I tried meat-loaf recipes from Ina Garten, Ree Drummond, and Rachael Ray, and the best tasted like a Thanksgiving dinner

Abigail Abesamis DemarestJan 13, 2024, 13:15 IST

I decided to compare meat-loaf recipes from three celebrity chefs.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I tried meat-loaf recipes from Ina Garten, Ree Drummond, and Rachael Ray to see which was best.

Garten's meat loaf was simple and easy to make, but Drummond's dish tasted a bit overwhelming.

I've never made meat loaf before, but it's a comfort food and I love family-sized meals that provide enough leftovers for me and my husband.

I decided to test out recipes from Ina Garten, Ree Drummond, and Rachael Ray to find the best version of the classic dish.

Here's how the recipes stacked up.

The ingredient list for Garten's recipe was simple.

I already had most of Ina Garten's meat-loaf ingredients in my pantry.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Garten's recipe required firing up the stove.

First I sautéed the onions and spices.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I combined the ingredients in a bowl before shaping and baking the loaf.

I gently mixed the ingredients together in a bowl.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I shaped the meat and topped it with ketchup.

Some of the comments under Ina Garten's recipe recommended adding ketchup.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

The cooked meat loaf was surrounded by grease and slightly cracked, but I didn't mind.

Although the meat loaf was greasy, it was easily removed.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Garten's meat loaf was classic and comforting.

Ina Garten's meat-loaf recipe was simple and delicious.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Next I tried Drummond's meat-loaf recipe.

Ree Drummond had more ingredients than Ina Garten for her meat loaf.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Like Garten's recipe, all of Drummond's ingredients were combined in a bowl.

I mixed the milk-soaked white bread and other ingredients in a bowl.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

The recipe said to use a foil-lined broiler pan for the fat to drain, but I don't have one, so I improvised.

I used a sheet pan instead of a broiler pan.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Drummond called for wrapping the meat loaf with bacon and a homemade sauce.

I topped the meat loaf with bacon and sauce before cooking it.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Using the cooling rack prevented a buildup of grease.

The finished product of Ree Drummond's recipe was barely greasy.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Drummond's meat loaf was more interesting than Garten's, but I don't see myself making it again.

Ree Drummond's meat-loaf recipe had more ingredients and flavors than I'd preferred.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Ray's meat-loaf recipe had the longest ingredient list.

Rachael Ray's meat-loaf ingredient list was the longest of the three.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Similar to Garten's recipe, I started by sautéing some ingredients.

First I sautéed the onions, apples, celery, and spices.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Like the other recipes, I combined the ingredients in a bowl.

I mixed Rachael Ray's meat-loaf ingredients in a bowl.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I halved the recipe and cooked it for 40 minutes.

I shaped the meat loaf and put it in an oven at 400 F.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

It was my first time making gravy, and Ray's version was so easy to follow.

Rachael Ray's recipe called for a homemade apple-cider gravy.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Ray's meat-loaf dish tasted like Thanksgiving, and I loved it.

Rachael Ray's meat-loaf recipe was a delicious twist on the classic dish.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

All three meat-loaf recipes were good, but Ray's was my favorite.

Overall, I liked Rachael Ray's meat-loaf recipe best.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I'm a professional baker. I tried 9 desserts from Costco, and there are 6 I'd buy again.

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