2 c Italian bread cubes
• 1 carrot, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 celery rib, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 onion, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2 lbs ground chuck
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 c ketchup
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 6 colby-jack cheese sticks

Details

Servings 6
Preparation time 15mins
Cooking time 65mins

Preparation

Step 1

Grind the Italian bread cubes into coarse crumbs in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Transfer the breadcrumbs to a large bowl.

Preheat the oven to 400º.

Using the same food processor, finely chop the vegetables. Add the vegetables to the bowl with the breadcrumbs. Add the ground chuck, eggs, ketchup, salt and pepper.

Mix all ingredients together with your hands until just blended.

Transfer the mixture to a 10 x 15-inch baking dish; pat the meat into a 9 x 13-inch rectangle. Arrange the cheese sticks lengthwise on top; fold the meat over the cheese. Pat well into a loaf that is about 4 by 12 inches, pressing to seal the seams.

Drizzle lightly with EVOO; season with salt and pepper.

Bake until the cheese begins to ooze, about 50 minutes.

From Everyday with Rachael Ray, November 2011