This really is the best meatloaf recipe, it’s easy to make and tastes delicious.
It’s made with lean ground beef, a handful of seasonings, onions, and a sprinkle of breadcrumbs. Then, it’s baked in the oven with a tasty zesty topping.
Below are my favorite tips for a homemade meatloaf that will have everyone asking for seconds.
This easy meatloaf recipe is a family favorite and all 4 of my kids told me it’s one of their top childhood favorites! Serve with a side of mashed potatoes or mac and cheese for the perfect comforting meal.
Ingredients for a Classic Meatloaf
- Ground beef: I recommend using 80/20 ground beef for the perfect balance of flavor and juiciness.
- Breadcrumbs: These help the meatloaf hold together and give it the right texture. Italian or seasoned breadcrumbs have extra flavor, but Panko bread crumbs will work too.
- Eggs: These help bind the meatloaf so it doesn’t fall apart when you cut it.
- Onions: Chopped onions add extra flavor to the meatloaf, pre-cooking them makes sure the flavor isn’t too strong.
- Seasonings: Fresh parsley adds a bright, fresh flavor while Italian seasoning are savory and aromatic. Of course, salt and pepper are essential for any recipe, and they help bring out the flavors of the other ingredients.
Meatloaf Sauce
My favorite meatloaf topping is a flavorful zesty topping that caramelizes and gets a bit sticky to glaze the meatloaf as it bakes.
In this sauce for meatloaf, I use a combination of chili sauce and ketchup (just like my mom always made) and a pinch of brown sugar.
Variations & Additions
As this is a classic meatloaf recipe, I keep it simple but you can add in your favorite additions.
- Meat: You can add ½ pound lean ground pork in place of some of the beef or try 1 pound ground beef mixed with 1 pound ground turkey (cook to 165°F if adding turkey).
- Seasonings: Add seasonings like garlic powder (1 tsp), Worcestershire sauce (1 tbs), or some chopped and cooked green bell pepper
- Brown Sugar Meatloaf Glaze: Use equal parts brown sugar and ketchup with 2 teaspoons of cider vinegar to make a meatloaf glaze in place of the topping below.
- Brown Gravy: Skip the meatloaf topping altogether and serve it with brown gravy instead (homemade, leftover, or packaged).
How To Make Meatloaf
- Soften the onion in a pan (per recipe below).
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Form into a loaf on a baking sheet and bake (cook times below based on the size of the loaf).
- Top with the meatloaf sauce and bake until bubbly.
Tips for the Best Meatloaf
- Do Not Overmix: Mix the ingredients in a large bowl just until combined – overmixing will result in a dense meatloaf.
- Use Lean Meat: Use lean beef (but not extra lean). 80/20 is ideal for the best flavor and consistency without too much fat.
- Add flavors and moisture: Keep your meatloaf moist and flavorful by adding seasonings and soaking the breadcrumbs in milk.
- Skip the Loaf Pan: Use a baking sheet to cook this meatloaf recipe. A loaf pan will cause the meatloaf to steam in the drippings instead of getting a nice crisp exterior.
- Rest the Meatloaf: Let the meatloaf rest once it comes out of the oven to redistribute the juices and make it easier to slice without falling apart.
How Long To Cook Meatloaf
The 2 lb meatloaf recipe below cooks at 350°F for about 55-65 minutes or at 375°F for 45-55 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
If you are making half of a recipe (or increasing it) you can use the cook times below to cook at 350°F. A thermometer is the best way to ensure the meatloaf is cooked through yet perfectly tender.
Bake a 1lb meatloaf for about 45 minutes total.
Bake a 2lb meatloaf for about 55 minutes total.
Bake a 3 lb meatloaf for about 1 hour & 20 minutes.
Before Cooking: To freeze meatloaf before cooking, place in a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap (or form a loaf on a pan). Freeze completely, seal well. Defrost raw frozen meatloaf in the refrigerator 24 hours. Bake as directed. The meatloaf will likely need an extra 15 minutes of cooking time.
After Cooking: Once cooked and cooled, freeze individual slices on a parchment-lined pan. Once the slices are frozen, transfer to a freezer bag. This makes it easy to grab one slice or several to reheat! Simply reheat in the microwave or in the oven.
Meatloaf can be prepared as directed, covered with plastic wrap, and stored in the fridge a day ahead of time before baking. Remove the meatloaf from the fridge 30 minutes before baking. If cold from the fridge, you may need to add a few minutes of cooking time.
Store leftover meatloaf in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Keep meatloaf in an airtight container in the fridge or wrap it in plastic wrap. To store in the freezer, slice the meatloaf first for easier thawing and heat it up in the oven or microwave until it’s warm and heated through.
