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.
The best meatloaf recipe. I grate my onion into a pulp, so the flavor distributes.
Awesome easy tasty 5 thousand stars!
I made this recipe today without any alterations. It was very easy to make with ingredients available at home. This moist and flavorfull loaf would definitely appeal to children.
The family LOVED it!
I don’t usually comment but I made this exactly as you suggest. It was outstanding. My hubs who is not a meatloaf fan loved it!! Thank you for a great recipe.
This was awesome! My mom makes me and my siblings cook every Sunday, so I decided on meat loaf, it was very easy to make! And my parents liked it! Definitely recommend this recipe!
It’s in the oven now!!!! Smells good here!!😊
This is my go to meatloaf recipe! Comes out perfect every time 😊
My family and friends favorite recipe of meatloaf 😍delish 😋.. made this a lot of times before dropping my comment 😁👌
My husband, who doesn’t like meatloaf, loved this recipe.
This is the recipe that ends my search! Super easy and delicious!
i put velvita cheeese chunks in mine yummy
I enjoyed this version very much. It was easy to assemble and cooked perfectly in the loaf pan. I never baked meatloaf in a loaf pan before. It was nice and moist and didnt fall apart. I loved the sweet and savory flavor of the topping. Definitely recommend.
Is there a substitute for the red wine
It’s red wine vinegar. I would assume apple cider vinegar might be okay, or just white vinegar. Or skip it altogether.
It is red wine vinegar – someone about said that they substituted white wine vinegar.
Any balsamic, white, or apple will work. Just use a lesser than recommended amount. Pour to taste.
I always substitute apple cider vinegar and its delicious!
the ground beef I have is 85/15, but that is the only grass fed beef I can find. Do I need to adjust the recipe?
I use grass fed beef or bison. I have also mixed it with ground lamb. No adjustments to recipe needed. Best meatloaf ever, hands down!
What can I substitute milk with? (I don’t mix dairy with meat)
Beef broth would work well.
I used Oat milk instead of regular dairy milk. It was delicious!
I’ve used chicken broth or beef broth when I didn’t have any milk.
I used unsweetened almond milk and it tasted great
I have used plain almond milk in place of the milk several times. I’m sure any alternative milk would work, as long as it’s not flavored (like vanilla, etc.).
You don’t really need milk.
I use water- I think the milk changes the flavor
Use plant-based milk (soy, almond, oat, etc.)
Coconut milk. Its not dairy. There is also soy milk and oat milk.
My family just finished dinner. This recipe was a big hit, Vert fast and easy to make but most of all delicious!
Fantastic! Moist and flavorful. On the rota.
I did substitute white wine vinegar for red.
I did as well.. was out of the red wine vinegar.. it was great.. I’ve prepared with both and couldn’t tell a difference…
Recipe is great. I added some BBQ sauce to the recipe to kick it up a notch. Not only was it delicious, it made my mushroom tip grow by 2 inches.
I shall make this recipe twice then!
Best Meatloaf recipe we have found. 2 happy children.