Best Meatloaf Recipe
Posted Feb 26, 2021, Updated Mar 06, 2024
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This is the best meatloaf recipe ever! It’s tender, moist and flavorful with the most delicious glaze. This easy meatloaf recipe is a classic that your whole family will love. Watch the video and follow our step-by-step instructions to learn how to make meatloaf.
We love meatloaf in our house, and this is the best meatloaf recipe ever. I promise you, just one bite will will turn a meatloaf skeptic into a meatloaf fanatic!
This easy meatloaf recipe is a classic that your whole family will love. Best served with a side of mashed potatoes and roasted green beans, of course.
In this post, I walk through all my tips and tricks from decades of experience to ensure you learn how to make meatloaf perfectly every single time.
Meatloaf Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
Let’s discuss the ingredients in this meatloaf recipe, as well as possible substitutions.
- Ground beef. Use 85/15% or 93/7% lean ground beef for the best results. Or, try this turkey meatloaf recipe.
- Bread Crumbs. I explain how to make your own breadcrumbs (so easy) in the recipe, you can substitute quick-cooking oats for the breadcrumbs if desired.
- Onion. any onion variety works well, sweet onions, red, yellow, white, etc.
- Whole Milk. half and half or heavy cream are good substitutes.
- BBQ Sauce. Choose your favorite variety. We love using a bold and slightly sweet sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce. If you don’t have any Worcestershire sauce on hand, increase the barbecue sauce by 2 Tablespoons.
- Minced garlic. freshly roasted and crushed garlic can be used in place of store-bought minced garlic. You can also substitute 1 tsp garlic powder for 1 Tablespoon minced garlic.
- Light brown sugar. dark brown sugar works really well too!
How to Make Meatloaf
Let’s walk through the steps together as I show you how to make meatloaf, and don’t forget to watch the video!
Make the Glaze (Topping)
The first step in this meatloaf recipe (after preheating the oven, of course), is making the glaze. It’s good to make it and set it aside so it’s ready to go when needed.
It’s easy to make, simply whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl or 2-cup glass measuring cup, and set it aside to use later.
Make the Meatloaf
Next, to ensure even distribution throughout the ground beef mixture, whisk together the wet ingredients in a large bowl.
Once the wet mixture is smooth, add the meat, onions and bread crumbs and stir until combined.
Prepare a Metal Rack
Line a wire rack with aluminum foil and poke holes in it, then place it on a large baking sheet. I prefer to bake my meatloaf this way (rather than in a loaf pan).
Baking it on a wire rack with holes in it allows the fat to drain off (instead of getting trapped in the loaf pan). It also means there is more of an outer surface area for the sauce to stick to, which is the best part.
You can also simply bake it on a wire rack if it has very small spaces. Or you can bake it on a baking sheet and drain off excess fat.
Form the Meatloaf
Form the meatloaf mixture into a large loaf – about 10” by 5” by 2″ and place it in the center of the wire rack.
Bake
Bake the meatloaf for 40 minutes until the top starts looking slightly browned and set.
Add Glaze
After 40 minutes, remove the meatloaf from the oven, spread the glaze on top and bake for 10 more minutes or until meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
If necessary, broil for the 2-4 minutes to caramelize the top. I love doing this because it makes the top nice and crisp.
Cool & Serve
Let this easy meatloaf recipe cool for at least 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
This meatloaf deserves to be served with the best side dishes. Some of our favorites include, but are not limited to:
- Mashed potatoes
- Green beans
- Roasted vegetables. Especially roasted broccoli, roasted carrots, and roasted Brussel sprouts with bacon.
- Salad. Try any one of our salad recipes – especially burrata salad or spinach salad.
- Bread. fresh, warm homemade bread is a perfect side dish to this easy meatloaf. try this no knead bread, homemade dinner rolls, pretzel bread, and this amazing cornbread.
