The Best Easy Meatloaf Recipe for Cozy Family Dinners

Tucking into a classic meatloaf brings back memories of comfortable kitchen moments.

Hearty flavors and simple ingredients combine to create a satisfying meal.

Home cooks appreciate how straightforward this dish can be for weeknight dinners.

Every bite delivers rich, savory goodness that feels like a warm culinary hug.

Mixing ground meat with herbs and breadcrumbs ensures a delightful texture and robust taste.

Seasoning plays a crucial role in making this comfort food truly memorable.

You’ll want to gather your ingredients and start cooking right away.

Why This Meatloaf Is a No-Fuss Favorite

• Whip Up Comfort Quickly: Perfect for busy home cooks seeking a speedy, satisfying meal that requires minimal preparation and delivers maximum flavor in under an hour.
• Family-Friendly Feast: Appeals to all ages with its classic, hearty taste and simple ingredients that even picky eaters will enjoy, making dinner time stress-free and delicious.
• Minimal Ingredient Magic: Requires just pantry staples and ground beef, eliminating complicated shopping trips and allowing you to create a wholesome meal without special culinary skills.
• Budget-Conscious Cooking: Provides an economical dinner solution that feeds multiple people affordably, using inexpensive ingredients while delivering rich, traditional flavors everyone will love.

Classic Meatloaf Ingredient List

• Ground Beef: A juicy protein foundation that gives the meatloaf its main structure and flavor, choose 80/20 lean to fat ratio for best results.

• Breadcrumbs, Eggs, Milk: Work together to hold the meatloaf together and create a tender texture, use fresh breadcrumbs for lighter consistency.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall meat flavor, freshly ground pepper provides more depth.

• Onion, Garlic: Aromatic vegetables that add rich, savory undertones, finely chop for even distribution.
• Worcestershire Sauce, Ketchup: Provide tangy and sweet notes that complement the beef, use high-quality brands for better taste.
• Brown Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness to the glaze, balances the savory elements of the dish.

Easy Meatloaf Dinner Method

Step 1: Fire Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 375°F.

Grab a loaf pan and give it a quick spray of cooking oil or line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Step 2: Mix Flavor Powerhouses

• Ground beef
• Breadcrumbs
• Eggs
• Milk
• Chopped onion
• Minced garlic
• Ketchup
• Worcestershire sauce
• Salt
• Black pepper

Dive in with your hands and gently blend everything.

Be careful not to overwork the mixture – you want it tender, not tough.

Step 3: Shape Your Meaty Masterpiece

Scoop the mixture into your prepared pan or shape it into a beautiful freeform loaf.

Use gentle hands to smooth the top, ensuring even cooking.

Step 4: Create the Tangy Glaze

• Ketchup
• Brown sugar
• Worcestershire sauce

Slather this delicious glaze all over the top of your meatloaf, creating a mouthwatering golden crust.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Slide the meatloaf into the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes.

You’ll know it’s done when the internal temperature hits 160°F.

Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing – this helps keep all those amazing juices locked in.

Simple Steps for Juicy Meatloaf

• Use a light touch when combining ingredients to prevent a dense, tough meatloaf. Fold ingredients together just until they're incorporated, avoiding aggressive mixing.
• Select ground beef with a fat content around 80/20 for maximum flavor and moisture. Leaner meats can result in a dry final dish.
• Experiment with additional flavor enhancers like hot sauce, mustard, or a splash of apple cider vinegar in the glaze for a personalized twist.
• Use a meat thermometer inserted into the center to ensure safe cooking and perfect doneness. 160°F guarantees fully cooked meatloaf without drying out the meat.
• Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes after baking, which helps the proteins settle and makes slicing easier without the loaf falling apart.

Meatloaf That’s Just as Tasty the Next Day

• Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for 3-4 days to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Wrap individual slices or whole meatloaf tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months for best quality and taste.
• Preheat oven to 350°F, place meatloaf slices in a baking dish, cover with foil, and warm for 15-20 minutes. Add a splash of broth to prevent drying out.
• Place meatloaf slice on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals until warmed through. Check internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety.

