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.
I used 1/2 the amount of onions and loved this recipe!
This was my first meatloaf that I’ve ever made. And glad this recipe found me. I used Italian flavored turkeyburger and Italian bread crumbs. I also cooked it 1 20 min .
Definitely a 5-star meatloaf for this family!! Both my husband and son loved it!! So did I! The only tweak I made was using Panko crumbs for the breadcrumbs. Turned out AWESOME! Will definitely make again!!
I tried it and may use a “version” of it in the future. When I made it I used 2lbs of meat there for I doubled all ingredients. I found that with that much breadcrumb it was a little on the “pasty” side, kind of cake ish. I’m thinking that would be the same with the 1lb recipe. I may try with half or less of the called for amount of breadcrumb in the future. However when I made the sauce for the top I didn’t have red wine vinegar so I used my wife’s red wine and it was delicious!! I’m not trying to beat this recipe up but for me it was just a little heavy on the breadcrumbs, otherwise tasty
THE absolute best recipe I have tried yet! Amazingly delicious! This was a HUGE hit for dinner tonight!
Amazingly simple & delicious 😉
I tried this recipe. It was great and my meatloaf did not fall apart. I added Green bell pepper to mine. The topping was so good and I love the red wine vinegar in it. Will keep this one!
Excellent recipe. I substituted a couple minced garlic gloves for the garlic powder and used Italian spiced panko breadcrumbs. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
I tripled the recipe as I had 3.4 lbs ground beef to use up. I ended up with four smaller meatloaf pans full and figured I’d freeze three and cook one. Any idea how long you’d cook this from frozen?
Also used tomato soup to sub for ketchup so I can make the yummy tomato-soup gravy my British foster mom always made with meatloaf ❤️ Smells so good, can’t wait to actually eat it!!
Love, loved the meatloaf! I only added one item to your recipe, “Maple Bacon”… I laid the bacon on top and added your sauce. Yummy!
Wow! Moist and delicious. This is now my go-to recipe! I cooked it for only 50 minutes then let it sit for 8 minutes and it was perfect, 165 degrees. Great idea to use a loaf pan so it cooks more evenly. Love the glaze too!
This meatloaf recipe is delicious only two things I did different I doubled it because it was so delicious the first time I made it and the other thing is since my family like spice I added some Sriracha to Replace some of the ketchup in both the meatloaf and the glaze. My husband who doesn’t like meatloaf went crazy over it!
First time making Meat Loaf. Made it for Dinner everyone loved it!!! Staple recipe Thank you.
Best meatloaf I’ve ever made. Thanks for the recipe.
My husband of 32 years confessed to me that he really does not like meatloaf… which i have only made a handful of times. However, he has informed me that I can make this recipe again anytime. We saved some for sandwiches tomorrow and I am sure they will be very good too.
Best meatloaf ever! Love it. Would be proud to serve to guests for dinner. Who serves meatloaf? I certainly would.
I made two subs: thyme for parsley and balsamic for red wine vinegar.
One of the best meatloaf recipes ever.
It’s soooo good.
This is the best meatloaf ever, do not tell my mother.
Only change i did was substitute red wine vinegar for mustard for the topping.
I will never use another recipe.
I am not much of a cook and never enjoy my own cooking but this meatloaf is the best! My husband says it’s the best he has ever had. It’s the glaze and the moistnes that stand out. I will make this recipe again. Thank you!