This Classic Trick Takes Meatloaf To The Next Level With An Eye-Catching Addition

Meatloaf is an enduring classic. It's a scrappy upstart from the hardscrabble days of the Great Depression that has become a nostalgic dinnertime staple over the decades. However, while this dish has fairly broad appeal, recipes vary by region and family. Some cooks like to add ketchup as a glaze while others prefer sweet, smoky barbecue sauce. Customization is encouraged, which is why you should add boiled eggs to that loaf we so often enjoy for supper or lunch (especially in sandwich form).

This is a popular meatloaf technique around the world, from Chile's asado alemán to Turkey's dalyan köfte to the Northeast United States via Eastern European and Jewish culinary traditions. So, what do the eggs add? For one, they give those slices of meatloaf a fun pop of color to break up the homogeneous brown loaf. They also add, well, a taste of eggy flavor that meshes well with the meaty base, similar to a sausage-enrobed Scotch Egg, but a bit simpler. Better still, this tip is super easy to execute. Simply boil and peel your eggs, put half the meat mixture in a loaf pan, place the eggs in a row (two to three should work for a standard loaf pan), cover them with the remaining meatloaf mixture, then bake. Cook and serve as usual, only this time with little egg jewels set in the middle. Of course, you don't have to stop there when it comes to leveling up your egg-enhanced meatloaf.

Now you may be wondering what's so groundbreaking about this already classic meatloaf hack. On its own, this is simply a fun way to perk up a meatloaf. Paired with other additions, however, it could be the key to unlocking heretofore unseen levels of flavor. One easy way to perk up this upgrade is by using pickled hard-boiled eggs in lieu of regular hard-boiled ones. This will give your loaf a kiss of vinegar flavor that is unexpected but also totally delicious. You could also try soy-marinated eggs for a more savory, umami flavor. If you go this route, you could tweak your meatloaf base to fit a dumpling-inspired flavor profile by adding scallions and ginger to the meat and swapping regular breadcrumbs for panko.

You could also accentuate the eggs with other fillings, such as spinach and shredded cheese. For this, you'll want to use the roll-up method for making meatloaf. Simply roll out the meat mixture into a rectangle, then add a layer of cheese or other fillings. Then, add your eggs in the center and roll it up to bake. Sautéed spinach with provolone or mozzarella would be a great duo for an Italian-inspired meatloaf. You could even add a layer of prosciutto for a salty, meaty touch. Or, for a beef Wellington spin, try a layer of mushroom duxelles. There are plenty of ways to roll with this, so to speak. Fortifying your meatloaf with boiled eggs is a great excuse to let your culinary creativity run wild.