Meatloaf

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons cider vinegar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk, plus extra as needed
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2/3 cup crushed saltine crackers or 1 1/3 cups fresh breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup minced fresh parsley

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Heat the oil in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, mix together the ketchup, brown sugar, and cider vinegar and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, milk, mustard, Worcestershire , salt, pepper, and Tabasco together.
4. Mix the ground beef, crackers, parsley, sauteed onion mixture, and egg mixture until evenly blended and the mixture doesn't stick to the bowl. (If the mixture sticks, add additional milk, a tablespoon at a time, until it no longer sticks.)
5. Place the meat mixture in a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Brush with half of the ketchup mixture. Bake the loaf for 45 minutes in the preheated oven.
6. Brush the loaf with the remaining ketchup mixture and continue to bake until the center of the loaf measures 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.