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Home » Dinner » Beef » Meatloaf Recipe

Meatloaf Recipe

Created: August 10, 2019 Updated: May 16, 2023 by Lyuba Brooke 47 Comments

88.9K shares
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Amazing meatloaf recipe, so tender and juicy. This classic recipe is easy to make by combining ingredients together and baking it in the oven. The glaze on top is a wonderful compliment to the meat and has only three simple ingredients. 

The most comforting dinner is homemade meatloaf with soft and fluffy mashed potatoes. 

several slices of meatloaf side by site topped with ketchup topping.

Table of Contents

  • Ingredient Notes
  • Gluten Free Notes
  • How To Make Meatloaf
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Freezing Instructions:
  • Some More Classic Italian Recipes
  • Meatloaf Recipe

Nothing gathers a family around the dinner table better than a plate full of juicy meatloaf with a side of fluffy mashed potatoes and green beans. When it comes to comforting, easy, and cheap dinners, meatloaf is perfect recipe. It comes out tender and juicy every time and the glaze on top is such a perfect addition of sweet and tangy flavors.

I’ve been tweaking this recipe for a few years and it’s time to update it for everyone else. To make sure that my meatloaf has the best texture, I use a combination of ground beef and ground pork, add finely diced onions, and use two eggs. For the best flavors, make sure to add Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and fresh herbs. The family will be begging for this every week!

There is never a need for gravy with this moist and flavorful meatloaf. You just need to decide what kind of sides you wish to serve with it. Do you want to go healthy or go all the way for comforting? Decide and enjoy this classic, always satisfying family dinner.

Ingredient Notes

labeled ingredients to make meatloaf on the cutting board.

Ground meats- I always, always use a combination of beef and pork in my meatloaf and meatballs. This is a great combination for juicy and tender meatloaf. Choose either an 85/15 or 90/10 ground beef for the best meat to fat ratios. Remember that when the meat is too lean, it will most likely come out dry.

Garlic – fresh garlic is always the best choice.

Bread crumbs – use Italian seasoned bread crumbs or Gluten Free bread crumbs if needed*.

Dijon mustard – use Dijon mustard for best results or spicy mustard if needed, but not yellow mustard.

Herbs – a combination of fresh dill weed and parsley.

See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.

Gluten Free Notes

It’s very simple to make this meatloaf recipe gluten free by just swapping out bread crumbs for gluten free bread crumbs. For this recipe, I prefer to use Italian bread crumbs.

Italian style gluten free bread crumbs are not as widely available as plain, so you may need to get plain gluten free crumbs and add dried parsley, dry oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to get the flavors into it. You only need a little bit of that seasoning in the bread crumbs as most of these flavors are already present in the meatloaf.

How To Make Meatloaf

collage of two images of ingredients for meatloaf in the bowl before and after mixing.

This is the best part about cooking meatloaf, it’s so easy! All you have to do is quickly combine the ingredients and pop it in the oven.

Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly grease a 9×5 loaf baking pan. 

Combine all the ingredients for the meatloaf in a mixing bowl (1 and 2) and mix it until ingredients are evenly incorporated throughout. Transfer the meat mixture into the prepared baking pan and use a wooden spoon to spread evenly in the pan (3). 

collage of two images of meat mixture spread in the baking pan and then baked.

How Long To Cook Meatloaf:

Cook meatloaf for 45-50 minutes until it reaches the internal temperature of about 155° (4). Mix the ingredients for the glaze and spread it over the top (5). Bake for another 10-15 minutes (6). Safe internal temperature for meatloaf is 160°.

collage of two images of adding ketchup topping and meatloaf baked.

Recipe FAQs

What side dishes go with meatloaf?

Italian Roasted Asparagus
Buttermilk Biscuits
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Bacon Green Beans
The Best Pan Gravy
Honey Butter Glazed Carrots
Ratatouille

Should I cover the meatloaf while baking?

No, bake meatloaf uncovered. There is no need to cover if and it will even take longer to bake if you do.

Is it better to bake meatloaf at 350° or 375°?

It’s better to cook it at 350°. Cooking it at higher temperature will run a chance that it will not be as moist. It will also cook the outside faster before it cooks the inside.

sliced meatloaf top on the cutting board.

Freezing Instructions:

If planning to freeze meatloaf, you can use aluminum loaf baking pans to bake it and freeze right in it. It can also be baked in a regular loaf baking pan and then transferred into aluminum ones after. 

Prepare the meat mixture according to the recipe and transfer into the baking pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until just cooked. Cool completely before freezing. Freeze the meatloaf without the topping.

Transfer the loaf into aluminum pan, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil and the plastic wrap. Label and freeze for up to 2-3 months.

Thaw overnight, in the refrigerator. Spread topping all over the top and reheat at 350° for 15-20 minutes. 

front view of sliced meatloaf on the cutting board.

Some More Classic Italian Recipes

Creamy Tomato Gnocchi

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Baked Ziti

Pomodoro Sauce

Classic Manicotti

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating! Let me know how you liked it by leaving the 📝 comment below or share and tag me on social media @willcookforsmiles. DON’T FORGET to subscribe to my newsletter!

sliced meatloaf top on the cutting board.

