This meatloaf is truly the best I have ever tasted! The flavor is amazingly delicious and when sliced the pieces just melt in your mouth. It is the perfect combination with a rich sauce, chopped veggies, and lots of smoky flavors. My entire family loves this meal and asks for it all the time! Take your homemade meatloaf to the next level with this delicious recipe. It is so simple to make and comes together quickly and easily. Meatloaf is a classic comfort food that everyone loves to have on their menu. Perfectly tender meat with all the flavor to make this the best dinner yet!
Best Meatloaf Recipe Ingredients
This is a classic meatloaf recipe with meat, breadcrumbs, vegetables, and ketchup in the meatloaf as well as a glaze. Each ingredient is a pantry staple and something that is easily accessible at the local store. It is nothing too fancy but tastes like you are rich in every bite!
Protein – Lean ground beef and ground pork are cooked together making this extra tender and soft on the inside. Bread crumbs – Add texture to the meatloaf with breadcrumbs. Some breadcrumbs come in flavors for an extra boost if wanted. Flour – The flour will help soak in some of the juices from the meat but also leave it thick and plump in the mixture. Vegetable oil – Pour oil into the pan to saute vegetables. The oil softens and adds flavor to the vegetables as it is cooking them. Onion – Finely chop onions to make for added crunch and flavor. Garlic – Minced garlic adds that nutty and raw flavor that balances the flavors together. Red bell pepper – Chop into small pieces to add in more variety of vegetables. Carrot – Grated fresh carrots give subtle texture as well as flavor to the meatloaf itself. It also adds a beautiful coloring to the meat when sliced. Eggs – This is known as the binder of the meatloaf or the glue. It holds together the meatloaf combination and keeps it from falling apart. Whole milk – Thickens and gives a creamy texture and taste when baked. Ketchup – The famous ketchup ingredient that makes every meatloaf a traditional one. Ketchup will go on top and in the meat too. Seasoning – Add in garlic powder and onion powder for a flavor boost.
How to Make Homemade Meatloaf Recipe
Make this homemade meatloaf tonight for your family and see how pleasantly surprised they are with this amazing recipe. It is one of a kind and full of all flavors. It is moist and tender with a sweet and savory taste to it. You can’t go wrong with this easy meatloaf recipe.
Keep the Glaze Simple
The glaze on your meatloaf doesn’t need to be anything fancy. I have seen some glazes that require over a dozen ingredients and it’s just not necessary. All you really need is ketchup. In the recipe, we use glaze for the top but you can definitely add more to taste if you are a ketchup lover. The only time we don’t use ketchup is if we smoke it. When smoking it, will sometimes use a BBQ sauce glaze instead, just to enhance the smoky flavor.
Time and Temperature
You want the internal temp of your meatloaf to be 160 degrees F (70 degrees C) before serving. This usually takes about an hour at 350 degrees, possibly more depending on the size of your meatloaf. Always use a meat thermometer when cooking meat. Though meatloaf is quite forgiving when it comes to the time and temp you are cooking, it’s always a good idea just to check the meat temperature. If you want to caramelize the glaze on top, you can bump up the temp to 400 degrees for the last 5-10 minutes.
Make it a Gluten-Free Meatloaf
The easiest way to make this gluten-free (or GF) is to simply swap out the breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs. You can also use GF soda crackers and crush them. You definitely want to make a substitution rather than leaving the crumbs out completely because you will need something to bind it all together. However, DO NOT try using oats. I tried this and learned the hard way. It will all fall apart. Stick with GF breadcrumbs, crackers, or croutons.
Modifications of Meatloaf
Sometimes we don’t always have everything on the ingredient list or need to improvise on who we are feeding the meatloaf to. Try a few of these special modifications to help keep the flavor and deliciousness of the meatloaf but create what is best for your family!
Protein – Try it with veal, or ground turkey for a turkey meatloaf. Traditional meatloaf – Always a traditional flavor is a fresh parsley or thyme that everyone loves to add to their homemade meatloaf. Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar are usually on that list of ingredients as well. Vegetable – Instead of the medium onion you can use celery cut up and still have the soft and watery vegetable for flavor and texture in the meatloaf.
Tips For Making The Perfect Classic Meatloaf
Follow these tips to make the best classic meatloaf yet! It is simple to make and with these extra helpful ideas, this meatloaf will come together even better. Learn what the best type of meat is, preparing, cutting, and what the best glaze to use. It is all you need to know!
Meat – First, start with good quality, 85/15 beef and/or pork. Try to steer clear of super low-fat varieties, because this can make the meatloaf dry and crumbly. A little extra fat in the meat can help maintain its shape and give it more moisture and flavor. Varieties with too much fat will make it greasy and fall apart. 85/15 seems to be the perfect blend. Prepare pan – Line your pan with parchment paper or use cooking spray to make it easier to get it out of the pan once it is fully cooked. Cut evenly – Make sure your veggies are diced nice and small, so they sauté evenly. Keep the ketchup! We have had readers omit the ketchup from this recipe but it has turned out dry. Ketchup is sweet and when baked it can turn into a gorgeous glaze. Cooling – Let the meatloaf rest for about five to seven minutes before slicing, this allows all the juices to redistribute after cooking.
Smoked Meatloaf
If you own a smoker, I highly recommend smoking your meatloaf. It is incredible and it’s so EASY to do! Follow these simple steps to make this meatloaf in the smoker at home. Take your meatloaf to the next level!
Storing Easy Meatloaf
Place leftover meatloaf in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for five to seven days. When ready to reheat, place in the microwave, oven, or air fryer to warm up. Add extra ketchup if it seems a little dry on top.
How to Make the Best Meatloaf Recipe
This recipe was inspired by our Mom’s best meatloaf recipe, the delicious meatloaf served at Claim Jumper Restaurant and Saloon, and Todd Wilbur’s Top Secret Recipes.
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