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.
So delicious! Really easy to make and the result is the most moist tender meatloaf ever! Will make again!
So delicious and easy to put together, I usually double the recipe as we like our meatloaf thicker to slice. We recently lost quite a bit of weight so I now use half lean beef and half ground turkey and substitute milk with almond milk, same great taste and juicy and moist with a few less calories.
Freezes well for a quick meal when needed.
One cup of bread crumbs for 1 lb of beef. That seems like a lot. Is that right?
This is the only recipe I use. Really is The Best and easy. Sometimes I do half beef and half pork and it is very nice as well.
Substituted 100% moose burger for beef. Also added a bell pepper just cause I had one. Didn’t have any vinegar for the glaze so I used the juice from a jar of pepperoni peppers. The best meatloaf that I’ve ever tasted!
So delicious & so simple. While baking i through in a few baking potatoes or foil wrapped sweet potatoes for an almost complete meal. Thanks for sharing.
I Love the simplicity of the instructions and how beautifully it cooks… And the taste, OMG … Greatness!!! Thank You…
The best meatloaf I’ve ever had. My husband and kids love it too. I’ve made it a few times now, and it’s the only recipe I use now. Thank you!!!
Whenever I make meatloaf this is the one I use. It’s just me and one pound is just rite size.
Delicious. My family loved it.
My family hated meatloaf night. After scouring hundreds of recipes, I found this one. YAY!!! Everyone is happy now. Thank you for sharing!!
My husband found this for me. This is the best meatloaf I’ve ever made. When doubling the recipe, double everything except the milk and cook 10-15 minutes longer. At our family reunion this is one of the first dishes emptied!
Made this last night for the family. Everyone loved it and kept asking for more. Definitely a keeper recipe.
Made this last night and we loved it so much!! Even a picky 7 year old liked it! Thank you so much will be a staple from now on.
This meatloaf was the best ever!!!
I made this and my family just loved it… thank you so much for putting this recipe up..
Delicious and easy to make. My oven is old and the recipe takes longer so I have to wing it a little. But the meatloaf gets raves all around.