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.
Family loved it. Super moist, and full of flavour.
This was so very good. My family loved it. Will definitely make this again.
This recipe is perfect. I used many trying to find the one that takes me back to the one like mom made when I was a small girl. Thank you for sharing it. It’s a keeper.
This is something 5th grade Home Ec kids might make
Was better than “Mom’s!”
I love this recipe. We are gluten free so I substitute 1 cup gluten free quick oats for breadcrumbs. You’d never know the difference!
Everyone loves it. Especially the kids
Made it with 2/3 ground turkey and 1/3 ground pork sausage instead of beef. Had no bread crumbs so used crushed potato and cheese chips. Roommates RAVED!
I used gluten free panjo bread crumbs, without changing any of the other ingredients or proportions. It ended so soupy in the loaf pan! I’ll have to fry up slices to reheat it, but it’s curious that it was just that wet. I suppose next time I might try reducing the milk to see if that helps to balance the GF bread crumbs. I was hoping for some crispy edges, but that was not the case for me. Great flavor, though!
panko*
The best easy & delicious meat loaf recipe I ever had. My family loved it. Thanks younfor sharing!
I hate meatloaf. I just absolutely cannot stand it and never have been able to. But it’s my guy’s favourite meal so I went on the hunt for a recipe to make him one. I can say with complete honesty, this is the only meatloaf recipe I’ve ever been able to not just tolerate, but actually enjoy. My kids love it too. It’s become a staple in our household.
Great!
Very good meatloaf, I ended up skipping the topping (ran out of ketchup) still delicious
Made it twice now, I love this recipe, plus you can add to it as well like carrots, or really any veggies one wants just make them small chunks. And the topping calls for red wine vineger…yes my first one I did just that, oh so good, but the sceond one I made….I used BALSAMIC…..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best meatloaf ever!! Great recipe!
This is the best recipe it was easy and everyone raved over it even to toddlers. I’m a 2 lb and cooked it a little over an hour and formed it on parchment paper on a cookie sheet make sure you let it stand for 10 minutes it’s so important before you slice it now tonight I will make 3 lb and probably have to cook it about an hour and a half but I will watch it carefully enjoy
I followed the instructions as given, and I come up with very sweet meatloaf. I wish I would have never put the glaze on it was so sweet it made the whole meatloaf very sweet! I made one for myself and one for my elderly parents and they were both epic fails. I would not recommend making this meatloaf at all.
This meatloaf is the BEST! I get so many compliments and my 3 year old asks for it all the time. I double the sauce though to use on leftovers
This is a really good meatloaf recipe. I had to substitute the milk with chicken broth because I dont mix the meat with milk, and the result was excellent. I also used fresh parsley and garlic, because fresh is my thing.
This really is an easy meatloaf recipe. I’m no chef and I’ve never really liked meatloaf, but I made this for my 92 year young mother who does. I ended up trying it and was blown away with not only how good it was, but the fact that I now like meatloaf! Well, THIS meatloaf! Thanks for the recipe.
I made this and it came out delicious! Thank you!