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This is hands-down, the Best Meatloaf Recipe EVER. I’ve had a lot of different versions of meatloaf, but this one is my absolute favorite.
Meatloaf has always been one of my favorite dinners, ever since I was a kid. Though a friend of mine from abroad recently pointed out how “weird” it is to eat a “loaf of meat,” but hey.
Nothing says American Dinner like baking a 2 pound meat roll, slathering it in ketchup, and housing half your weight in mashed potatoes (with EXTRA butter, of course) 🤣
Not All Meatloaves Are Created Equal
There are hundreds of meatloaf recipes out there, but this one is my fave – a mix of recipes my parents and grandparents used, with a little bit of a modern twist.
It’s super simple with a reasonable list of ingredients – you likely have MOST of these in your pantry or fridge. So if you need to make an Aldi (or other grocery store) run, this recipe won’t break the bank.
Alright, let’s make The Best Meatloaf Ever – the only meatloaf recipe you’ll ever need!
The Best Meatloaf Ever
Equipment
- 9 x 14 Glass Baking Dish
- Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
MEATLOAF
- 2 lb Ground beef
- 1/2 cup Panko Italian Breadcrumbs
- 1 Onion, diced
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 2 Medium or Large Eggs
- 1/4 Cup Milk
- 1.5 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1.5 tsp Salt
- 1.5 tsp Ground Pepper
- Cooking Spray or Butter (For greasing baking dish)
GLAZE
- 3/4 Cup Ketchup
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 3/4 Cup Chili Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray or grease baking dish with cooking spray or butter, and set aside.
- In large mixing bowl, gently mix together ground beef, onions, panko Italian breadcrumbs, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, milk, Worcestershire sauce, and eggs.
- Once mixed, transfer to baking dish and shape into a loaf. Be sure to shape it wider instead of shaping taller so that it will cook more evenly.
- In a small bowl, mix or whisk together the glaze: the ketchup, chili sauce, and brown sugar. Brush about 1/3 to 1/2 of the mixture over the top of the meatloaf, and set the remainder of the glaze to the side.
- Place meatloaf in oven for 45 minutes. At 45 minutes, remove from oven and brush the remainder of the glaze over the top of the meatloaf. Return to the oven for 25-35 minutes.
- When meatloaf has reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees, remove from oven and set on a heat safe surface to rest for at least 5 minutes (preferably 10).
- Cut, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
Best Meatloaf Ever Recipe Notes
The Ground Beef
- For meatloaf, the best ratio to use is 80/20. You want to to be lean, but not too lean. A little fat will help to round out the flavor profile.
Panko Italian Breadcrumbs & the Italian Seasoning
- I really like the flavor of the Italian seasoning in this recipe. If you’d like a little less of this flavor, you may want to either reduct the Italian Seasoning to about a 1/4 or 1/2 tbsp, or omit it altogether. You’ll still get the effect of the Italian seasoning from the breadcrumbs, it will just be less intense.
The Milk
- I’ve always used 2% milk for this recipe. You can try other milk types, but I still think 2% or even Whole milk would be best for this recipe.
The Ketchup
- When I first made this recipe, I used regular Heinz ketchup. Now I use the generic brand reduced sugar ketchup, and the glaze on top still turns out great!
The Brown Sugar
- I’ve interchangeably used both light & dark brown sugar for this – I don’t notice much difference with the flavor. Just use whatever you have on hand.
The Chili Sauce
- Make sure you’re getting plain chili sauce, NOT the sweet chili sauce. I almost always use the generic version of this, and it turns out great!
What sides go with Meatloaf?
- Mashed Potatoes
- Mac n’ Cheese
- Green Beans
- Air Fryer Potatoes
- Baked Beans
- Stuffing
- Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Bacon Bake
- Roasted or Steamed Vegetables
- Side Salad
- Cheesy Zucchini Bites
Need more dinner ideas? Be sure to check out my other recipes on my Just the Recipe page!
Sharing Is Caring
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