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
Find more of my recipes on TikTok
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.
My family and I love this recipe. I Don’t alter the recipe, try it you’ll love it!
Can I use ground turkey in place of the ground beef?
If you double it should you put it in a bigger pan and bake it longer?
Yes on the bigger pan, and I baked it about 30 min longer. I doubled entire recipe.
EXCELLENT! Husband said most moist meat loaf and keep recipe!!
I doubled the recipe and used Stovetop Stuffing instead of bread crumbs. The stuffing has enough crumbs for 2 lbs of hamburger.
My husband LOVED it.
I made this recipe for the first time a couple weeks ago. I hadn’t made meatloaf many times before this. Everyone loved it! I had 3# 0f 80% beef . I multiplied the recipe by 3. I decreased the milk by 1/3 C. I followed the recipe exactly otherwise. My granddaughter told her mother she liked this better than hers! My daughter got the recipe!
I may add some finely grated carrots next time. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Holy shi* yes! Yum! Delicious!
Excel ant,great flavor. I added 2 cloves of garlic & 1/3 cup green pepper. The brown sugar & catsup topping really made it tasty!
Amazing!!
Made this exactly as prescribed. Wonderful! (*I love the word “mushed” in the instructions) 🙂
Hi, I made this recipe with the impossible burger, turned out great! And I also added a little mustard to my ketchup topping, I like to add rolled oats to the mixture also. Thanks for a good recipe!
Made this recipe for dinner tonight. My husband wanted a traditional meatloaf and this recipe ticked all the boxes. Wow! This is really good! This will definitely be my go-to meatloaf recipe from here on out. Thank you!
This was sooo amazing! Just like the way I had it growing up. I’ve never made meatloaf before and it was so easy. I like how you could just toss all of your ingredients at the same time in one pan. I was worried that using beef only would be dry but it was actually very moist. This will be my only meatloaf recipe going forward. For my glaze I used tbsp mustard instead of the red wine vinegar and it was great.
Second time making! Family absolutely loved it the first time so I made 3 lbs of meat tonight! Thanks for sharing the recipe !
What about using a 2/1 beef to pork ratio?
I never could get the wet/dry ratio just right, then I came across this one and now it’s my holy grail recipe, so much that I’ve printed it off a few times as I manage to grease and splash up my printed versions and can’t live without it. Thank you!
One of my favorite meatloaf recipes. I make it as is and I also make it with ground turkey sometimes. It is great both ways. I also add a tsp or two of Dijon mustard to the mix. It adds a nice flavor. You can’t go wrong with this meatloaf recipe.
I echo the positive comments above. A person who doesn’t usually like meatloaf LOVED it! Moist and delicious. I am bringing some to a Thanksgiving dinner!
please advise….if I double the ingredients to make a 2 lb loaf, would I have to double the cooking time as well?
Definitely do not double the cooking time. I would recommend adding 10 minutes for a double loaf and then checking the doneness.
I made this using 3 lbs of lean burger and amended the other ingredients accordingly and added around 15 minutes. Baked mine in a cake pan and think I could have cut off 5 minutes. It was a huge hit.
Simple, Delicious, I wasnt sure what to expect. Ill make it again…..Thanks