01 -
Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Use parchment paper or foil to line a rimmed baking tray—it makes cleaning way easier.
02 -
In a medium-sized pan, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium heat. Toss in the chopped onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they’re soft and golden (about 5-7 minutes). Let the onions cool on a plate.
03 -
In a big bowl, mix the ground beef, cooled onions, eggs, garlic, ketchup, parsley, breadcrumbs, milk, salt, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Use your hands to combine everything until it’s just mixed. Don’t overdo it; you want to keep the texture light.
04 -
Place the meat mix on your prepared sheet, shaping it into a loaf about 20 cm by 10 cm by 7.5 cm (8x4x3 inches). Bake for 40 minutes, uncovered, at 175°C (350°F).
05 -
Use a small bowl to stir together ketchup, white vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth.
06 -
Spread the sauce mixture across the top of the loaf. Bake for another 20 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer shows 71°C (160°F) in the middle. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes before slicing it up.