Best Thing I Ever Made: Alton's Smoked Meatloaf | The Best Thing I Ever Made | Food Network

How can you make meatloaf even better, you ask? SMOKE it!
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Acclaimed chefs, cookbook authors and Food Network personalities - people who have spent their lives obsessing over food - reveal not only what they love to eat, but what they love to make. From personal family recipes to favorite dishes off their own menus, these food experts share their secrets and show us how to cook what they consider to be The Best Thing I Ever Made.
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Smoked Party Meatloaf
Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown
Yield: 12 to 14 servings
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ease of preparation: Easy
Active Time:
Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
Ingredients
2/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 ounces chipotle peppers in adobo, with adobo sauce that clings to them, chopped fine
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
6 ounces ruffled kettle-style barbecue potato chips
3 cloves garlic
1 medium carrot, cut into 6 pieces
1 Fresno chile, seeded
1 medium onion, cut into 8 pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound ground chuck
1 pound ground sirloin
1 pound ground pork
3 large eggs
Directions
Combine the ketchup, tomato paste, chipotle peppers and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Remove 1/3 cup of the mixture and set aside.
Pulse the potato chips in the food processor until they are a coarse breadcrumb consistency, approximately 12 pulses. Transfer the potato chips to the bowl with the ketchup mixture.
Combine the garlic, carrots, chile and onions into the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped but not pureed, approximately 10 pulses.
Heat the olive oil in a 10-inch cast-iron pan set over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion mixture, sage and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften and begin to brown slightly, approximately 5 minutes. Add the mixture to the mixing bowl with the potato chip mixture and stir to combine and cool the vegetables slightly. Add the ground chuck, sirloin, pork and eggs and use your hands to thoroughly combine. Shape into a loaf that is approximately 12- by 4- by 2-inch. Make sure to press the meat into a compact, uniform loaf. Wrap the loaf in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour.
Heat a smoker to 250 degrees F. Place 1 hardwood chunk in the smoker's wood tray.
Flip over the meatloaf pouch and poke 12 to 15 holes in the aluminum foil package to allow the fat to drain off. Turn the pouch back over. Set the meatloaf in the smoker and place a drip pan on the rack immediately below the meatloaf. Cook for 45 minutes.
After 45 minutes, open the foil pack and fold down the sides of the foil to create a shallow "pan" around the meatloaf. Brush with the reserved glaze. Insert a probe thermometer into the meatloaf and cook until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F, approximately 40 minutes. Remove the meatloaf from the smoker and rest for 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
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Best Thing I Ever Made: Alton's Smoked Meatloaf | The Best Thing I Ever Made | Food Network
• Best Thing I Ever Made...

[@Yeah_Whocares]

Because of Alton Brown I...: Learned how to cook. Passed Chemistry. Passed History. Learned to eat healthy. Tried new Foods. Watched a lot of cooking shows. Didn't feel so alone and improved my English vocabulary.

[@tomhorsley6566]

Wait! I've never seen any evidence that Alton helps anyone eat healthy (delicious maybe, but healthy?)

[@shaneclark7383]

Don’t forget his MacGyver-like ingenuity! He teaches us to think outside the box.

[@Strodie567]

@@tomhorsley6566 Sorry, that's really not true. For example, back in 2010 there was an episode of Good Eats called "Live and Let Diet" (season 13 episode 13 but IMDB labels it as episode 15). In it, Alton told us how healthy eating helped him lose 50 pounds. You can see an excerpt from it in this KZbin channel, called "Alton's Diet Plan".

[@bookwormbandit2689]

Oh NO! I said my Opinion!?! youre still a bad person

[@MtnNerd]

@@tomhorsley6566 He teaches you how to cook which is invaluable for low calorie cooking because it lets you substitute. Also a lot of his fans would be eating a lot more pizza and takeout without him.

[@CookingwithShereen]

I love how Alton explains the process. Entertaining while educating.

