Meat Loaf with Chili Sauce

Name: Meat Loaf with Chili Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 20 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 1 large onion, finely chopped; 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs; 1 small green pepper, chopped; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 1/2 cup chili sauce; 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard; 3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/4 teaspoon dried basil; 2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean); Additional chili sauce, optional

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Cook: 3 hours + standing YIELD: 8 servings.

I used to serve this meat loaf in my cafe, where so many of my customers asked for it. I adapted the recipe for my slow cooker at home, where it's quite popular, too. —Robert Cox, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Ingredients

1 large onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 small green pepper, chopped
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup chili sauce
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
Additional chili sauce, optional

Directions

1. Cut four 20x3-in. strips of heavy-duty foil; crisscross so they resemble spokes of a wheel. Place strips on bottom and up sides of a 5-qt. slow cooker. Coat strips with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. Add beef; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into a 9-in. round loaf. Place loaf in center of strips in slow cooker.
3. Cook, covered, on low 3-4 hours or until a thermometer reads at least 160°. If desired, spoon additional chili sauce over meat loaf; let stand 10 minutes. Using foil strips as handles, remove meat loaf to a platter.
4. Freeze option: Cover and freeze leftover meat loaf slices in a greased 2-qt. shallow baking dish. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Reheat meat slices, covered, until a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°.
5.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 253 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 123mg cholesterol, 686mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch.