With a sweet yet simple glaze, classic meatloaf is a flavourful and filling comfort food. This simple dinner will leave you feeling satisfied from start to finish. Milk, eggs, and breadcrumbs add a moistness that will leave every member of the family coming back for more. With barely any prep work, classic meatloaf is the perfect weeknight meal—and everyone will agree.
Why You'll Love This Classic Meatloaf Recipe
- Say goodbye to dry meatloaf. This classic meatloaf recipe is more than just tasty. With the perfect texture and consistency, your loaf will come out moist and delicious every time. When you use this recipe, you won't need glaze or gravy to come to the rescue.
- Simple ingredients with complex flavour. Made with basic ingredients and spices that you can find in almost any home, this classic meatloaf recipe is easy to prepare for. Pick up an onion and some ground beef, and you should be good to go!
- It's customizable. Not a fan of whole onions? Want to add a dash of sweet or a pinch of spicy? No problem! You can adjust the flavor to make your own special classic meatloaf without sacrificing texture—just be sure to use enough binder!
Ingredients
To make this delicious classic meatloaf, you will need the following ingredients:
- ground beef - I would recommend using lean ground beef in this recipe. Fattier meats produce more oil and can result in a greasy loaf. 90% lean ground beef will give you the best results. You can also substitute the beef with an equal amount of ground turkey. Just be sure to cook it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, as read on a meat thermometer.
- breadcrumbs
- milk
- eggs
- onion
- garlic
- seasonings - fresh parsley, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, salt, and pepper.
- glaze - made with ketchup and BBQ sauce.
- fresh parsley - optional, for serving.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, large mixing bowl, 1 lb. loaf pan, and quarter sheet baking pan (or 9x13-inch casserole pan).
How to Make the Best Classic Meatloaf
- Combine ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine beef, bread crumbs, milk, eggs, Italian seasoning, onion, garlic, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, salt and pepper. Mix well until the mixture forms into a uniform consistency.
- Shape the meatloaf. Transfer the beef mixture into a lightly oiled 9x5-inch loaf pan (1 lb. loaf pan), and invert it upside down onto a quarter sheet baking pan or 9x13-inch casserole pan to transfer the meatloaf over.
- Bake. Bake in a 350 F preheated oven for 1 hour until the internal temperature reaches 160F, as read on a meat thermometer.
- Add glaze and bake longer. In a small bowl, whisk to combine ketchup and BBQ sauce. Spread the sauce evenly over the meatloaf. Then, return the meatloaf back into oven and bake for additional 10 to 15 minutes to create a beautiful caramelized glaze.
- Serve. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately with a side of mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables. Drizzle any extra pan juices on top for extra flavour.
Tips for Making the Best Meatloaf
- Can I make gluten-free meatloaf? Yes, making a gluten-free meatloaf is easy! Instead of breadcrumbs, use crushed up Rice Chex or Corn Chex.
- Can I make dairy-free meatloaf? Yes, you can easily substitute the milk for your favourite unsweetened and unflauvored non-dairy milk.
- How to store: Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- How to freeze: If you want to freeze your meatloaf, you should freeze it before cooking instead of after. Pack it into your pan, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before cooking.
- How to make meatballs: Love this recipe? You can turn the beef mixture into meatballs instead of a meatloaf! Just roll the beef mixture into 1.5-inch thick meatballs, and then cook. You can cook the meatballs in one of 2 ways:
- In the oven: Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place meatballs on a lined half sheet baking pan and cook for 15 minutes until fully cooked, once internal temperature reaches 160F).
- On the stovetop: In a large skillet, heat some butter or oil over medium-high heat until sizzling, about 2 minutes. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides and fully cooked, about 7-8 minutes. Make sure to stir gently to prevent the meatballs from disintegrating.
More Ground Beef Recipes
- Ground Beef Meat Pie
- Swedish Meatballs
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Slow Cooker Beef Chili
- Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Easy Meat Lasagna
- Beef Cabbage Barley Soup
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Recipe
Classic Meatloaf
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
Description
This hearty classic meatloaf with a caramelized glaze will nourish your body and soul. Feed the whole family with a simple yet flavourful classic.
Ingredients
For the meatloaf:
- 2 lbs. ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
For the glaze:
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine beef, bread crumbs, milk, eggs, Italian seasoning, onion, garlic, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, salt and pepper. Mix well until the mixture forms into a uniform consistency.
- Transfer the beef mixture into a lightly oiled 9x5-inch loaf pan (1 lb. loaf pan), and invert it upside down onto a quarter sheet baking pan or 9x13-inch casserole pan to transfer the meatloaf over.
- Bake for 1 hour until the internal temperature reaches 160F, as read on a meat thermometer.
- In a small bowl, whisk to combine ketchup and BBQ sauce. Spread the sauce evenly over the meatloaf. Then, return the meatloaf back into oven and bake for additional 10 to 15 minutes to create a beautiful caramelized glaze.
- Garnish with parsley and serve immediately with a side of mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables. Drizzle any extra pan juices on top for extra flavour.
Notes
Gluten-free option: Making gluten-free meatloaf is easy! Instead of breadcrumbs, use crushed up Rice Chex or Corn Chex.
Dairy-free option: You can easily substitute the milk for your favourite unsweetened and unflauvored non-dairy milk.
How to store: Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
How to freeze: If you want to freeze your meatloaf, you should freeze it before cooking instead of after. Pack it into your pan, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before cooking.
How to make meatballs: Love this recipe? You can turn the beef mixture into meatballs instead of a meatloaf! Just roll the beef mixture into 1.5-inch thick meatballs, and then cook. You can cook the meatballs in one of 2 ways:
- In the oven: Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place meatballs on a lined half sheet baking pan and cook for 15 minutes until fully cooked, once internal temperature reaches 160F).
- On the stovetop: In a large skillet, heat some butter or oil over medium-high heat until sizzling, about 2 minutes. Add meatballs and cook until browned on all sides and fully cooked, about 7-8 minutes. Make sure to stir gently to prevent the meatballs from disintegrating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Beef
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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Priscilla says
Made this meatloaf for Sunday supper. Big hit with my husband and my brother! I will be making it again and again!
Izzy says
Easy to make and just as tasty, this is a great meatloaf recipe for a cozy family night!
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you Izzy. Enjoy!
Taryn says
Very moist and flavorful. Will make again!
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you so much Taryn! So happy you liked the recipe!