This is the best meatloaf recipe ever! This traditional meatloaf recipe is just like mom used to make, made with ground beef and a sweet and tangy glaze topping.
What Makes A Really Good Meatloaf
I think the trick to good meatloaf is using lean ground beef. The problem with a lot of meatloaf recipes is that they call for ground beef with a high fat content. As the meatloaf cooks, the fat cooks out and makes a greasy mess. Not this recipe!
How To Keep It Moist
You may be thinking, but won’t lean ground beef make the meatloaf dry? Not at all! The milk, egg, ketchup, and diced onion in the meat mixture are all working to keep the meatloaf moist and delicious.
Loaf Pan Versus Baking Sheet
I prefer to use a loaf pan because it keeps all the glaze in place perfectly and the meat is juicier. But, you could line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Shape the meatloaf into a loaf shape. Top with the glaze. And, bake as normal.
How To Make The Best Meatloaf
*Note: This is a summary. The full printable recipe card is at the bottom of this post.
Make the Meatloaf:
- Add 90% lean ground beef to a large bowl.
- Add dried bread crumbs and some diced onion.
- Add milk, an egg, ketchup, and worcestershire sauce.
- Add dried parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Mix it together REALLY well.
- Pour the meat mixture into a loaf pan.
- Spread it into a flat even layer.
Make the Ketchup Glaze
- Add ketchup, brown sugar, and red wine vinegar to a bowl.
- Whisk until combined.
- Pour the glaze over the meatloaf.
- Bake it!
- Let it cool before slicing.
Can This Be Made Ahead Of Time
Absolutely! Just cover the loaf pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you’re ready for it. Then, uncover it and let it come to room temperature as you’re preheating the oven.
Can This Be Frozen
Yes! Prepare the meatloaf, put it in a loaf pan, and top with glaze according to the recipe directions. Cover the pan and freeze.
Place the frozen meatloaf in the refrigerator to thaw about 24 hours before you want to bake it. Then, uncover it and let it come to room temperature as you’re preheating the oven.
I’ve been playing around with this recipe for the past few months, making it many times. And, I didn’t mind the repetition at all because I do believe I ended up with the best classic meatloaf recipe ever. 🙂
More Easy Comfort Food Recipes
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The Best Classic Meatloaf Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 90% lean ground beef
- 1 cup dried bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 large egg beaten
- 2 tbsp. ketchup
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. dried parsley leaves
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- For the Topping:
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp. packed light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, add the beef, bread crumbs, onion, milk, egg, 2 tablespoons ketchup, worcestershire sauce, parsley, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Use your hands to mush and mix these ingredients together until well combined.*
- Add the meat mixture to a loaf pan. Pat the meat down into an even layer.
- In a small bowl, add ¼ cup ketchup, the brown sugar, and vinegar. Stir to combine. Pour the sauce on top of the meatloaf and spread it into an even layer.
- Bake uncovered for 55 minutes.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 8-10 minutes before serving (or it may fall apart).**
Notes
Nutrition
Check out all of my great ground beef recipes.
This was the best meatloaf I’ve ever made. Great recipe.
yes this meatloaf is gooooooood full of flavor!!! especially the topping! crazy thing i made the exact dinner in your pic above meatloaf, mixed veggies and potatoes!!! i didn’t realize that until after we ate and gonna leave a review!!
Hi Amanda. I have never made a meatloaf before, but I woke this morning longing for some meatloaf and homemade mashed potatoes. So I set out on www and came across your recipe and quickly realized that yours sounded like just what I was looking for. I made it exactly as your recipe. It came out perfect! However, I did use disposable gloves to mash up the ingredients. Man can’t live on bread alone! Great recipe! I’ll be exploring all your recipes now! Huge fan!
Thank you soo much! It’s going to be a great New Year trying out all of your recipes! Happy New Year!
Best meatloaf I’ve ever made! Cut salt to 1/4 tsp and red wine vinegar to 1 tsp. Left out the brown sugar. Thank you for the incredible recipe!
Love this meatloaf, my husband even makes it!! Thank You
My husband and I both loved this recipe just as published, no tweeks. Fabulous taste.
It was delicious !
I do not have sherry or red wine vinegar could aapple cider vinegar be used..t
Yes
Excellent recipe! Made for dinner last night and it was some of the best meatloaf I’ve ever had. It definitely reminded me of my moms recipe. My wife also enjoyed it. Substituted red onions instead of yellow onions.
So easy and delicious! I love the video which shared the parchment paper suggestion and the rest for 10 minutes. I made it tonight and my family loved it!
Great recipe. I added 1/4 cup of cheese, some thyme and basil.
looks REAL GOOD !!!
Delicious! Moist meatloaf… I will be making this version from
Now on! Thank you!!!!
Absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing. This is my new favorite.
This recipe was DELICIOUS! I changed a few things because of what I happened to have on hand at the time- I had a pork/beef mix and no onion so I used onion powder. I think the ketchup glaze is what sets this recipe apart- the glaze that burns/caramelizes that gets stuck to the side of the pan is so good! It’s quick to put together. Served with mac & cheese & broccoli. Can’t wait for leftovers!
Great meatloaf my husband loved it and so do I
Thanks for sharing this recipe
very easy to make and very tasty……….thank you!
Thank you for sharing your expertise making beautiful comfort food- my family loves the meatloaf it’s fabulous 🤪💕🙏
I loved it reminded me of my mom’s – I it was good this morning I found the empty dish in the sink – my ate the rest in the middle of the nite – that was my lunch – o well
I just made this delicious recipe with a couple of tweets based on ingredients I had. Used 1 pound of ground turkey and a 1/4 pound of 80% ground beef. Just upped the rest of ingredients a tad since I had more meat. Didn’t have dried parsley so I used herbs de Provence and substitute a sherry vinegar for the red wine vinegar.. Absolutely the best meatloaf I have ever made or tasted. Thumbs up for this recipe!
Awesome!!!
I sauteed the onion before adding to meat mixture and added 1/4cup sauteed red bell pepper as well.
I think this is the best meatloaf I have ever made.
Yum!!!
I agree, it is the best recipe for meatloaf that I have ever tried.
I used diced green onions instead of yellow onion & reduced sugar ketchup. I used a thin coating of Open Pit BBQ sauce on the top before baking. (one less step). I make 2 small loaves, so I can use it later or freeze it. Letting it sit stand for a while after removing it from oven is a good idea. The slices stay together. Thank you for the fabulous recipe!!!
I’ve made this twice and it’s been great both times. I’m now doing it again. Looking forward to tonight’s dinner!
Thanks for the recipe. I made it this evening and it was delish, everyone loved it. Best meatloaf ever. Very moist with lots of flavor. I sautéed green onion and red pepper as someone sujected.