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. 🙂
More Easy Comfort Food Recipes
Find more of my recipes on TikTok
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.
This recipe is simple and easy to follow, and not to mention it is absolutely delicious!
I accidentally used 80% lean and it came out moist but was still tasty! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Wow, just wow! Thank you for this. I am so glad we tried it today. So moist & the glaze is delicious~
Absolutely AMAZING!!!
Delicious!
Is this website still active? I don’t see any of my previous comments.
I made this just last night. I followed the recipe exactly, but substituted garlic greens for parsley, and balsamic vinegar for the red wine vinegar, as it was what I had on hand. It was so flavorful and delicious! This recipe is a keeper!
I do not have red wine vinegar what can I use in place of that?
I really like this recipe.It is delicious.The family loves it too.It had become my favorite meatloaf recipe.
What size loaf pan 9×5 or 8×4?
I just made this meatloaf tonight for dinner and it was fantastic, best meatloaf I have ever had. I am excited to try more of your recipes.
Thank you Amanda!
Very delicious meatloaf. I am eating dinner as I write this. I doubled the recipe because I know 1lb would get eaten too quickly. Very good!
Great recipe. Sorry my first comment wasn’t posted
Worth 5 stars! I used balsamic vinegar. Did not have dried bread so used Ritz crackers as substitute. Turned out well! A keeper recipe.
This was so incredibly delicious… definitely my go-to going forward. Thank you for sharing!
I was a chef and restaurant manager for 12 years and I love reading recipes. I rarely comment, but this is so close to my recipe that I want to give praise. I guess that it’s the Italian in me that loves garlic, so I like to add 3 or 4 fresh cloves of garlic per pound of 90% beef, but that is not for everyone. I also like to add chopped mushrooms. As for the sauce, I like to use apple cider vinegar rather than red wine vinegar and I use a salted version of my tomato sauce rather than ketchup. Those are just my preferences. You can’t go wrong just following this recipe to a T.
Was fantastic eveyone loved it
Best meatloaf recipe ever!! The secret is in the sauce. I’ve made meatloaf for 20+ years and this is hands down my new fave.
Made some tweaks to the ingredients based on what I had available and to add spicy flavor to it. But I loved how moist it came out to be.
I made this Meatloaf exactly as directed and from the moment the aroma seeped through my kitchen it took me back 65 Years to when I was a child in my Aunt Markets Kitchen. When done it did not disappoint. It was just as good as I remember when I was a little girl. I Loved it. I made Two, one with onion and one with out for my dogs. They Loved it too and believe me that is a complement. They are fussy eaters and do not like much of anything. Thank You So Much for letting me drift away to Better Days. This will be my go to recipe for the best Meatloaf Ever❤️
Do you think I could use honey or another sweetener instead of sugar?
Definitely. I’ve made many of meatloafs, use Honey, or brown sugar. You just need enough to give a very slight sweetness. Not too much. So honey could actually work great! Just watch the amount you add. Don’t go crazy.