How to Store Meatloaf
Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Or, freeze leftovers in a freezer-friendly, airtight container, silicone bag or plastic bag for up to 2 months. Reheat in a covered dish in the oven set to warm.
Best Meatloaf Recipe FAQs
In this recipe, milk, BBQ sauce and egg adds moisture to the meatloaf so it is not dry. Also, make sure to use a thermometer to test for doneness to avoid over-baking (and thus, drying out) the meatloaf.
Yes! I recommend freezing this meatloaf recipe in individual slices in an airtight container for up to 2 months. To reheat, remove from the freezer and warm in the microwave or covered in the oven.
The milk acts as a binding agent along with the eggs. It soaks into the breadcrumbs and keeps the loaf held together and moist.
In this recipe the meatloaf is baked uncovered to brown and crisp the outside.
A combination of eggs and bread crumbs/milk.
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Best Meatloaf Recipe
Ingredients
Meatloaf
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ¼ cup bread crumbs (1 slice of bread made into bread crumbs)
- ½ cup onion finely diced
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 eggs
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Topping:
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (175°C).
Make the Glaze
- Combine ketchup brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl, set aside.
Make the Meatloaf
- In a large bowl whisk together milk, BBQ sauce, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt and pepper.
- Add meat, onions and bread crumbs and stir until combined.
- Line a wire rack with aluminum foil and poke holes in it, then place it on a large baking sheet
- Form the mixture into a large loaf (about 10” by 5” by 2”)
- Bake for 40 minutes.
- Remove from oven, spread sauce on top and bake for 10 more minutes or until meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
- If necessary, broil for the 2-4 minutes to caramelize the top.
- Remove from oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- Ground beef. Use 85/15% or 93/7% lean ground beef for the best results. Or, try this turkey meatloaf recipe.
- Bread Crumbs. Make your own, or use quick-cooking oats if desired.
- Onion. any onion variety works well, sweet onions, red, yellow, white, etc.
- Whole Milk. half and half or heavy cream are good substitutes.
- BBQ Sauce. Choose your favorite variety. We love using a bold and slightly sweet sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce. If you don’t have any Worcestershire sauce on hand, increase the barbecue sauce by 2 Tablespoons.
- Minced garlic. freshly roasted and crushed garlic can be used in place of store-bought minced garlic. You can also substitute 1 tsp garlic powder for 1 Tablespoon minced garlic.
- Light brown sugar. dark brown sugar works well.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe! I make my own tweaks to it, like omit BBQ sauce and add some extra herbs. Doing half the meat as sausage is a nice twist too! This is a perfect recipe to get a delicious loaf, but also easy to tweak. I’ve referred to it several times!
This is my favorite meatloaf recipe of all the ones I’ve made, including Paula Deen’s.
Thank you Kim! That is a very kind and humbling compliment! I’m so glad you love this recipe as much as we do!
I have made several times. Sooo delish.
Thank you Anette! I’m so glad you love this recipe as much as we do!
Delicious, I am making it for second time – my family loves it
Thank you Melissa, I’m so glad you love it as much as we do!
Thank you for this wonderful recipe. My family thanks you also .They ate every bite There is not a crumb left Best meatloaf loaf EVER!!!!!
Thank you so much Joann! I’m so glad your entire family loves it as much as we do!
Love this recipe. I used venison instead of ground round
Agree with Jasmine! Cooking for a group of people tmw. It sounds Delicious
Delicious! Wonderful recipe!
Amazing! My husband loves meatloaf night. I substitute ground sausage for 1 lb. of hamburger meat. This is so simple but flavorful and platter ready to serve to guests.
The BEST meatloaf I’ve ever made! I haven’t made meatloaf in about 20 years because it never tastes good when I do…but that has changed now that I have this recipe! I followed it exactly as written except I needed a little more bread crumbs (I used store-bought bread crumbs). So good! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I’m SO glad you love this recipe as much as we do, Reese!