Ohhh yes 😌🍽️ Meatloaf—classic comfort food, juicy, flavorful, and perfect with mashed potatoes or green beans. This is a tried-and-true, no-fail version.
🍖 Classic Homemade Meatloaf
Ingredients (serves 6)
Meatloaf
- 1½ lbs ground beef (80/20 is best)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (or crushed crackers)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or mix of thyme & parsley)
Topping
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp mustard (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven
- 375°F / 190°C. Lightly grease a loaf pan or line a baking sheet with foil.
- Mix the meatloaf
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and seasoning.
- Mix gently—don’t overwork or it’ll be dense.
- Shape
- Form into a loaf and place in pan or on baking sheet.
- Add topping
- Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard.
- Spread evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
- Bake
- Bake uncovered for 50–60 minutes, or until internal temp reaches 160°F / 71°C.
- Rest & serve
- Let rest 10 minutes before slicing to keep it juicy.
🔥 Pro Tips
- Juicy meatloaf: Milk + breadcrumbs = moisture.
- Flavor boost: Sauté onions before mixing for sweeter, deeper flavor.
- No loaf pan? Free-form on a baking sheet for crispier edges.
- Make ahead: Assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
Easy Variations
- Cheesy meatloaf: Add 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella inside.
- BBQ meatloaf: Use BBQ sauce instead of ketchup topping.
- Turkey meatloaf: Swap beef for ground turkey (add a little extra milk).
- Bacon-wrapped: Wrap the loaf in bacon before baking 😏🥓
This one’s classic, comforting, and always a hit.
Do you want old-school diner style, cheesy, or BBQ glazed next?