[@Shane-Singleton]

Same. I love science and I love food. Alton brings both together in a nice educational way. With the occasional belching yeast sock puppet

[@CookingwithShereen]

Shane Singleton same! He’s so good! Keeps you watching. Keeps you intrigued.

[@2weekpaidvacation611]

He is good... And that me love looks great unfortunately it's not K ETO

[@rikkisan1]

I thought my headphones were broken for a second...

[@milanmestka416]

I was fixing them for solid 15 minutes before I relaized video plays only on one channel

[@thorstend.888]

Thanks to this video and your comments I now know that one of my audio outputs has some kind of mixed mono, since there is (slightly different) sound on both speakers. What is this sorcery?

[@BoydDoghouse]

lol they got me too

[@surge3158]

@Just Riss just put the headphone in the ear that works lmao

[@Animeeater25]

Gotta love when a multi million dollar company can't even upload videos with both audio channels

[@benbarnes89]

I miss all the old Alton Brown videos from the olden days.I learned a lot! from him and the original food network crew.

[@Loebane]

He's putting out new good eats episodes right now. There's one up on KZbin I think.

[@dyrcosis]

I've learned so much watching Alton in various media!

[@cupofnuts]

I made this today. It was wonderful. I think I will increase the time uncovered for a little more smoke but I will definitely make this again. I couldn’t find a Fresno chili 🌶 so I just added a couple more chipotle pepper in the food processer with the carrot onion and garlic. The glaze is so good. I smoked it in my Smokin it 2 smoker just like Alton’s. A definite keeper going into my recipe file. 👍👍👍 This glaze is so good I was saying to my husband it’s a shame you can’t have some in each bite. He said flatten the meat out on a half sheet pan with plastic wrap flatten it all out and glaze then roll it like a jelly roll and smoke it.

[@Shane-Singleton]

Well I just discovered what my next meal prep is going to consist of. Thank you Alton and Food Network!

[@paulmanly1990]

Is this audio playing only in the left ear for anyone else?

[@amys.3529]

Yes, I thought my headphones were on the fritz. X-x

[@rocklesson86]

Yes

[@destructiveforce7943]

Oh, thank God! I just got this headset and was worried I'd have to return it. LOL

[@MrChadsimoneaux]

Alton only speaks leftly!

[@newgodskane]

yes

[@Fsilone]

My left ear was thoroughly entertained.

[@mariapagan7786]

He is my ALL TIME FAVORITE Iron Chef him and Masaharu Morimoto their passion for our field is moving💕

[@Doug6714]

The meatloaf looks delicious. I love to smoke meatloaf. It has such a great flavor compared to doing it in the oven. Try a pellet smoker, you'll get even better results. Keep smoking!

[@bookwormbandit2689]

I have a branding solution for Meatloaf: call it ‘American Pate’ and its haute cusine

[@jasoncabral3831]

Pate Americain`

[@martinreynolds5548]

I will try that one! Sounds awesome!

[@Ataris42]

My left ear loved this, but my right is feeling a little lonely.

[@MikeInPlano]

Turn your headphones 180 degrees and listen to it again.

[@illeagalbeagle]

@@MikeInPlano worked for me! Thanks!

[@christdriven8790]

Luv this man, gotta do this. His smoked salmon recipe when he smoked it n a cardboard box with a hotplate is unbelievable. I've done it a few times and it's by far the best. But I use my pellet smoker. Thx Alton.

[@shellyrees5946]

HOLY CRAP! I'M IN LOVE~

[@dennissmithjr.5370]

Only word I can give this is, WOW!

[@RaySmithWeb]

Talk about star power. Saw him live, and he was the quickest one in the room.

[@lindaleslie5634]

You're AWESOME! 💖This!

[@ezrabrooks12]

LOOK'D GOOD!!!!! THE END PIECES ARE THE BEST PIECES!!!!! Iv'e Smoked several Meat Loafs,never used BBQ Chips.I gotta use them now!!!!!

