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. 🙂
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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.
Would 93 percent lean work?
Made this tonight for my guy, absolutely loved it! I wanted a change from my typical Campbell’s soup meatloaf and we were not disappointed at all. Didn’t change anything, it was perfect!
Can this recipe be doubled?
Very good recipe! I have added this to my core list of favoeite comfort foods! Added more salt after tasting & will add more worchester to next loaf.
Thank you.
Norwegian Rose 🙂
This meatloaf recipe tastes amazing.
I’ve made this a handful of times for our family and we love it. I do 1.34lb beef and adjust the ingredients then double the topping. I’ve also cooked some mushrooms to go in twice, I still bake for just an hour @ 350° and it comes out so moist and perfect.
Did u put mushrooms in the meatloaf mixture? I love mushrooms and was wandering if it will be good with cup of saute’ mushrooms in the mixture and then following the recipe the same…
Would really appreciate the response💌😊
Great recipe. Skipped the milk. Wanted to make this gluten-free so I tossed in a handful of uncooked quinoa – probably quarter cup to 1 pound of meat. Also mixed in chopped up raw zucchini, about a cup along with chopped raw red onion. The extra moisture provided by the veggies required no adjustment to liquids. Used leftover marinara sauce with balsamic vinegar And a bit of brown sugar for the topping. Unfortunately no leftovers for lunch the next day. Enjoy
In other words, you didn’t use the recipe
Best meatloaf I ever had! I always disliked meatloaf as a kid. This recipe has me actually wanting to make meatloaf its yummy
This was DELICIOUS – I haven’t had meat loaf in a while because bread crumbs and diabetes don’t mix well, but I found some pork rind “panko” crumbs that made me want to try it tonight. I followed the recipe exactly (except using the new crumbs) and it turned out amazing and I can’t wait to have the leftovers and make it again through the winter. Thank you for posting!
Can I make this with pork AND beef?
I would think so. I’ve made it with beef and turkey mixed and it was great.
I use a veal, pork and beef mixture. I also use Panko instead of bread crumbs. Outstanding.
absolutely! I make this meatloaf using half very lean beef and half ground pork (or actually pork sausage -because we like the flavor of the sausage.)
Yes, that’s all I’ll use because using just beef makes the meatloaf fall apart.
I am sure you could and was considering trying that next time. I have a friend who is allergic to beef and she’s going to try with turkey and pork sausage. I think it would still be delicious
More than enough for our small family of 3. Made with mashed potatoes and gravy and glazed baby carrots. Better than the restaurant’s we usually get it from! It is very dense, but that just means it will keep you Fuller, longer;)!
So happy to have found one that did not become a hollowed out shell with all the juices running out!!!
Thank you for sharing!
I’m an old, widowed male. I fixed this recipe tonight and it turned out great.
Thank you for the recipe. I haven’t had meatloaf since my wife passed a couple of years ago.
Thanks again. Merry Christmas.
Searching for a recipe and saw this comment and it touched my heart, so I made this recipe. Agreed, great recipe! Will be adding to the rotation.
Epic. I dislike meatloaf. I think it’s just how others have made it. I made this recipe for my husband last year because he had a hankering for it. I tried it and fell in love. This recipe is perfect. I am making it again tonight and my mouth is just watering, waiting for it to come out of the oven. I also made two loaves because I didn’t think one would be enough 😉
Every time I make this meatloaf, it is a winner in my family! I make it with ground turkey. The glaze topping is absolutely the best!
Excellent recipe..I made it with 1.25 lbs ground beef and used balsamic vinegar. Otherwise, followed the recipe and will make it again, and again, and again… Thank you!
I don’t have any red wine vinegar on hand. Would balsamic vinegar work in this recipe?
Balsamic vinegar works well but can be overwhelming on the taste buds i use half the recommendation you would use for red wine vinegar.
I use seasoned rice vinegar if no wine vinegar in the house. In fact I use seasoned rice vinegar in lots of things.
I also throw in a half cup of fine chopped red or green pepper. makes a perfect recip even more perfect!
I put white vinegar and it’s just as good.
I have made it using regular white vinegar
I double this recipe..do I double the time of bake
I substituted red wine for the red wine vinegar and it was delicious.
I use Apple Cider Vinegar and this works well for me!
rice wine vinegar, cider vinegar, white vinegar can all be subbed.
Can I use almond milk
Love this recipe. My hubby is picky and loves it without onions. I put green beans in the bottom then my meatloaf. My sister does hers that way so I started doing that too.
That sounds interesting! Kinda makes it more like a 1 pan meal! Do you frozen green beans? Or fresh?
Can I make this without putting it in a loaf pan so I can roast potatoes around it in the drippings? Would I need to adjust the time?
I’ve made this recipe dozens of times because it’s THAT good, and I always use a big casserole dish because I don’t have a loaf pan. Besides the dish it’s cooked it, I follow the recipe exactly and it turns out perfect every time. Just be advised there’s not a lot of drippings for other stuff to cook in, because the meat recommended is very lean.
I do this and use a 13×9 pan. I do oven on 375°F
Could you use Panko in exchange for the bread crumbs?
I would not do this, because the meatloaf sheds a lot of fat/grease. I would suggest roasting separately.
I slice potatoes and layer them under the meat loaf in the pan. The drippings flavour the potatoes perfectly!!
If you make a two pound meatloaf do you double the time it needs to cook?
I make individual loaves by shaping by hand and laying out on a baking sheet. I mix a 1 lb meat mix into 4 separate loaves to make four servings. Or 2 lb meat mix for 8 servings.
I’ve made this recipe probably thirty times by now. It’s so easy and delicious. My husband and I like it but most importantly, my toddler gobbles it down every time I make it. If you have a picky eater, this is the recipe! If I don’t have bread crumbs I use 1 1/4 cups rolled oats and it works just as well. I’ll probably make it a second time this week, that’s how big of fans we are.
Can I ask you what do you put in the pan to make the meatloaf so it doesn’t stick to the pan
Awesome recipe, my bride been getting cherry balsamic vinegar which I use for the topping. Game changer!
Madde this 20 times, my girl not a fan of meatloaf until now! Awesome recipe, my bride been getting cherry balsamic vinegar which I use for the topping. Game changer!
made this meatloaf tonite for my wife and myself…. we both agreed that it was very, very, VERY good.