35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (2024)

Recipes

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (1)

Courtesy of McCormick

Madeline Buiano|

Meatloaf may seem like a vintage recipe no one makes anymore, but these recipes will have you wondering why. It's the perfect home-cooked meal that the entire family will enjoy. You don't have to just stick to the basics, here are 35 meatloaf recipes that prove the dish can be made in a variety of creative ways.

Instant Pot Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (2)

Courtesy of Corrie Cooks

There are endless recipes you can make in an Instant Pot, but this meatloaf might beat them all. Seasoned to perfection with just seven ingredients, this dish is ready in 20 minutes.

For the Instant Pot Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Meatloaf Sliders

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (3)

Courtesy of King's Hawaiian

These meatloaf sliders are one of those sandwich recipes better than what mom used to make. Mini meatloaves are served on sweet rolls and topped with ketchup.

For the Meatloaf Sliders recipe, click here.

Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf Sliders

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (4)

Courtesy of King's Hawaiian

If your kids aren't too keen on meatloaf, try wrapping bacon around it. This double meat whammy is sure to turn anyone into a meatloaf believer. And to take this dish to the next level, try rendering out the bacon fat for a super crispy finish.

For the Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf Sliders recipe, click here.

Mug Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (5)

carpaumar/Shutterstock

If you had a busy day and you're not sure what to make for dinner, this mug of meatloaf is always the answer. Just divide the meatloaf mixture into four mugs and microwave for 11 minutes, cooking at 30-second intervals until the meatloaves are cooked throughout.

For the Mug Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (6)

Courtesy of Perdue

This turkey quinoa meatloaf is perfect if you want leftovers. Mini meatloaves are made with quinoa, pickles, garlic and more. The dish serves 24 people, so if you have any extras, be sure to store them in a freezer bag so that they don't go bad.

For the Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Italian Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (7)

Courtesy of McCormick

If you're craving Italian food, this meatloaf recipe is here to help. Loaded with Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and tomato sauce, this dish is reminiscent of home-cooked meals with mom and dad.

For the Italian Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (8)

Courtesy of McCormick

The best part about meatloaf is that it doesn't need bells and whistles to be delicious, and this recipe is a testament to that statement. The classic comfort dish is made with the usual suspects: chopped onion, tomato sauce and ground beef.

For the Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Instant Pot Potluck-Favorite Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (9)

Courtesy of Corrie Cooks

This Instant Pot meatloaf is sure to be a potluck favorite. Lamb, rosemary and feta cheese add a little Greek-inspired twist to this classic childhood dish that is ready in less than one hour.

For the Instant Pot Potluck-Favorite Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Mexican Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (10)

Courtesy of McCormick

Meatloaf recipes can be inspired by many different cuisines, and this dish in particular draws from Mexican fare that can be made at home thanks to salsa, cumin and garlic powder. This dish is sure to be afavorite.

For the Mexican Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Baked Alaska Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (11)

Courtesy of McCormick

You've heard of baked Alaska — a difficult and impressive dessert — but have you heard of baked Alaska meatloaf? Instead of being covered with meringue, the meatloaf is covered in mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese for a look reminiscent of the classic dessert.

For the Baked Alaska Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Athenian Beef Meatloaf with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (12)

Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner

This Greek-inspired meatloaf recipe is made with diced cucumbers, Greek-style yogurt and lean beef, making it a healthier alternative to classic meatloaf. Once you devour this dish, try more of our foods from around the world that you can make at home.

For the Athenian Beef Meatloaf with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce recipe, click here.

Slow Cooker Beef Meatloaf and Vegetables

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (13)

Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner

Use your slow cooker to make this hearty dinner dish. Just arrange the potatoes and carrots around the meatloaf in the slow cooker and add in the broth. Let it sit for about eight hours while you go to work or do some household chores.

For the Slow Cooker Beef Meatloaf and Vegetables recipe, click here.

Easy Sheet Pan Meatloaf and Potatoes

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (14)

Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner

If you want to cut down on dishes but you're still looking to serve an amazing dinner, this easy sheet pan meatloaf is the way to go. It dirties just one pan and makes enough food to feed the whole family.

For the Easy Sheet Pan Meatloaf and Potatoes recipe, click here.

Olive Tapenade Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (15)

Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner

Olive tapenade may seem like an unusual way to flavor meat, but this recipe is sure to be your next go-to. You need only four ingredients and a little salt and pepper to make this flavorful dish.