[@richardh1923]

i did a bacon wrapped smoked meatloaf, oh man that was super good!

[@SlimeMage32]

My right ear loved this video!

[@brendakrieger7000]

Sounds great

[@jimmueller630]

Sir Alton! Many thanks for the Coco powder in the glaze hack. I use it in my chili all the time but hadn't thought to add it to a meatloaf glaze. Indebted, Sunny JIm.

[@rolloverriderpgr]

As a good ole boy from west of Atlanta and a big Alton fan I'll give this one a 92! Mine is better! But my mother was born and raised in Arkansas so they pretty much took southern food up another level and my need to improve on her recipes I'd have to go with mine because of a small problem with stage 4 advanced cancer I have to change most recipes to be able to swallow food yes even meatloaf and other soft foods! Blue Sky's and Safe Journeys!

[@051adam]

Fresno chili!!! Is a bit underrated... but as a spice lover... this is super flavourful! !

[@jrdsm]

I think I might try this banana bread thanks for the recipe

[@dianegerlach2454]

haha, awesome! Surprise element- the chips

[@dflenn9423]

What a great video!!

[@monicadelsordo9076]

He's spectacular!!!

[@Awzme]

My left ear loved this video.

[@f.davidbush9093]

Cookshack smokers are great. I have that same model

[@Vabasseroutdoors1]

Delicious

[@BiGG_X]

This video needs a refresh by the one and only Alton Brown. I know a new GOOD EATS has started but ALTON BROWNs clever way to explain and entertain has made many new cooks. Im not sure if FOOD NETWORK is not paying Alton well enough to make his show or if he just want to take a break, but if its FOOD NETWORK you really screwed the pooch.

[@krissisk4163]

Can confirm. Smoked meatloaf is freaking amazing. Except I wrap mine in bacon instead of foil and glaze it with my homemade BBQ sauce.

[@michaelad48]

Looks delish

[@BrianGLee-bc7hj]

Learned alot from Alton

[@ThePhantazmya]

Cocoa, sage, and smoke?! You Mad Lad!

[@bobbyarmijo3307]

I like to use dry clumps of cornbread in my smoked meatloaf, definitely have to try the barbecue chips next time! ✌❤

[@yourmother3207]

Sounds delicious. Why not both??

[@AchronTimeless]

My left ear really enjoyed this video

[@Shorn_]

POTATO CHIPS! I've been looking for a gluten-free alternative to bread crumbs for meatloaf. Alton goes and blows the lid off the game like always.

[@stevo4535]

Yes

[@jasonbailey30]

Other than Steve Irvine. He is one of the most passionate cooks I like to watch on tv. He's also hilarious

[@psw4763]

This was a great video and the meatloaf looks divine. The taste test at the end my favorite.

[@ianmelzer]

My left ear enjoyed this.

[@paigeeeey5611]

Even if you don't smoke it, it's a great meatloaf recipe!

[@slkdfjklasasdfasdf]

my left ear enjoyed this.

[@valliarlette6596]

Ooooooooh this looks like a good idea.

[@amishman]

My right ear enjoyed listening to this video.

[@android61242]

You headphones are on backwards

[@darkmagician1184]

@@android61242 nope

[@Fsilone]

No, Bob's right. It plays on the left channel.

[@justplanefred]

Alton Brown is amazing!

[@robertmizek3315]

BBQ Potato chips? Brilliant!!!

[@atmosphere1605]

"Down South we have smokers and demand to use smokers" Proceeds to sheepishly use an electric smoker

[@darcksage1]

Ah! My left ear very much like listening to this video.

[@aaronmoon3535]

Yes, I accept, I’ll be there

[@bvegz6521]

Tried and Tested best meatloaf I've made so far!

[@lead5s]

he is one of the very few chefs that actually know how to cook most meats right

[@BrandonWillWin]

OG Dwight Schrute energy from my boi AB

[@matthewbradley3395]

Even without the rest of it...the BBQ'ed potato chips looks like a real WINNER! I'm going to add it to my meatloaf recipe (Lidia Bastianich's recipe) to try it out. How bad could it be?

