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.
Loved 🥰 this recipe reminds me of my mom’s version!!
Wonderful!!!
Thus is the greatest meatloaf ever. My whole family loves it
This has become my go-to recipe!!
Always so tasty and I love how it only uses one pound of hamburger. Yum!!!!
This is my family’s go to meatloaf recipe. It is a winner!
This is the best ever meatloaf and so is the ketchup topping. Thank you for sharing it.
Best Meatloaf ever!
my family absolutely loves this recipe. I triple the recipe as that allows for leftovers including delicious sandwiches
This is by far the best meatloaf recipe I’ve ever tasted or made! My family loves it above all others. It even beats my sister in laws meatloaf and she is a gourmet cook. It’s very easy to make and usually have all ingredients at hand. It is inexpensive to make and gets lots of compliments for mom which is a big plus. If there was 10 stars I would choose that!!!
This is a really solid recipe. Simple and easy. Really difficult to make a bad loaf using this. 2 thumbs up for sure. My tweak was to mince my onions and use jalapeno ketchup for the loaf and glaze. The heat is nominal but the flavor is exceptional. There is also a habanero ketchup but that’s not for everyone. lol
I’ve made this recipe several times. It’s my current favorite. Not quite like my mom used to make but pretty close. It’s quite good. I’d recommend it.
Awesome recipe!! Classic!
I think that this is the best meatloaf I’ve ever made. Finally, a great recipe! This one nailed it. Thank you. Will make again.
Favorite family meatloaf! The best!
I have many meatloaves! Like many, there is a mystery to the recipe. None of them are any good. This is probably the simplest, most straight forward recipe I’ve found. The results speak for themselves!
Clients who have had this meatloaf have enjoyed it enough to ask for the recipe! There are things I will do to enhance it based on the pallets of those I’m serving, but the base contents stay the same. One additives that people enjoy, and I almost always use, are 3 or 4 tomato halves that come in a can (with about 9 or 10 tomatoes that are halved. They are from Italy in a 16 ounce can and run about $6 – $7 a can. They are beautiful, and so tender, with an Italian flavor all their own. This enhances the flavor, bringing out the best a meatloaf has to offer! For side a bean vegetable and a potatoes, or mashed potato side does the trick! Add a Caesar Salad, and a nice bottle of Merlo, and finish off with a lite refreshing Dessert and Liquer to match, or like I do, serve a Mexican Coffee, with or without Liquor! I never promote alcohol, simply offer it to those that like the flavor!
Thanks for asking my opinion… I gave an honest one!!
Cheers and Enjoy!!
Regards,
William
Ooops forgot to rate it. 7 stars.
This recipe is the best I always double or triple the amount of the topping because we love to use it also on the meatloaf while eating.