Diner-style Meat Loaf With Gravy

Total Time: 8 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 7 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced into half rounds
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 lb cremini mushroom, sliced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• salt
• fresh ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried sage, crumbled in the palm of your hand
• 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef (85% lean)
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup cracker crumb (saltine, ritz, or 1 c. dry unflavored bread crumbs)
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup beef broth

Recipe

• 1 sauce: heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over med-high heat.
• 2 add the onions and thyme and sauté until the onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes.
• 3 add the mushrooms and sauté until they begin to color and the liquid in the pan evaporates.
• 4 transfer the contents of the skillet to the insert of a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker.
• 5 whisk the flour and ¼ cup broth together in a large bowl.
• 6 add the remaining broth and the soy sauce to the slurry and whisk until smooth.
• 7 pour the mixture into the cooker.
• 8 cover and cook on high while you prepare the meat loaf.
• 9 meat loaf: heat the oil in a small skillet over med-high heat.
• 10 add the onion, bell pepper, and sage and sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 3 minutes.
• 11 cool the mixture and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• 12 add the remaining ingredients.
• 13 with clean hands or a large wooden spoon, mix together until well combined, being careful not to compact the mixture.
• 14 pat the meat into a loaf shape 6 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 2-3 inches tall.
• 15 set the loaf on top of the sauce in the slow cooker and cook on high for 1 hour.
• 16 decrease heat to low and cook for 4-6 hours, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 165 degrees.
• 17 remove the loaf from the cooker using two long, wide spatulas.
• 18 cover with foil and let rest 15 minutes.
• 19 season the sauce with salt and pepper.
• 20 cut the loaf into ½ inch slices with a serrated knife and serve napped with some of the sauce.
• 21 serve any remaining sauce on the side.