[@jodinarrowpath9998]

Me too!!!

[@montythepython7614]

Except for a rectal thermometer.!!???; Ha Alton you are and always were the beast...I mean ...best.thanks for the post...

[@lordycatnip6359]

My left ear loves this.

[@franzb69]

only right channel

[@EnfinLibreNM]

Try using apple or cherry wood. Gives it a tiny bit of sweetness.

[@toeey14]

Ive been smoking meatloaf for years, I hate to call myself a pioneer but here we are haha

[@kal5765]

my left ear enjoyed this video

[@tanvirsadaf7882]

My left ear enjoyed

[@theonuss6607]

Our King

[@britney901]

I've never had smoked meatloaf. A local restaurant has smoked burgers. Those are dynamite. I can't wait to try this

[@HiVizCamo]

He's right about being careful not to oversmoke things, it's hard to get it perfect!

[@britney901]

@@HiVizCamo Cool

[@outerheaven2k7]

Pork rinds instead of potato chips also work.

[@DrengrWolf]

my left ear enjoyed this vid

[@flammablewater1755]

I am going to make this very soon, but I will try swapping out the BBQ for All Dressed chips, which are basically just better BBQ.

[@KettouRyuujin]

flammablewater ....explain please? Ya lost me.

[@alfonzo9000]

@@KettouRyuujin It's like if BBQ chips, salt & vinegar chips, and sour cream & onion chips all combined into one super chip. They're amazing and Ruffles sells them at most supermarkets in the US now.

[@Reapehify]

@@alfonzo9000 except they're going to have a bitter/sour profile that does not mesh at all with the solely savoury bbq chips. Also, Old Fashion BBQ Lays are an infinitely better BBQ than the likely molasses-sweet bbq he used. Do yourself a favor and stick with some variant of BBQ chip.

[@zlinedavid]

I know he said ridged chips, but this is screaming for Grippo's BBQ chips. Cincinnati natives/residents, you know what I'm talking about.

[@Slickand515]

Ranch Doritos work well too

[@War624]

Alton has always been, to me at least, the Bill Nye of food. He just has this way of explaining things that really make you listen. Personality really does go a long way. And has anyone tried this recipe themselves yet?

[@samuelhowie4543]

Slight difference, Alton is a chef and Bill Nye is a engineer being passed of as a scientist.

[@noahdoerksen1908]

Disrespectful to Alton TBH NYE is a fraud

[@Funexpected]

​@@samuelhowie4543Both flaming Libs

[@ohreallyeliza]

Honestly, who doesn't love Alton Brown?

[@axelhopfinger533]

It is positively impossible to not like, or at least respect him. The man has produced nothing but wholesome quality over his decade long career and always remained authentic.

[@RBNightlinger]

My sister. Yeah, we have problems.

[@tetepeb]

I do, can´t stand him...

[@thedemonTylerF]

Such amazing culinary skills

[@BonCola]

Has anyone tried making this? Looks delicious.

[@sirmonster6438]

I have, and it turned out well. The flavor is key to it.

[@toeey1]

I love Alton, and Im sure he makes delicious food, however I just cant get behind wrapping the meatloaf in foil if its being smoked. Ive been making smoked meatloaf for years and ive never wrapped it. I know he opens the foil after 45 mins but still. Regardless of his methods however, I have no doubt I would enjoy most anything he made

[@ManYourStations]

toeey1 I believe he stated that it would be very easy to over smoke meatloaf in the beginning of the video. Therefore he wraps it

[@chrissandoval7675]

i was figuring he wrapped the loaf just so it wouldn't fall through the grate. i'm interested to hear how you keep that from happening. i'm really hoping to try this come spring so i'm eager to learn a new way to smoke.

