Amazing Meatloaf Recipes! (2024)

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Loaves of meatloaf pretty much define the essence of comfort food and making homemade meatloaf so easy that serves as comfort, too.

And most importantly…No matter how you slice it, meatloaf is a meal everyone can enjoy. But it doesn’t have to be plain ‘ol ground beef with ketchup baked on top — no Sir! Browse this wide array of meatloaf recipes that your family will love right here!

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Meatloaf Recipes For Everyone

As a kid growing up, meatloaf wasn’t really my favorite meal. I never really got the draw of meat with ketchup baked on top?

Then one day my mom made Pork Sausage Meatloaf, and it had all sorts of flavor and little pockets of cheese inside. Now that, my friends, that was a meatloaf I could enjoy! And right then and there my eyes, and my taste buds, were opened to the extraordinary potential of a great meatloaf recipe!

Traditional Meatloaf Recipes And Unique Meatloaves

Whether you love a classic traditional meatloaf or wish to try out some unique variations on meatloaves, read on…

Because there is absolutely no limit to how creative you can get with meatloaf.

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Types Of Meat For Meatloaf

Gourmet meatloaf all comes down to the choices of meat to use. Many classic meatloaf recipes use ground lamb in addition to ground beef and pork. Truth be told, you can use any type of meat for meatloaf. So if you prefer ground turkey or chicken to beef, lamb, or pork, go for it!

Meatloaf Muffins and Mini Meatloaves

Meatloaf doesn’t always have to be in a loaf either. You can make sliders, or “meatloaf muffins.” So many ways to go with this timeless classic.

If you don’t want to do meatloaf in a typical bread pan, then don’t feel limited. You can always create easy little meatloaf portions in a muffin tin too.

Here is another example of meatloaf not in one gigantic loaf … these little Pizza Meatloaf Minis were baked in a muffin tin and my family made them disappear!

Seasoning For Meatloaf

No matter what kind of meat you use, the seasoning and non-meat stuffing in the meat will bring out all the best in it. And with the seasoning, you can get truly creative as well.

My favorite food? Tacos. Wanna switch up Taco Tuesday? Do it Mexican Meatloaf style next time with my Taco Meatloaf!

Glazed Toppings For Meatloaves

Also, don’t think you have to use baked-on ketchup for the glaze on top either. Ketchup is easy to use as a glaze, but don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to using it either. You can use hoisin sauce for a bit of an Asian-style meatloaf, or combine hoisin and ketchup too. Or, try various types of savory and sweet jams, like fig for example. Also, you can garnish the top of your meatloaf with things like chopped or fried onions. Very delicious and adds a bit of flair to it, too.

My Favorite Meatloaves

I know I shouldn’t be biased, but this Stuffed Pepper Meatloaf right here? It’s my favorite meatloaf of every meatloaf ever invented. I love stuffed peppers, and this meatloaf is just like it — only sliceable and perfect. Bake up some potatoes at the same time, and Bam! Dinner is served!

We love this one so much I made them in minis so they would bake faster!!

American Style Meatloaf

Meatloaf is popular around the world, but some recipes are uniquely American. Like this cheeseburger meatloaf recipe. Notice how the fried onions play into it?

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf with fried onions and pickles!

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Italian Meatloaf Recipes

If you like the cheeseburger meatloaf, then why not also try an Italian-style meatloaf, too?

Low Carb Meatloaf Recipes

Just because you are watching what you eat, doesn’t mean there isn’t a meatloaf for you, too!

Candi of The Devilish Dish says this hard-boiled egg stuffed meatloaf is her favorite. No bread crumbs or fillers just a couple of hardboiled eggs keeping it all together!

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Seasonal And Unique Meatloaf Variations

This next one is perfect for fall. Amish Apple Butter Meatloaf, is unlike any other. There are all sorts of ways to make meatloaf a seasonal favorite! The next time someone complains about always having to eat turkey on Thanksgiving, now you have a game plan. Or, if you don’t feel like baking a whole turkey and everyone loves turkey on Thanksgiving… Why not just make a Cranberry Glazed Turkey Meatloaf instead?

