Buffalo Meatloaf With Brown Sugar and Ketchup Glaze

This is a lean meatloaf recipe for those of us who can't eat onions. Adapted from a meatloaf recipe found in Cook' Illustrated Cookbook. This is a family favorite!

• Ready In: 1 hr 35 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 1 Loaf

Ingredients

• Brown Sugar ketchup Glaze

• 1⁄2 cup ketchup
• 4  tablespoons brown sugar
• 4  teaspoons cider vinegar

• Meat Loaf

• 2  teaspoons olive oil
• 3⁄4 cup  diced celery
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 2  extra large eggs
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2  teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2  teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  red hot pepper sauce
• 1⁄2 cup  whole milk or 1⁄2 cup plain yogurt
• 1  lb  jimmy dean  low-fat sausage
• 1  lb  ground buffalo meat
• 2⁄3 cup  crushed  saltine crackers
• 1⁄3 cup  minced fresh parsley
• 6 -8  ounces  thin sliced bacon

Directions

1. For the Glaze: Mix all ingredients in small saucepan and set aside.
2. For the meat loaf: Heat oven to 350°. Heat oil in medium skillet; add celery and garlic. Saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside while preparing main ingredients.
3. Mix eggs with thyme, salt, pepper, mustard, worcestershire sauce, pepper sauce, and milk or yogurt. Add egg mixture to meat in large bowl along with crackers, parsley and cooked celery and garlic. Mix with fork until evenly blended and meat mixture does not stick to bowl. (If mixture sticks, add more yogurt or milk, a couple of tablespoons at a time, until mixture no longer sticks.).
4. Turn meat mixture onto waxed paper. With wet hands, shape into loaf and place in meatloaf pan or shallow pan. Brush with half the glaze and arrange bacon slices on top.
5. Bake loaf until bacon is crisp and internal temperature of loaf registers 160 degrees, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Take out of oven and let rest under foil for 20 minutes. Simmer remaining glaze over medium heat until thickened slightly. Slice meat loaf and serve with extra glaze passed separately.