Description
Alton Brown’s classic smoked meatloaf brings Southern comfort to dinner tables with rich, hearty flavors. Smoky aromatics and precise technique create a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) ground chuck (beef)
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) ground sirloin (beef)
- 1 lb (0.45 kg) ground pork
- 6 oz (170 g) barbecue potato chips (kettle-style), crushed
- 3 large eggs
- 1 medium onion, cut into 8 pieces
- 1 medium carrot, cut into 6 pieces
- 1 Fresno chile, seeded
- 3 cloves garlic
- ⅔ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 2 oz (56 g) chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp dried sage
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Glaze Preparation: Craft a vibrant sauce by blending ketchup, tomato paste, smoky chipotle peppers, and rich cocoa powder. Reserve 1/3 cup for later glazing.
- Crumb Integration: Pulverize potato chips into fine crumbs and fold into the prepared glaze. Simultaneously, process garlic, carrots, chile, and onions until finely minced.
- Vegetable Sauté: Warm olive oil in a skillet and sauté the vegetable medley with sage and salt for 5 minutes. Cool slightly and incorporate into the potato chip mixture.
- Meat Composition: Thoroughly mix ground chuck, sirloin, pork, and eggs using hands. Form a compact 12x4x2 inch loaf, wrap in heavy-duty aluminum foil, and rest at room temperature for one hour.
- Smoking Process: Heat smoker to 250°F, add a hardwood chunk for depth of flavor. Puncture foil-wrapped loaf’s base, position over a drip pan. Smoke for 45 minutes, then unwrap and brush with reserved glaze.
- Final Cooking: Continue smoking until internal temperature reaches 140°F, approximately 40 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to monitor doneness precisely.
- Resting and Serving: Remove from smoker and let rest for 30 minutes. Slice carefully and serve immediately to maintain optimal flavor and succulence.
Notes
Meat Mixture Mastery: Blend different meat types for complex, rich flavor profile and ideal fat content.
Glaze Game Changer: Reserve 1/3 of glaze before mixing to ensure perfect final coating and balanced taste.
Smoking Technique: Use hardwood chunk for deep, smoky essence and puncture foil for proper moisture management.
Temperature Precision: Let meatloaf rest at room temperature and monitor internal heat for juicy, perfectly cooked result.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Smoking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 150mg