German Hackbraten (Mixed Meat Loaf)

Step 1

Set the oven to 375°F and wait until the indicator light or beep tells you it has finished heating, about 10 minutes.

Step 2

Place the diced onion in a small bowl and set it to the side of your cutting board.

Step 3

Put the ground beef, ground pork, diced onion, bread crumbs, and egg into a large bowl.

Step 4

Mix everything with your hands by pressing and folding the meat and crumbs together until they look uniformly combined, about 2 minutes — stop before it becomes dense and mushy.

Step 5

Sprinkle salt and pepper over the mixture and mix once more for 15 seconds to distribute the seasoning.

Step 6

Shape the mixture into a loaf about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide on a rimmed sheet pan.

Step 7

Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes until the top is deeply browned and a meat thermometer inserted into the center reads 160°F.

Step 8

Remove the pan from the oven and let the hackbraten rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Step 9

Slide a spatula under the loaf, lift it carefully onto a cutting board, and slice into 1-inch-thick slices with a sharp knife.