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.
Wonderful recipe. I substituted BBQ sauce in and on it because my husband doesn’t like plain ketchup. I will use this recipe again.
Great meatloaf recipe. Pretty much the only one I use anymore. I use a homemade bbq sauce instead of this topping, but it’s a fantastic recipe for the loaf.
Very good, nice and moist, not heavy at all.
This is a great recipe, I doubled everything and it came out perfect.
The only thing that I had to change was the cook time.
I added a total 20 minutes more to raise the internal temperature to 165* F.
Really moist with great flavor.
I tripled the recipe, left out the milk, and added an additional thirty minutes to the cooking time and it was perfect. Great recipe, thanks for sharing!!
This really is the best meatloaf I’ve ever had. Basic ingredients and uncomplicated directions. I just had a piece for lunch fresh out of the oven. The best part of a “Stay in Place “ type of day!
My husband made this recipe last night and was great. I times of coronavirus, we did not have sugar or milk. So no sugar and substituted milk with homemade chicken broth. At the time of serving, he added ketchup and, I scraped it from the top. Both added more pepper. The times of preparation and cooking were accurate. We saved this recipe.
So, so good and very easy to make.
Made this last night, totally according to directions. Amazing! Light, delicious. Will make 3X sauce next time cause it’s goooood!
Yep should have listened!!!
I’m a old man, stuck in my ways but I know what I want my food to taste like; as well as, the way it looks. I’ve seen recipes after recipe that will keep me alive, if I could eat it. Not even good, but eatable. I’m here to say, this is the first comment I’ve ever left on any website. For me to do this, the subject of my comment should be deserving. What can I say about this meatloaf recipe, that would do it justice. Let me try, meatloaf is one of my favorite foods. I’ve had meatloaf from Florida to Washington state, from the west coast to the east coast. I’ve looked on the internet for several years now and found a few good meatloaf recipes. However, none of them even come close to this recipe. This is the meatloaf my dear departed wife use to make for me when she was still with me. Young lady, I don’t know who you are, but you have created a great recipe. I can’t thank you enough.
My mother used to use crackers instead of bread for a filler, that is the recipe I am looking for
My attempt at this recipe is baking in the oven as I type. It was super easy to prepare and the wafting aroma tells me it’s going to be delicious!
Besides all that, however, I wanted to commend you Sir on a lovely & thoughtful comment! The part about your wife was quite profound. Of all the things to make one teary-eyed, I never imagined a meat loaf recipe review could do so! Kudos on an amazingly poignant first comment!
Fantastic review!
I’ve been looking at recipes online; wanted to make meatloaf for my husband but I’ve been vegetarian for thirty years so I didn’t know which recipe to choose. I’m going to make this one based upon your review.
Thank you
Amen Brother😊
Absolutely amazing!! You will not be disappointed. Thank you for an easy quick recipe!
I love it! I would only add 1/4 cup diced bell pepper.
What a great meatloaf! After many failed attempts to recreate my late moms recipe, I came across this one. WHAT A SUCCESS!! My husband fell in love with this recipe and now it is a weekly staple. So easy and delicious! Thank you!!
Absolutely delicious! Served with Mashed potatoes and steamed veggies – the best comfort food!
I normally use McCormick Seasoning packets when making meatloaf, however I failed to pick one up at the store and boy that was the best mistake ever. My husband never eats two pieces of meatloaf but tonight he did! My son had two pieces as well! This is very moist & full of flavor! This will be my go to recipe for meatloaf going forward!
Outstanding! Really juicy and flavorful. My wife loved my cooking for once.
I’ve never followed a recipe for meatloaf, just always ad libbed. This was outstanding. My new go to meatloaf.
This is the best meatloaf I have ever had. This is a keeper. I amgoing to make this again tonight.
A new family favorite!
Great recipe, thank you! My frozen ground beef was portioned into 1.5 lbs, so I used that – it turned out great and super moist (I used the sheet pan for cooking). I also used Italian seasoning instead of parsley. It was very quick to throw together, great weeknight supper!
Once of my favs. I replace the bread crumbs with gluten free oats. Tonight I added shredded carrots and beets.
Love the sauce. I always double up because it’s my fav part of the dish and use coconut sugar instead of brown
Fantastic! My husband raved about it too! I have tried many meatloaf recipes and this one is the best. The sauce was the piece de resistance,