For the Olive Tapenade Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Summertime Beef Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (16)

Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner

Just like there are plenty of chicken recipes perfect for summer, there are also a handful of meatloaf dishes great for warmer months when you just want comfort food. This dish contains stuffing in the middle for a fun surprise.

For the Summertime Beef Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Southwest Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (17)

Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner

The flavors of the American Southwest are prevalent in this take on meatloaf. Flavored with cumin, corn and red onion, this recipe will bring that down-home flavor straight to your dinner table.

For the Southwest Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Classic Beef Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (18)

Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner

Reminiscent of childhood dinners, this classic meatloaf dish has simple flavors of ketchup, onion, Worcestershire sauce and ground beef.

For the Classic Beef Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Apple Cheddar Chicken Meatloaves

This meatloaf recipe is chock-full of unexpected ingredients like apple butter, cheddar cheese, dijon mustard and even the base: ground chicken. Made in a muffin pan, these mini meatloaves are ready in just 35 minutes and can serve up to four people.

For the Apple Cheddar Chicken Meatloaves recipe, click here.

Five-Way Mini Meatloaves

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (20)

Courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner

This is a fun recipe if you're looking for something hearty but easy to bring on a picnic. This totally adaptable recipe shows you how to make mini meatloaves with the flavors of Italian, Greek, Asian and Spanish cuisine.

For the Five-Way Mini Meatloaves recipe, click here.

Italian Meatloaf Cupcakes

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (21)

Courtesy of Eggland's Best

While you might not find this dish on the menu at your favorite Italian restaurant, there's no denying that it's amazing. These cupcake-shaped meatloaves are loaded with Italian seasoned bread crumbs, tomato pasta sauce and Italian turkey sausage.

For the Italian Meatloaf Cupcakes recipe, click here.

Weeknight Mini Meatloaves

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (22)

Courtesy of Ready Set Eat

Not only are these weeknight mini meatloaves perfect for dinners with your family, but they're also great to serve as a game day food. One batch makes 12 loaves, and they're packed with that hearty flavor one typically craves during football season.

For the Weeknight Mini Meatloaves recipe, click here.

Mini Tex-Mex Turkey Meatloaves

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (23)

Courtesy of Ready Set Eat

These mini turkey meatloaves are loaded with that classic Tex-Mex flare thanks to taco seasoning mix, Mexican blend cheese, diced tomatoes and green chilies.

For the Mini Tex-Mex Turkey Meatloaves recipe, click here.

Meatloaf Sheet Pan Dinner with Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (24)

Courtesy of Ready Set Eat

If you want your veggie fix, this sheet pan meatloaf dinner is a great option. It has bacon for added flavor and is packed with onions, Brussels sprouts and green bell peppers. The dish is so good that your kids won't even notice they're eating their greens.

For the Meatloaf Sheet Pan Dinner recipe, click here.

Guajillo & BBQ-Glazed Turkey Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (25)

Courtesy of Blue Apron

The kick in this guajillo & BBQ-glazed turkey meatloaf will give your favorite hot sauce a run for its money. Guajillo pepper sauce is mixed with a barbecue glaze for a flavor-packed dish that is both new and familiar.

Cheesy Meatloaf Parmesan

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (26)

Courtesy of Jason Goldstein

You've never had meatloaf like this before — the dish combines two iconic meals: chicken Parmesan and, of course, meatloaf. It's loaded with ricotta cheese, tomato sauce and red pepper flakes.

For the Cheesy Meatloaf Parmesan recipe, click here.

Worcestershire Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (27)

Courtesy of McCormick

Meatloaf may be a quick and easy dinner option, but when it's done right, it can transform your evening into a restaurant experience. In this recipe, the classic dish is elevated with one secret ingredient: Worcestershire sauce.

For the Worcestershire Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Mexican-Style Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (28)

Courtesy of McCormick

Packed with flavors inspired by your favorite Mexican dishes, this meatloaf recipe is loaded with corn, onion and green pepper, as well as paprika, oregano and cayenne red pepper.

For the Mexican-Style Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Glazed Pork Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (29)

Courtesy of Blue Apron

This pork meatloaf recipe is far from boring. The dynamic savory-sweet soy glaze complements the meatloaf, and the sesame oil in the mashed potatoes adds a nice nutty flavor.