Meatloaf Recipe

Tender, juicy meatloaf recipe is so easy and makes the best comforting dinner. Serve it with fluffy mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetables.
4.91 from 21 votes
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Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 Serves 4-6
Calories: 755kcal
Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

Meatloaf:

  • 1 lb ground beef 90/10 lean to fat ratio
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
  • 3 garlic cloves pressed
  • 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp minced fresh dill weed
  • 1 Tbsp minded fresh parsley
  • salt
  • fresh cracked black pepper

Topping:

  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly grease a 9×5 loaf baking pan. 
  • Combine all the ingredients for the meatloaf in a mixing bowl and mix it until ingredients are evenly incorporated throughout.
  • Transfer the meat mixture into the prepared baking pan and use a wooden spoon to spread evenly in the pan.
  • Cook meatloaf for 45-50 minutes until it reaches the internal temperature of about 155°.
  • Mix the ingredients for the glaze and spread it over the top. Bake for another 10-15 minutes.
  • Let it rest for about 10 minutes before cutting.

Video

Notes

  • Gluten Free Notes: It’s very simple to make this meatloaf recipe gluten free by just swapping out bread crumbs for gluten free bread crumbs. Italian style gluten free bread crumbs are not as widely available as plain, so you may need to get plain gluten free crumbs and add dried parsley, dry oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to get the flavors into it. 
  • For Juicy Meatloaf: make sure to use a combination of ground pork and ground beef. Get ground beef that is 85/15 or 90/10 but no leaner. Bake it at 350° until reaches 155°, add the topping and bake another 10-15 minutes.
  • Freezing: Prepare the meat mixture according to the recipe and transfer into the baking pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until just cooked. Cool completely before freezing. Freeze the meatloaf without the topping. Transfer the loaf into aluminum pan, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil and the plastic wrap. Label and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight, in the refrigerator. Spread topping all over the top and reheat at 350° for 15-20 minutes.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 755kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 244mg | Sodium: 815mg | Potassium: 908mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 382IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 5mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles

Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on July 2, 2011.

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

88.9K shares

Filed Under: Beef, Dinner, Gluten Free

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. Alicia says

    January 31, 2023 at 5:57 pm

    My girls loved it!

    Reply
  2. Yvette says

    January 11, 2023 at 3:32 pm

    5 stars
    Easy to follow easy to make and very tasty

    Reply
  3. Joyce says

    November 21, 2022 at 4:59 pm

    Great tasting recipe. It is quick to make and the topping is delicious!. Amkeeper that the family loves.

    Reply
  4. Carla says

    November 8, 2022 at 11:24 pm

    5 stars
    Great simple recipe

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      November 10, 2022 at 11:50 am

      Thank you, Carla!

      Reply
  5. Priscilla says

    October 16, 2022 at 11:18 pm

    5 stars
    Okay, first time that I take the time to actually leave a comment but this recipe was AMAZING. My husband and I are Mexican. I did not grow up eating this at all. This meatloaf was so delicious and my husband rated it as his top five favorite foods…ever. This recipe is going into my family recipe book. Thank you for the amazing recipe!!!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      October 18, 2022 at 11:10 am

      Wow! Thank you for this amazing compliment! I am so glad he liked it so much and that you came by to tell me. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Brian says

    October 3, 2022 at 10:33 am

    Is the nutritional value for the whole thing or per serving?

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      October 3, 2022 at 11:17 am

      Hi Brian, It is the calories when splitting the meatloaf in 4 equal slices so if you made it into more slices it would reduce the calories.

      Reply
  7. Nadia says

    March 21, 2022 at 9:56 am

    How would you reheat this recipe after it sat in the refrigerator for one day?

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      September 26, 2022 at 11:12 am

      Hi Nadia,

      You can reheat it in the microwave for 45 seconds to a minute or you can slice it and heat it up in a pan for a few minutes on each side.

      Reply
  8. Stefanie says

    April 27, 2021 at 10:05 pm

    My fiance has never been big on meatloaf but I made this recipe for when his parents visited. And the other day when I asked what he wanted to have soon, he wanted meatloaf! My only issue is both times it takes much longer than the recommended time. I’m wondering if it’s maybe because I’m using a glass loaf pan rather than metal. Regardless, it’s delicious!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      May 3, 2021 at 9:53 am

      Hi Stefanie,

      Yes, The pan can make a difference, as well as the size. I have noticed that while cooking this dish so cook it until the internal temperature is 160°. I am glad you liked it though!

      Reply
  9. Fal says

    March 13, 2021 at 8:36 am

    5 stars
    Made this and it was sooooo good! My husband and I loved it! The 755 cals is the total cals for the loaf, not per serving right? Just double checking 🙂

    Reply
  10. Teresa says

    February 28, 2021 at 4:25 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy 😋 definitely make again. Only alteration I made was to increase to 3 eggs & I always double the garlic in every recipe I make (Garlic addict here) .

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      March 1, 2021 at 9:58 am

      Yum! Glad you liked it, Teresa!

      Reply
  11. Nicky says

    February 16, 2021 at 8:32 pm

    This is one of those recipes that’s really forgiving. I think you could switch out the seasonings for pretty much anything you want. If you don’t have the exact right measurement of anything it’s not going to ruin the recipe. Just make sure you don’t leave out the pork sausage.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      February 18, 2021 at 10:11 am

      Glad you like it, Nicky!

      Reply
  12. Carilyn says

    January 20, 2021 at 9:18 pm

    5 stars
    My husband says this is a 5 star meatloaf!! I agree!!

    Reply
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Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

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