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Instant Pot Meatloaf Recipes

Using your Instant Pot or similar pressure cooker makes the cooking time even faster. Plus, you get an even richer and deeper flavor. More flavor and faster cooking time mean hungry mouths don’t have to start chirping about when dinner is ready either.

Even More Meatloaf Recipes To Check Out

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Love them? Pin Them!

If you want to be sure and keep track of this vast array of meatloaf recipes, pin them to your favorite Pinterest board before you go. This post will be updated with new recipes from time to time, so then you will be sure to have them all!

I hope that you have found loads of new menu options here. Take some time to visit the other bloggers featured here. Who knows? You might find your new favorite recipe!

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This meatloaf round-up was originally posted on October 31, 2017. It has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on January 19, 2022.

Amazing Meatloaf Recipes! (2024)

FAQs

Is meatloaf cooked at 350 or 375 degrees? ›

The oven temperature is typically set at 350 degrees F for making meatloaf. That's the temperature you want to be sure to use so the meatloaf cooks and doesn't dry out. Too high, and the outer crust will burn before the interior is cooked all the way, too low and you don't get that delicious crust.

What is the best binder for meatloaf? ›

If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes! However, bread is still the best choice of all the potential options.

What not to put in meatloaf? ›

Onions, garlic and celery do pose one problem though: they don't cook down easily. Little bits of crunchy onion or celery or potent, hot garlic will spoil the comforting aspect of eating meatloaf.

Why do 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.

What do you put in meatloaf to keep it from falling apart? ›

In meatloaf, this is most commonly the eggs and breadcrumbs. Your binding ingredient is only second to the meat itself in your recipe and the reason why meatloaf crumbles. When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs.

Should you cover meatloaf when baking? ›

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

The Basic Meatloaf Formula

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.

How to tell when meatloaf is done? ›

As noted above, the most reliable way to tell when meatloaf is done is by checking the internal temperature of the meatloaf with an instant-read thermometer, inserting it into the center of the meatloaf. Meatloaf is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

What can I add to meatloaf so it's not dry? ›

Use Extra Egg: Eggs act as binders and provide moisture. Add one or two eggs per pound of meat for a moist texture. Make Use of Milk: Soak breadcrumbs in milk before adding them to your mixture. This will keep your meatloaf moist during baking.

Why is my meatloaf mushy and falling apart? ›

The most common reason meatloaf is mushy is too much liquid added to the mixture. Too much liquid will stop the meatloaf from baking and cause the meat to boil instead.

Why put ketchup in meatloaf? ›

Whether you slather a thick layer of ketchup on top of the meatloaf before it goes into the oven, add a few tablespoons to the ground meat mixture, or serve extra ketchup on the side, this tangy-sweet, umami-rich condiment balances out the richness of the beef, making it an essential part of the dish.

What does adding an extra egg to meatloaf do? ›

Sure, egg yolks add some rich flavor to a meatloaf, but the real reason we need eggs is for structure—to help bind the meatloaf together. This is especially important since we're making a free-form meatloaf, or one that you shape by hand, versus using a loaf pan.

Should onions be cooked before adding to meatloaf? ›

I later learned how I could avoid this problem and make a fully smooth meatloaf by pre-cooking any vegetables, especially the onion, before adding them to the ground meat. This way the meatloaf gets the flavor without the rawness -- a method from the smart people at Cook's Illustrated.

Should meatloaf be covered when baking? ›

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

What can you put under meatloaf to soak up grease? ›

A neat trick to soak up the grease under your meatloaf is to line the bottom of the pan with bread slices. The bread soaks up the grease as the loaf bakes. When the meatloaf is done, you can either throw out the bread or bake it to make some truly indulgent toast.

Why do you put baking soda in meatloaf? ›

The baking soda (which is very basic) raises the pH of the meat, preventing the proteins from bonding excessively (and thus squeezing water out); this keeps everything nice and tender, and prevents that pool of liquid from forming.

References

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