Easy Spicy Cajun Meatloaf

It's 42 degrees in the desert today. I wanted to create a meal that would make me feel all warm and cozy and meatloaf is just that dish!

I love meatloaf and I especially love it when it's moist, juicy, and spicy. 

Comfort food at it's best, served with a side of creamy mash potatoes and steamed broccoli is my two favorite side dishes to eat with meatloaf.

Yes, you could just add the fresh veggies directly to the meat. I find that cooking them in bacon grease...

YES...bacon grease, or extra virgin olive oil...lol, really makes my meatloaf stand out and plus, Big Goo wouldn't eat it, if he bites into chunky vegetables.

This is the perfect way to get veggies into your children and they wouldn't even realize it!

I use my Ninja to chop the veggies coarsely. 

I mixed up an egg, tore sliced bread, bread crumbs, plenty of spices, chicken broth and a little crushed tomatoes. Then I topped the meatloaf with hot tomato sauce.

This equals moistness that can't be beat!

After 1 hour at 375 degrees, my meatloaf is moist and ready!

Note: allow the meatloaf to rest about 15 minutes before slicing. This meatloaf is very moist and we don't want it to fall apart. 

Grab your fork and potatoes people...it's time to EAT!

Easy Spicy Cajun Meatloaf

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. ground turkey or chuck
1/2 cup crushed tomato sauce
1/2 cup hot tomato sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth, low sodium
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup white onion, chopped
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup Italian parsley, chopped
1 Anaheim chili, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon creole seasoning
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon black pepper
1 egg, beaten
1/2-3/4 cup bread crumbs
2 slices white bread
2 tablespoons bacon grease or extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Mix seasoning blend together and set aside. Add bacon grease to skillet, add all the vegetables to the skillet, minus the garlic, season with 1 tablespoon of seasoning blend and mix well.

Saute veggies for about 5 minutes, add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat, place in a bowl and sit in refrigerator to cool.

In a large bowl add egg, crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of seasoning blend, white bread tore into pieces, and chicken broth, mix well and let sit for about 5 minutes.

Remove veggies from refrigerator and chop coarsely in a food processor/blender.

Add ground turkey to bread/broth mixture and mix well. Place chopped veggies and bread crumb. Mix well.

Meatloaf should be firm, but moist, add remaining bread crumbs if needed.

Place mixture into a greased loaf pan, top with hot tomato sauce and bake at 375 degrees for about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.

Allow meatloaf to rest for about 15 minutes before serving.