Leftover meatloaf makes great patty melts too!
What to Serve With Meatloaf
I usually serve a cozy-carby side and a fresh vegetable with meatloaf. Here are a few of our favorites.
Did your family love this meatloaf recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and review below!
The Best Meatloaf Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ medium onion diced
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup milk
- ¾ cup Italian breadcrumbs or seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 pounds lean ground beef 80/20
- 1 tablespoon ketchup or chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt & ½ teaspoon black pepper more to taste
Meatloaf Sauce
- ½ cup chili sauce *see note
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
- In a small pan, cook onions in butter over medium low heat until tender. Let them cool completely.
- In a medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, and breadcrumbs. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Add the ground beef, cooked onions, ketchup or chili sauce, Italian seasoning, parsley, and salt & pepper to the bowl. Mix until just combined.
- Form a 8"x4" loaf on the prepared baking pan and bake for 40 minutes.
- While the meatloaf is cooking, combine the chili sauce and ketchup (and brown sugar if using). Spread mixture over the meatloaf and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until cooked through and the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Broil for 1-2 minutes if desired.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
More Comfort Food Favorites
- Spaghetti and Meatballs – Family favorite
- Braised Beef Short Ribs
- Ground Beef Stroganoff (Hamburger) – Quick and easy!
- Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
- Mushroom Salisbury Steak – Ground beef in a delicious mushroom gravy
- Mississippi Pot Roast
- Easy Homemade Lasagna
Can you use elk meat ?
I have never tried this recipe with Elk Meat. Maybe another reader has and can offer you some guidance.
Today is Super Bowl Sunday and regardless of who wins in football I know one thing is true – – this meatball recipe was winner winner meatloaf dinner!! Just for me LoL. I might add additional seasoning next time but other than that I loved it. Served with horseradish mashed potatoes, asparagus, and salad. Delicious!
I’ve made this recipe a few times lately and it is so delicious. I even took it to a pot luck over the weekend and it totally disappeared. I love it. Thank you.
I have I’m making my meatloaf
Making this for a crowd. Can it be doubled or is baking two at the same time a bad idea?
That should work fine but you will want to use a meat thermometer to make sure it reached an internal temperature of 160°F to make sure they are fully cooked. Which may take slightly longer with two meatloaves in the oven.
This was the best meatloaf I’ve ever made! I added about a tbsp of worcestershire sauce to the meat and used BBQ instead of chili sauce for the topping.
So good! Thank you!
i love this recipe but im wondering if it will work with 3 lbs of ground beef?
Yes, bake a 3 lb meatloaf for about 1 hour 20 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
great recipe my mother and aunt loves it all Thank you
My husband said this is the best meatloaf he’s ever had, and I’d have to agree! My kids also ate it without complaining, so I’d call it a win!
do I cover with foil when I cook it in the oven
This is baked uncovered.
This is now the meatloaf recipe I will make every time! It was very moist and everyone loved it! Thank you for sharing!
I made this today. When I gave a taste of it to my wife, she said something that she’s never said about anything I ever cooked, “That’s delicious!” I used the chili sauce/ketchup (no brown sugar) for the topping and it was very flavorful. A half cup of each ingredient seemed to be too much for just the top so I recommend covering the whole loaf with it.
awesome meatloaf, I think this is the best meatloaf I have ever made!! so juicy and tender, I always have a hard time getting the seasoning right, I always get too much of something and it doesn’t taste good, this recipe was spot on, the only thing I did differently was I added green peppers with the onions, thanks for the recipe, definitely a keeper!!
Can I make mini meatloaves using this recipe and a muffin tin? I think they’d make nice little snacks for a party.
Hi Kate! You can make this recipe and follow our Mini Meatloaf recipe for cooking times! Enjoy.
I’ve made this meatloaf twice and it turned out great both times. My family likes spicy so I added some hot sauce (instead of chili sauce) with the ketchup. I did have to cook it longer the second time because I had a bit more ground beef than the recipe calls for.
Can I make this a day ahead and bake the next day?
Yes, this can be prepared ahead of time and baked the next day. If preparing ahead of time and the meatloaf is chilled from the fridge it might need a little bit of extra cooking time. Let us know how it turns out for you, Trish!
Delicious!
Truly the best! I never thought to let the breadcrumbs soak in the milk/eggs before. It made a PERFECT meatloaf. I used 1 lb sausage and it gave it a nice kick! I used ketchup/bbq sauce mix as it’s our favorite, though a little brown sugar I bet would’ve helped with the spice that was added due to me using sausage instead of all ground beef. Nonetheless, this is the best recipe I’ve made!! Will be doing this again.