Brown Sugar Meatloaf stuffed with Chipotle Gouda and a tangy glaze. This is meatloaf like you’ve never had it – but like you’ll wish you always had!

Y’know, for never having posted a meatloaf recipe in the five years I’ve been blogging, I sure seem to be on a meatloaf kick lately.
But this isn’t just any meatloaf. We’re talking Brown Sugar Meatloaf. Stuffed with Chipotle Gouda…then topped with a smoky-sweet glaze.
Unlike my Turkey Meatloaf Bites, this Brown Sugar Meatloaf uses all beef. Of course, turkey could easily be used in its place, it’s really your personal preference.
This is an easily adaptable recipe – turkey instead of beef, any cheese could be used (although the chipotle gouda is insanely good) and, if you don’t care for spicy, simply leave out the chipotle. Heck, I even used the Truvia brand’s new Brown Sugar Baking Blend in place of the brown sugar. I had to do something to lower the calories after all that cheese and the Brown Sugar Baking Blend has 75% fewer calories!

I used a LOT of chipotle gouda in this Brown Sugar Meatloaf. A full 8 ounces which was a good 3 cups or so. I wrote the recipe with just 1-2 cups but go with what your instincts tell you. I knew the cheese would leak out a fair amount, especially when I heaped so much on, but I like to take what’s leaked out and spread it over the top. I’m cheese-crazy, what can I say :) However much you use, it’s easy to stuff it. First, just make your Brown Sugar Meatloaf base, and mound up your cheese, like this:

Then top it with the remaining meatloaf mixture and seal it in as best you can. Finally, spread that glaze all over the meat, like this:

All that’s left to do after that is bake it until it’s cooked through and the cheese is melty and oozing out the sides. Which will give you this:

Wait…it won’t give you those killer Loaded Hasselback Potatoes, you have to make them! But they’re even easier than this Brown Sugar Meatloaf so you’re good to go!
Oh!! I forgot to tell you something…sometimes I’m in the mood for the veggies to be diced so I get little chunks of goodness. Other times, I like to run the veggies (in this case, the mirepoix, otherwise known as onions, celery and carrots) through my Vitamix or food processor so they’re super fine and blend right into the meat. I still sauté them, it’s just more of a cohesive mass more than separately diced veggies. This is a great trick if you sub with turkey because it helps keep the meat juicy and tender.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 1/2 sweet onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1-2 cups chopped Chipotle Gouda, I used Boar's Head
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 3 Tablespoons Truvia Brown Sugar Blend, or 1/3 cup regular brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons adobo sauce, from a can of chipotle peppers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Saute carrot, celery and onion in a medium skillet for a few minutes or onions are soft. Add garlic, saute another minute or two.
- Add skillet ingredients to ground beef in a medium-sized bowl. Using your hands, gently mix in eggs, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper until just combined.
- Place half of meatloaf mixture on a baking sheet lined with tinfoil (this will make cleanup a breeze). Shape into a loaf shape, keeping the top very flat. Place cheese in a mound on top of meat, then top cheese with remaining meatloaf mixture, forming into one large loaf and sealing completely to prevent cheese from oozing out during cooking.
- Mix together ketchup, brown sugar and adobo sauce. Lightly brush 1/2 of mixture onto top and sides of loaf (it makes a thick layer).
- Bake for 45 minutes, then pour/brush remaining ketchup mixture over loaf. Continue baking another 15 minutes or until meatloaf is completely cooked through. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
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Alice
Monday 23rd of February 2015
I love all of this plus you got such precise cuts on your potato! Jealous! Mine just always smush all over the place! Also I'm going to have to try your sauce on my favorite meatloaf to see how we like it! looks great!
Kristy Bernardo
Tuesday 24th of February 2015
Those are Hasselback Potatoes, Alice, so you slice before cooking - try them, they're sooo good! You'll love the sauce, too!
Nutmeg Nanny
Saturday 21st of February 2015
Meatloaf is my ultimate comfort food meal! I love how smothered and delicious this baby looks!
Kristy Bernardo
Sunday 22nd of February 2015
Thanks, NN!
Des @ Life's Ambrosia
Saturday 21st of February 2015
We eat a lot of meatloaf in our house. It's actually my husband's favorite. I need to make him this one ASAP because..chipotle gouda.
Kristy Bernardo
Sunday 22nd of February 2015
Yeah...chipotle gouda is one cheese I will never grow tired of!! :)
Susan | LunaCafe
Friday 20th of February 2015
Holy cow, this is amazing. Love meatloaf and love cheese, so this is gonna be on our table, like tomorrow. :-)
Kristy Bernardo
Sunday 22nd of February 2015
That's great, Susan!
Kirsten
Friday 20th of February 2015
Kristy, This meatloaf looks amazing. I'd be peeling off crispy cheesy ooze and eating that right up while I was calling everyone in to dinner! And the potatoes--my family never eats this good. Too many damn beets and liver in my meatloaf. I want to eat at your house.
Thanks!
Kristy Bernardo
Sunday 22nd of February 2015
Beets and liver? I love both and am intrigued by a meatloaf with those ingredients. Thanks, Kirsten :)