Mexican Meatloaves with Chili Gravy

My husband REALLY liked this dinner creation tonight!  Especially the sauce on top, and he’s not a big sauce person!  Very simple dish to put together, too!  These little meatloaves were good on their own merit, so you could form this into a large meatloaf for slicing and not serve the sauce at all.  It would, of course, take longer to cook if made into a single large loaf.

This recipe is suitable for all phases of Atkins and Keto diets, however not suited to Primal or Paleo diners unless the sauce is omitted or modified.

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MEAT INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. 90% lean ground beef (I used grass-fed)

1 lb. very lean ground pork

¼ c. + 2 T. Herdez Mild Red Salsa (from jar) 

1/3 c. cilantro, chopped

1 large jalapeno, seeded and minced fine

½ tsp. ground cumin

1 T. chia seeds, ground & soaked 10 min. in 2 T. water

Dash salt & black pepper

FOR THE SAUCE:

¼c. Herdez Green Tomatillo Salsa (half a 7oz. can), or 1/4 cup jar Herdez Guacamole Salsa

3 oz. cream cheese

½ c. heavy cream

1/3 tsp. chili powder (I used my Smoky Chipotle Spice Blend)

Little water if needed (only if sauce gets too thick as it simmers)

Pinch stevia only if tomatillo salsa is very “acidic” tasting (tomatillos can be)

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Soak the chia seed in the water in a small dish to form a gel-like slurry.  While it is soaking, in a large mixing bowl, using a fork or your hands, mix all the listed meatloaf ingredients along with the soaked chia gel and mix well. Form into 4 oval mini meatloaves and place on a non-stick or greased baking dish.  Pop dish into 350º oven for about 35-40 minutes.  While they are baking, in a non-stick pan over medium heat, warm up the Herdez green tomatillo salsa.  Add the cream cheese and with a rubber spatula, blend in the melting cream cheese until it is smooth mixture.  Add the cream and chili powder. Stir well and lower heat to lowest setting.

When meat is done (130º on meat thermometer), remove from oven and lift meatloaves onto serving platter.  Thin the sauce, if necessary, with a dab of water and pour into a sauce/gravy boat for table serving alongside the meatloaves.

NOTE:  If making one single large meatloaf, it will take about an hour (maybe a bit longer, as ovens vary) to reach 130º in the center with a meat thermometer.

NUTRITIONAL INFO: Makes four 6½-0z mini loaves, each contains:  

656 calories, 53 g fat, 3.30 g carbs, 0.37 g fiber, 2.93 g NET CARBS, 41 g protein, 662 mg sodium