Ingredients:

2 1/2 Pounds ground chuck.
1/2 Pound sausage.
3 Cups chopped yellow onions.
1 Tablespoon fresh thyme.
3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce.
1 Tablespoon tomato paste.
1/3 Cup chicken stock or broth.
2 Large eggs.
1/2 Cup bread crumbs.
1/2 Cup ketchcup.
Enough bacon to cover the loaf.

Kosher salt & black pepper.

Directions:

Brown the sausage in a medium skillet and set aside.

Add olive oil to the skillet. Add onions, thyme, salt and pepper over medium heat and cook until translucent, for 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and add Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste. Allow to cool slightly,

In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck and sausage with the onion mixture, bread crumbs, and eggs.

Mix lightly without mashing. Mashing is supposed to make the meatloaf dense. This is where you get to use your hands.

Form into a loaf and place in a 9 X 14 baking dish and cover evenly with the ketchup. Use your hands again to smear it around.

Lay the bacon strips over the loaf,

Place in a 325° oven for 1 hour, fifteen minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160°.

Serve with mashed potatoes.

Servings: Serves 8 easily.

Notes:

This recipe is adapted from Ina Garten: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/meat-loaf-recipe.html.

The changes to the original recipe are these:

I added enough bacon to cover the top of the loaf. This has at least three effects. It helps the meatloaf from being dry, and it provides a liquid mixture that goes very well as gravy on the accompanying mashed potatos. And there is little that bacon will not improve.

I chose to use Panko bread crumbs in place of the recommended Progresso.

I browned the sausage before mixing it with the ground chuck, but it should work without browning. One plus hours in the oven should assure that it is cooked.

I have done this recipe twice now, and it was well received both times. It deserves the 5 stars given it on Garten's webpage (even with my changes).

One may think of meatloaf as a backup, alternative dish, but this one is a first choice. And as Ina Garten says, it is easy to do.