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Cheesy Southwestern Meatloaf

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on October 28, 2011

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Cheesy Southwestern Meatloaf

Ingredients

1 cup prepared salsa 3 tablespoons brown sugar 4 (6-inch) corn tortillas 1 ½ pounds ground beef chuck ½ pound ground pork ½ cup sour cream 3 large eggs 1 (4-ounce) can green chiles, drained and finely chopped¾ cup chopped scallions ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon table salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 cup grated pepper Jack cheese

Before You Begin

Use either medium or hot salsa for the glaze. Ground pork adds tenderness and sweetness to the meatloaf, but you can use 2 pounds of ground beef if you prefer.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil.
  2. Combine salsa and brown sugar in small saucepan and set aside.
  3. Tear tortillas into small pieces, grind in food processor or blender until they resemble cornmeal, and transfer to large bowl. Add beef, pork, sour cream, eggs, chiles, scallions, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper, and mix with fork until evenly blended. Turn mixture onto foil-lined baking sheet and, using moistened hands, pat into 9 by 5-inch loaf shape. Brush with 1/4 cup salsa mixture.
  4. Bake for 40 minutes. Scatter cheese on top and continue baking until center of loaf registers 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
  5. While meatloaf cools, simmer remaining salsa mixture over medium-high heat until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Slice meatloaf and serve with salsa mixture passed separately at table.
Cheesy Southwestern Meatloaf

Cheesy Southwestern Meatloaf

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

1 cup prepared salsa
3 tablespoons brown sugar
4 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1 ½ pounds ground beef chuck
½ pound ground pork
½ cup sour cream
3 large eggs
1 (4-ounce) can green chiles, drained and finely chopped
¾ cup chopped scallions
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup grated pepper Jack cheese

Ingredients

1 cup prepared salsa
3 tablespoons brown sugar
4 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1 ½ pounds ground beef chuck
½ pound ground pork
½ cup sour cream
3 large eggs
1 (4-ounce) can green chiles, drained and finely chopped
¾ cup chopped scallions
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup grated pepper Jack cheese

Ingredients

1 cup prepared salsa
3 tablespoons brown sugar
4 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1 ½ pounds ground beef chuck
½ pound ground pork
½ cup sour cream
3 large eggs
1 (4-ounce) can green chiles, drained and finely chopped
¾ cup chopped scallions
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon table salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup grated pepper Jack cheese

Why This Recipe Works

For our Cheesy Southwestern Meatloaf recipe, we combined ground beef and ground pork for a tender texture and slightly sweet flavor. A little sour cream in addition to the classic eggs kept the loaf moist. Ground corn tortillas, not bread crumbs, bound the meat mixture and added intense corn flavor. A classic palette of Southwestern spices and herbs flavored the meat: chili powder, cumin, and cilantro. We covered the raw loaf with salsa, which turned into a sticky glaze as the loaf baked. Halfway through baking, we covered the top of the loaf with pepper Jack cheese, which melted into a smooth layer when we resumed baking.

Before You Begin

Use either medium or hot salsa for the glaze. Ground pork adds tenderness and sweetness to the meatloaf, but you can use 2 pounds of ground beef if you prefer.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil.
  2. Combine salsa and brown sugar in small saucepan and set aside.
  3. Tear tortillas into small pieces, grind in food processor or blender until they resemble cornmeal, and transfer to large bowl. Add beef, pork, sour cream, eggs, chiles, scallions, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper, and mix with fork until evenly blended. Turn mixture onto foil-lined baking sheet and, using moistened hands, pat into 9 by 5-inch loaf shape. Brush with 1/4 cup salsa mixture.
  4. Bake for 40 minutes. Scatter cheese on top and continue baking until center of loaf registers 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
  5. While meatloaf cools, simmer remaining salsa mixture over medium-high heat until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Slice meatloaf and serve with salsa mixture passed separately at table.

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