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.
I’m picky and pregnant…this was AMAZING
Have made this recipe quite a few times now!! My husband, son and I all LOVE it!!
I’ve been looking for an easy but tasty meatloaf recipe that my family can all agree on and came across this one. My 16 year old helped make it and it was very easy. I lined my pan with foil, used non stick cooking spray and just lifted it out, which worked well. Once it was out on the table, it was like a pack of wild animals attacked. I wasn’t sure if I’d even get a slice. I didn’t have red wine vinegar so I just omitted it from the topping and it was still really tasty. My 12 year old asked if there was more sauce for dipping so next time I’ll probably make extra and just heat it a bit. This was by far the best meatloaf recipe I’ve made. Thank you!
This recipe is awesome, I have made it twice now. My family loves it… use 2 lbs of ground beef ND double all the ingredients so we have leftovers too!
I made this recipe using ingredients and directions almost exactly, I didn’t have on hand Red Wine Vinegar so I substituted with Apple Cider Vinegar!
I will never make Meatloaf any other way!
This is the best Meatloaf I have ever had!
Two of us ate almost the whole thing in one sitting!
My Meatloaf recipe was close to this one , except I always used crackers (not anymore). Never used Worcestershire Sauce or dried parsley either.
This will be my go to recipe from now on ! Can’t wait to share the recipe with my Sisters!
Yummy 😋
Best meatloaf I have cooked based on any recipe. But why are instructions on freezing and reheating put forward and yet no specific oven temp and reheating time.
I have not made meatloaf in at least a year because I quit liking my recipe. I made this recipe last night and it is wonderful…I’ll be making it monthly now! It was not dry, stuck together well and very tasty. The only thing I will do differently next time is make extra sauce.
I used gluten-free breadcrumbs & substituted tomato paste for the ketchup in the glaze. Easy to make & very delicious 😋!
Tried your meatloaf recipe tonight & it was fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
First meatloaf that turned out right, moist and delicious, definitely saving this one!
I did make a slight change, I doubled the recipe and used half lean ground beef and half ground deer meat, I did not have worchestershire so it was omitted but the glaze really made this great!
I want to use 2 lbs. of hamburger. How do I need to alter this recipe?
You are doubling the meat so you double the rest of the ingredients also
I made it tonight for the first time for my husband. I was skeptic at first but followed the recipe. It was just like all the comments above. Delicious. I will be making it again. I give it a 5 star.
Loved it. Super moist and delicious.
Easy to make and very flavorful!
This is my go to meatloaf recipe. I use fresh garlic because I always have it on hand. I usually have to make two loaves because it goes so quickly. Thank you!
Delicious, my partner loved it. The ONLY thing I did different was add a little thyme and pinch of coriander. I also formed a loaf by hand and baked it on a foil-lined cookie sheet (my preferred method), rather than in a loaf pan. I think next time I’ll add about 1/3 cup more breadcrumbs (I use crushed Ritz), I like my meatloaf just a little bit dryer, and I’ll probably skip baking it with the ketchup sauce and just have ketchup on the side, or with mushroom gravy. Replacing half the onions with red or green peppers would be yummy too.
Best meatloaf, moist and just down home awesome! That’s what meatloaf should be. I only had 80% ground beef on hand, hoping not to make it crumbly as the notes mentioned, I added an extra 1/4 C of bread crumbs. I let it sit for 10 – 15 min and it sliced perfectly right in the loaf pan. This is my go to meatloaf recipe.
Sub the beef for 1-lb of meatloaf mix (beef, veal, and pork). Thank me later 😉
I made this last night. It was so good! My husband literally said “this is the best meatloaf I have ever had”. I had a left over bourbon bbq sauce (that was mainly ketchup) from a shrimp & grits recipe that needed to used up and it was perfect! Will try the sauce as written next time.
I thought I had the best meatloaf recipe around….I stand corrected. This was amazing.
I only had to change two things; used regular vinegar, and had to use an 8×8 baking pan as my mother still had my meatloaf pan. Still turned out delicious.
Was thinner, so only had to bake for 45 minutes.
Thank you for sharing, I will be using this recipe from now on.