Cajun Meat Loaf
Cajun meat loaf made with beef and pork, loaded with sautéed holy trinity vegetables, three kinds of pepper, Tabasco, and Worcestershire. A spicy Louisiana twist on a comfort food classic.
YIELD
8 servingsPREP
20 minCOOK
50 minREADY
1 hrsYour mama’s meat loaf just got a one-way ticket to the bayou.
This Cajun version starts with a sautéed mix of onions, celery, bell peppers, green onions, and garlic cooked with Tabasco and Worcestershire until everything is soft and fragrant. A custom spice blend brings the heat with cayenne, black pepper, white pepper, cumin, and nutmeg.
That cooked vegetable mix gets folded into ground beef and pork with evaporated milk, ketchup, eggs, and bread crumbs. The loaf bakes low at first, then the heat cranks up to get a caramelized crust on the outside.
Serve it straight from the oven or with a fiery Cajun sauce on the side.
Chef Tips
- Cook the vegetable mixture and let it cool completely before mixing it into the meat. Hot veggies start cooking the eggs and create a weird texture.
- The three-pepper combo (cayenne, black, white) is the backbone of Cajun seasoning. Each one hits at a different moment on the tongue.
- Shape the loaf freeform in the baking pan instead of using a loaf pan. More surface area means more of that crispy, caramelized exterior.
- Don’t forget to fish out the bay leaves before mixing. Biting into one mid-slice is not a good time.
Ingredients
Directions
Combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
Melt the butter in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat.
Add the onions, celery, bell peppers, green onions, garlic, tabasco, Worcestershire and seasoning mix.
Sauté until mixture starts sticking excessively, about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the pan bottom well.
Stir in the milk and ketchup.
Continue cooking for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool to room temperature.
Place the ground beef and pork in an ungreased 13×9-inch baking pan.
Add the eggs, the cooked vegetable mixture and the bread crumbs, remove the bay leaves.
Mix by hand until thoroughly combined. In the center of the pan, shape the mixture into a loaf that is about 1½ inches high, 6 inches wide and 12 inches long.
Bake uncovered for 25 minutes, then raise heat to 400℉ (200℃) and continue cooking until done, about 35 minutes longer.
Serve immediately as is or with Very Hot Cajun Sauce for Beef.
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