What do cooler temperatures call for? Comfort food! I’ve been waiting for the perfect meat loaf weather for months and finally it’s here! We had discovered this recipe in Chris Grove’s Kamado Smoker & Grill Cookbook a while ago and earmarked it to try it out in the fall. Hoorah!
You start by combining 1lb ground round, 1lb ground pork and 0.25lb fresh smoked pork sausage (we used bratwurst). Separately, mix 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 2ts Southwest dressing, 1 ts black pepper, 1.5ts garlic powder, 1TBS dried oregano and add everything to the meat mixture. In a third bowl combine 4 egg yolks, 0.5ts hot sauce, 1.5ts Worcestershire sauce, 1.5ts mustard, 1.5 ts horseradish, 0.5 cups chopped onion and 0.5 cups diced red bell pepper. Add all that to the meat mixture, on a sheet of aluminum foil, shape everything into a loaf and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Add the place setter into the Big Green Egg for indirect heat and preheat the grill to 350F. Place the meat loaf with its aluminum foil on the grill grate, close the lid and grill for 45 minutes.
In the mean time, mix 0.5 cups ketchup, 0.25 cups dark brown sugar, 1TBS apple cider vinegar and 1ts hot sauce in a saucepan and heat on the stove over low heat. After 45 minutes of grilling, spoon the ketchup glaze over the meat loaf and spread evenly over top and sides. We almost burned out paws doing this so be quick and careful! Close the lid again for another 30 to 45 minutes depending on the thickness of your loaf and how closely you watched the temperature. The meat loaf is done when the internal temperature reaches 165F. As always, a good meat thermometer is your best friend! Once at 165F, remove the meat loaf from the Big Green Egg grill and let it rest for five minutes before slicing it. This recipe serves eight.
We ate ours (after trying a few bites just as is without anything – soooo good!!) as a sandwich on sourdough bread with cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. Tomorrow’s leftovers will make an amazing lunch together with green beans from the garden. Mmmm! Love fall comfort food!
