Ina Garten’s Meatloaf Recipe Has a Surprising Hack

As you’re hunkering down for the remainder of winter, a tender meatloaf is the perfect way to stay warm and cozy. While you may be used to placing your ground chuck mixture into a loaf pan, Ina Garten’s meatloaf recipe calls for a different tool that promotes a more flavorful meatloaf: a sheet pan. Garten’s hack results in a loaf that’s moist on the inside but browned on the outside. Ahead of your next meatloaf dinner, grab this version of our favorite USA Pan baking sheet while it’s on sale for $19.

USA Pan Half Sheet Pan

Sweet onions, tangy ketchup, and ground beef come together perfectly in Ina Garten’s reader-loved meatloaf recipe. On Barefoot Contessa, Garten walks through the recipe and shapes the mixture not in a loaf pan but on a sheet pan. It might sound counterintuitive at first — after all, it is called a meatloaf — but using a sheet pan results in an extra caramelized exterior. Whereas a loaf pan might steam the mixture, creating a soggy-bottomed meatloaf, a sheet pan allows that moisture to escape so the loaf is able to benefit from the oven’s heat on all sides.

USA Pan makes our favorite cookie sheet, and this smaller half sheet pan from the brand has all the same perks we loved during testing. The raised rim catches any stray liquids and the nonstick, non-toxic silicone coating makes for easy cleanup. During our tests, the USA baking sheet was able to bake cookies evenly and roast golden-brown vegetables. The ribbed bottom and durable aluminized steel distribute heat consistently across the baking surface and the sheet itself resists warping. Made from the same materials, this half sheet pan will not only excel att baking a tasty meatloaf, but it’ll be a kitchen staple you’ll regularly grab for weeknight dinners and weekend baking projects alike.

If you’re ready to take your meatloaf to a whole new level of caramelization, it’s time to grab this Ina Garten-approved hack. Right now, the USA Pan half sheet is on sale for just $19.

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