[@toeey1]

@@chrissandoval7675 If the meatloaf is packed tightly, there is no danger of it falling through the grate. I shape mine in a loaf pan first but I dont think you even need to do that. It can be hard to remove from the pan however

[@chrissandoval7675]

@@toeey1 thank you. i always hand packed my loafs but i'll buy a larger loaf pan and give it a good greasing. thanks for the advice.

[@benslease4886]

Agreed. Smoking completely wrapped in foil is kind of nonsense. You're literally just getting convection heat, no smoke whatsoever.

[@diveanddine]

its amazing how obnoxiously LOUD the network's foreground music use to be

[@gonedeadforlife]

my left ear enjoyed the video

[@robertreisner6119]

I usually make a smoked, ham and cream cheese stuffed meatloaf and everyone likes it. With a few spices some extra ingredients it makes a great main dish.

[@thederp6505]

I love meat loaf

[@angelinasuazo5705]

I like this. And I'll try the mixture of three ground meats sometime, like you did. Or at least two. And you looked cute in this one, Alton. And the fun creative way you made use of the styrofoam package trays, to display cooking information helps up on the wall.

[@derpymcderpypants]

Best part of the video: Takes a bite. "Yea." Enough said.

[@Jchmcom]

I propose you put some bread in the tray beneath to catch any said fatty drippings. Texas Toast maybe.

[@WUZLE]

Alton's a better cook that I will ever be, but as someone who smokes meat once or twice a month I have trouble imagining he's getting much smoke flavor from a brief exposure of 1/4 of the meat to the smoke.

[@DavePettittVoiceOver]

Am I the only one who noticed he didn’t put the glaze mixture into the bowl? I watched that part three times. Whoopsey Daisy!

[@powerlocks]

I dont like using a electric smoker for meat loaf. i use a side mount to get that smoke ring around the meat. also taste better.

[@Mickcotton]

It looked a little dry ! I would just use a little liquid smoke and some corn and bake in a Casserole Dish in the Oven ❤️. Alton is Amazing.

[@RBNightlinger]

I don't have a smoker, so I'm going to use liquid smoke, too.

[@bbp3tg]

Wheres the food console from star trek? I need me some of this right now

[@wfow1448]

Food Replicator!

[@Shaftoe28]

This audio is why you check the intern's work.

[@craigrobbins2463]

or pay someone well to do it.

[@Zithorius]

Is it just me or did we never add the chip mix to the meat on camera? EDIT: Ah... The bottom of the bowl, neatly hidden away.

[@Believe30]

I want the low carb version!

[@misterturkturkle]

No

[@kccarbfree]

BBQ pork rinds in lieu of potato chips. No sugar added ketchup instead of the tomato paste. I usually make a mustard based lc Carolina sauce for the topper. I've been making a similar lc smoked meatloaf for years. Comes out great.

[@neuvocastezero1838]

"You need something to soak up fat." Adds 2 cups of fried BBQ potato chips.

[@Cowclops]

I'm surprised youtube still doesn't have an algorithm for detecting hard panned audio and offer to fix/automatically fix it. Or do they and they just didn't use it?

[@waynewayne377]

....nice goin' Alton........ww

[@shaneclark7383]

I have a question. In Alton’s original meatloaf episode he claims that any more than one egg is too much and will gum up the works in the recipe. He goes by 1 egg per pound. What made him change his mind?

[@moiznahmad]

I could be that potato chips aren't as effective as a binder as bread, so he needed to compensate with more egg.

[@moiznahmad]

Since potatoes aren't nearly as porous as bread

[@benschmidt7492]

There is 3lbs of meat in the recipe.

[@adamrozman]

If Dwight Schrute were really into cooking:

[@MisterHighway]

The "left channel" bit is cute but I am near deaf in my left ear. Makes a hard situation even harder.

[@ephraimsilberberg708]

What kind of smoker is that?

[@tony_25or6to4]

Sound only comes out if the left channel.

[@edwardssistershands]

Why would you upload this without fixing the audio?