Serve These With Easy Meatloaf

• Savor Hearty Red Wine Pairing: Robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot complements the rich, meaty flavors of the meatloaf, cutting through its dense texture with bold tannins and fruity undertones.
• Complement Classic Sides: Creamy mashed potatoes or roasted garlic parmesan vegetables create a balanced plate, soaking up the meatloaf's savory juices and adding textural contrast.
• Match Tangy Condiment Companions: Zesty homemade coleslaw or bright pickled vegetables provide a refreshing acidic counterpoint to the meatloaf's hearty profile, cleansing the palate between bites.
• Enhance Comfort Beverage: Dark craft beer like a stout or amber ale offers a malty, slightly bitter flavor that echoes the Worcestershire sauce and ketchup glaze, creating a satisfying meal experience.

Meatloaf You Can Make Your Own

• Lean Protein Option: Replace ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter, lower-fat version that maintains great flavor and texture.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour, crushed gluten-free crackers, or rolled oats to make the recipe celiac-friendly.
• Vegetarian Transformation: Substitute ground meat with lentils, mushrooms, and plant-based protein crumbles, using eggs or a vegan egg replacer to bind the mixture together.
• Spicy Southwest Remix: Add diced green chilies, cumin, and chili powder to the meat mixture, then top with a salsa-based glaze for a zesty southwestern-inspired meatloaf experience.

FAQs

• Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?

Yes, you can substitute ground turkey for ground beef. Keep in mind that turkey is leaner, so the meatloaf might be slightly drier. Add an extra egg or a bit more milk to maintain moisture.

• How do I know if the meatloaf is fully cooked?

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The meatloaf is safe to eat when it reaches 160°F (71°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, cut into the center to ensure there’s no pink meat.

• Why should I mix the ingredients gently?

Overmixing can make the meatloaf dense and tough. Gently combine the ingredients just until they’re incorporated to keep the texture light and tender. Use your hands or a fork to mix without compressing the meat too much.

• Can I prepare the meatloaf ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the meatloaf earlier in the day and refrigerate it, covered, until you’re ready to bake. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if you’re baking it straight from the refrigerator.

Easy Meatloaf Recipe

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4.7 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Comfort meets classic with this hearty Meatloaf recipe that brings savory goodness straight to your dinner table. Packed with rich flavors and simple ingredients, you’ll find this dish becomes an instant family favorite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1.5 pounds (680 grams) ground beef
• 2 large eggs

Binding and Moisture Ingredients:

• 0.75 cup (120 grams) breadcrumbs
• 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) milk

Flavoring and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 0.5 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup ketchup (for meat mixture)
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce (for meat mixture)

Glaze Ingredients:

• 0.25 cup ketchup (for glaze)
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce (for glaze)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

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Instructions

1. Prepare the cooking vessel by lightly greasing a loaf pan or lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat the oven to a moderate temperature of 375°F (190°C), ensuring an even cooking environment.
2. In a spacious mixing bowl, gently combine ground beef with breadcrumbs, creating a foundational texture. Incorporate beaten eggs and milk to bind the mixture, then fold in finely diced onions and crushed garlic for aromatic depth.
3. Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper to the meat mixture. Use fingertips to delicately blend ingredients, being careful not to compress the meat, which could result in a dense final product.
4. Mold the meat mixture into a uniform loaf shape, either pressing into the prepared pan or crafting a free-form loaf on the baking sheet. Smooth the surface to promote consistent cooking and aesthetic appeal.
5. Craft a tangy glaze by whisking together ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Generously brush the mixture across the meatloaf’s surface, creating a glossy, caramelized coating.
6. Position the meatloaf in the preheated oven and roast for approximately 50-60 minutes. Monitor the internal temperature, aiming for 160°F (71°C) to ensure thorough cooking and food safety.
7. Remove from the oven and allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes, enabling juices to redistribute and ensuring a moist, tender result when sliced.

Notes

• Use lean ground beef with around 85% lean meat to prevent excessive grease and maintain a moist texture.
• Gently mix ingredients to avoid overworking the meat, which can create a dense, tough meatloaf.
• Add extra moisture by soaking breadcrumbs in milk before mixing, ensuring a tender and juicy result.
• Experiment with alternative meat blends like turkey or a mix of beef and pork for different flavor profiles and dietary preferences.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 23 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg