This Meatloaf Is So Good It'll Convert Even the Biggest Meatloaf Haters (2024)

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Emma Christensen

Emma Christensen

Emma is a former editor for The Kitchn and a graduate of the Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. She is the author of True Brews and Brew Better Beer. Check out her website for more cooking stories

updated Sep 28, 2023

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A meatloaf that's delicious enough even for people who claim they're not a fan of the retro dinner. This homemade version is super tender and flavorful.

Serves6 to 8

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Roughly once a year — right about now, as it so happens — I get a sudden and very urgent hankering for meatloaf. One day, it’s stuffed squash and warm grain salads and beef stews, and the next day, all I can think about is meatloaf. Tender, savory bites of meatloaf glazed with (yes, of all things) ketchup.

If you have been scarred by dry or tasteless meatloaf in a past life, it’s time to revisit this classic. Here’s how to make the most tender, tasty meatloaf you can imagine.

Quick Overview

What You Need for Homemade Meatloaf

  • Ground meat: any combination of beef, pork, veal, or lamb
  • Bread + milk: these combine to form the “panade,” which holds the meat together
  • Eggs: Another essential binder
  • Cooked veggies: Use a classic mirepoix or switch it up with mushrooms, peas, or broccoli
  • Glaze: This can be ketchup, BBQ sauce, or other sauce to coat

All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

Don’t worry — your meatloaf won’t taste like bread, but you’ll definitely miss it if it’s not there!

The Meat

Any ground meat can be used to make meatloaf: beef, pork, veal, or lamb. You can use just one kind of meat, or you can mix a few different kinds together to give your meatloaf different flavors and textures.

Personally, I love a mix of about 70% beef (for its flavor) and 30% pork (for its fatty richness). You definitely want a bit of fat in your mix so the meatloaf doesn’t end up dry and crumbly. I usually look for a beef that’s only 80% to 85% lean.

The Veggies

A mirepoix made of small-diced onions, carrots, and celery is classic here, but you can swap some or all of those veggies for any of your favorites: mushrooms, more carrots, peas, even broccoli.

Whatever vegetables you use, be sure to cook them before they go into the meatloaf so they’re tender and toothsome rather than crunchy.

The Glaze

Call me old-fashioned, but I love a swath of good ol’ ketchup on my meatloaf. The ketchup concentrates during cooking, creating a creamy, ultra-tomato-y glaze that pairs perfectly with the deep savory nature of the meatloaf.

If you’re not a ketchup fan, you can use your favorite BBQ sauce or any other sauce you find appealing. You can also skip the glaze altogether and drape the meatloaf with strips of bacon before cooking — as we know, bacon makes everything better and that certainly holds true here.

A Final Note

The last piece of the puzzle to making a fantastic meatloaf is two-fold: cooking time and letting it rest. A 2-pound meatloaf will reliably cook in about an hour — try not to overcook or the meat will start getting tough and crumbly.

The best way to know when a meatloaf is done is by checking its internal temperature; as soon as it hits 155°F, you can pull it from the oven.

Letting it rest for a few minutes before you slice and serve also gives the juices inside the meatloaf time to redistribute and settle, just like when you’re cooking a steak or a roast. If you slice the loaf too quickly, the tasty juices pool out and leave the meatloaf dry.

Comments

How To Make Meatloaf from Scratch

A meatloaf that's delicious enough even for people who claim they're not a fan of the retro dinner. This homemade version is super tender and flavorful.

Serves 6 to 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 cup

    torn-up bread pieces, or 1/2 cup bread crumbs

  • 1/2 cup

    whole or 2% milk

  • 1

    small onion, diced small

  • 1

    small carrot, peeled and diced small

  • 1

    stalk celery, diced small

  • 2 to 3 cloves

    garlic, minced

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    dried thyme

  • 1 tablespoon

    tomato paste

  • 2 pounds

    ground meat, such as beef, pork, veal, lamb, or a mix

  • 2

    large eggs, beaten

  • 2 teaspoons

    Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon

    salt

  • Pepper to taste

  • 1/2 cup

    ketchup, bbq sauce, or other sauce to coat (optional)

  • 8 ounces

    bacon (optional)

Equipment

  • Rimmed baking sheet, roasting pan, casserole dish, or loaf pan

  • Aluminum foil

  • Measuring cups and spoons

  • Fork

  • Skillet

  • Mixing bowl

Instructions

Show Images

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Arrange a rack in the bottom third of the oven, and heat to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet or other baking dish with aluminum foil.

  2. Soak the bread pieces in the milk. Combine the bread pieces and the milk in a small bowl. Let stand until the bread has broken down into a thick porridge, occasionally stirring and mushing the bread against the sides of the bowl. You can leave the crusts on the bread or trim them off before soaking; if you leave them on, remove any large pieces that haven't broken down after soaking.

  3. Cook the veggies. Heat a few teaspoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the diced onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until the onions are translucent and the carrots have softened, 6 to 8 minutes. If the vegetables begin to brown, turn down the heat. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the thyme and tomato paste, and stir until coated. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

  4. Make the meatloaf mix. Place the ground meat, beaten eggs, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, soaked bread and milk, and cooked vegetables in a large bowl. Working quickly, use your hands to work the ingredients together until just combined.

  5. Shape the loaf. Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the foil-lined baking sheet or baking dish. Shape it into a rough 9x5-inch loaf. (If using a loaf pan, just pat the meatloaf mixture into the pan.)

  6. Coat the loaf with ketchup or bacon (optional). Spread 1/4 cup of the ketchup mixture over the meatloaf (reserve the other 1/4 cup for later). Alternatively, drape the loaf with bacon slices.

  7. Bake for 45 minutes. Bake the meatloaf for 45 minutes.

  8. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes. Spread the remaining 1/4 cup ketchup over the loaf. Bake until the middle of the loaf registers at least 155°F on an instant-read thermometer, 10 to 15 minutes more (about 1 hour total).

  9. Cool 15 minutes before serving. Let the loaf cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. If you baked the meatloaf in a loaf pan, carefully drain off the liquid fat before transferring the meatloaf to a clean cutting board. Cut into thick slices and serve.

Recipe Notes

Meatballs: This same recipe can be used to make meatballs instead of a loaf (though I usually leave out the carrots).

Storage: Leftovers will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week, or can be wrapped and frozen for up to 3 months.

Filed in:

dinner

Eggs

herbs

How To

Ingredient

Main Dish

This Meatloaf Is So Good It'll Convert Even the Biggest Meatloaf Haters (2024)

FAQs

Why did meatloaf fall apart? ›

When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

Was meatloaf made in the Great Depression? ›

During America's Great Depression, meatloaf was one of the most common dishes due to simplicity and necessity. Making food last for as long as possible was an important part of survival. Meatloaf reserved its spot on dinner menus because it allowed home cooks to stretch their mealtime budgets.

What is meatloaf called in the UK? ›

In the UK, there are regional pork meatloaf dishes known as haslet, which can be eaten cold or hot.

Is meatloaf bad for you? ›

Meatloaf is undoubtedly delicious, but it's not necessarily known for being healthy. In fact, when made using 80% lean ground beef, one pound of meatloaf contains roughly 1,152 calories. But when you cut that down to a serving size of about 4 ounces, it's 350 calories, which seems a lot more reasonable.

Why did meatloaf collapse? ›

In June 2016, he was rushed to hospital after collapsing mid-way through a gig due to severe dehydration.

What happens if you put too much milk in meatloaf? ›

Too Much Liquid

One of the most common reasons meatloaf is watery is an overabundance of liquid ingredients. Adding broth, milk, or eggs can enhance flavor and moisture, but too much can lead to a soupy consistency. Use these ingredients sparingly, and consider adding breadcrumbs or oats to absorb excess moisture.

What was meat loaf diagnosed with? ›

In 2003, Meat Loaf was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a condition marked by an extra electrical pathway in the heart that causes symptoms like a rapid heartbeat. Meat Loaf had asthma and, in July 2011, he fainted on stage while performing in Pittsburgh due to an asthma attack.

Why does meatloaf have a bad reputation? ›

There are a few reasons for this. The simplest is that people often botch meatloaf up, mainly by trying too hard to make it something other than a big loaf of meat with starchy fillers and flavoring ingredients. To me, the most discouraging reason could be our deep-seated societal aversion to things that are good.

Did meatloaf have an addiction? ›

However, Meat Loaf was ill-prepared for the demands of overnight celebrity and continuous touring. Overwhelmed by his new star status, he suffered a cocaine and alcohol-fuelled breakdown during which he was supported by his wife, Leslie Edmunds, who he married in 1978.

Why would you put milk in meatloaf? ›

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

Did meatloaf sing for Ted Nugent? ›

Did You Know Meat Loaf Did Vocals On Ted Nugent's "Free-For-All" Album? Lone Star 92.5 | Chad Tyson.

What happened to the lead singer of meat loaf? ›

Meat Loaf died on January 20, 2022, at the age of 74. The rockstar left behind his wife Deborah, whom he married in 2007, and his two daughters Pearl and Amanda, whom he shared with his ex-wife Leslie Aday.

What is the unhealthiest meat? ›

You have probably heard it many times already: don't eat too much red meat or processed foods. But research shows processed red meats, like bacon, hot dogs, and salami are the biggest problem.

What race eats meatloaf? ›

While it is sometimes associated with Southern cuisine, the truth is that its origins are actually much farther away. Meatloaf in America can be traced back to scrapple, a dish created by German immigrants in colonial Pennsylvania.

Does meatloaf raise blood pressure? ›

A single serving of frozen meatloaf might have 900 mg. All that excess salt causes your body to retain fluid, which will not only leaving you feeling bloated but can also lead to high blood pressure.

What to do with meatloaf that fell apart? ›

However, if your meatloaf falls to pieces when you cut it, here is a way to save the day.
  1. First, warm in a frying pan 1 tbsp of olive oil.
  2. Place in 1 tbsp of chopped carrots, and 1 tbsp chopped celery. ...
  3. Pour in a cup of plain tomato sauce or passata di pomodoro.
  4. Break up the meatloaf and place in pan.
Jun 9, 2006

What does adding an extra egg to meatloaf do? ›

Eggs Add Structure

Egg yolks, which are mostly water but contain a good amount of protein and fat, add flavor, richness, and moisture. They also help bind the meat together and get the loaf to set in a stable form without the need to overwork the meat.

Why did my meatloaf come out mushy? ›

But what causes this to happen in the first place? The most common reason meatloaf is mushy is too much liquid added to the mixture.

Why did my meatballs fall apart? ›

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

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