For the Glazed Pork Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Grandma’s Meatloaf with Mushrooms

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (30)

Courtesy of Chef Peter Chang and Pichet Ong

If you grew up with grandma's cooking, then you likely tried her meatloaf. Well, this recipe gives you the opportunity to relive the experience. Garnish the classic pork meatloaf with a homemade mushroom sauce, scallion rings and cilantro.

For the Grandma's Meatloaf with Mushrooms recipe, click here.

Italian Herb Meatloaf with Roasted Vegetables

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (31)

Courtesy of McCormick

The best part about this Italian herb meatloaf is that it gives you an entire meal in just a few steps. After creating the meatloaf mixture, toss it onto a pan with potatoes, add your seasoning mixture and let it bake for an hour. Be sure to resist the urge to open the oven door before the meatloaf is done — it's a bad cooking habit you need to stop doing.

For the Italian Herb Meatloaf with Roasted Vegetables recipe, click here.

Bag ‘n Season Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (32)

Courtesy of McCormick

The secret to any restaurant-quality dish is in the seasoning, and this Bag 'n Season meatloaf recipe does it right. Made with a dynamic seasoning, bell peppers and cubed potatoes, this dish is a great way to amp up the flavor in your next homemade dish.

For the Bag 'n Season Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Easy Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (33)

Courtesy of McCormick

This recipe is so easy that you can even invite your kids into the kitchen to help prepare it. Just put the meatloaf mixture into an oven preheated to 350 degrees, then pour the tomato sauce over the meatloaf and bake it for about an hour.

For the Easy Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Meatloaf Pizza

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (34)

Courtesy of Jason Goldstein

Make pizza night at home a family affair with this meatloaf pizza recipe. Load up your crust with pepperoni, basil, meatloaf, ricotta cheese and marinara sauce.

For the Meatloaf Pizza recipe, click here.

Italian-Style Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (35)

Courtesy of Eggland's Best

Craving Italian food but tired of the usual suspects? Try this Italian-inspired meatloaf recipe. It's made with ground beef, baby carrots, onion wedges and Italian seasonings.

For the Italian-Style Meatloaf recipe, click here.

Gluten Free Mexican Meatloaf

35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (36)

Courtesy of McCormick

This Mexican-inspired meatloaf ditches gluten by swapping corn tortilla chips in for breadcrumbs. It's a great recipe if you're craving a hearty dish but you're gluten intolerant. And now that we've covered all of the great ways to incorporate meatloaf into your dinner rotation, you have to try these incredible chicken recipes for busy weeknights.

For the Gluten Free Mexican Meatloaf recipe, click here.

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35 Easy Meatloaf Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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.

What is the secret to a great meat loaf? ›

Use high-fat meat.

For a meatloaf made with a leaner beef or turkey, consider mixing in some ground pork and/or veal in order to achieve a moist, tender meatloaf. Chopping up bacon and adding it to the mix is always a great way to add fat. Oh, and covering it in bacon never hurts, either.

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

To help your meatloaf stay together add things such as eggs, bread, crushed croutons, oatmeal, crackers, and breadcrumbs, these are all key ingredients that help meat stick together. I hope that this helps to answer your question. What are the secrets to a firm, sliceable meatloaf that slices and won't fall apart?

Why milk instead of water 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.

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? ›

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 traditional meatloaf made of? ›

No bells and whistles - just a few ingredients including beef, egg, bread crumbs and a simple tomato-based topping. Use a gentle touch with ground beef. Over-mixing will result in burgers, meatballs or meatloaves with a firm texture.

Is it better to bake meatloaf on a sheet pan or loaf pan? ›

While both are great options for cooking your meatloaf, each has its own advantages and you will get slightly different results. Sheet pans have more surface area which exposes more of the dish's surface area to the oven's direct heat to create a crunchier crust that's nicely browned.

What happens if you put too many eggs in meatloaf? ›

Eggs bind the mixture, add flavor and increase browning, but too much egg will make a meat loaf tough and rubbery. Use about one egg per pound of meat. If using pork sausage, skip the egg. Milk adds flavor and moisture and helps distribute the seasoning throughout the mass.

What makes meatloaf crumble? ›

A-Meatloaves most often crumble when they contain too many bread crumbs or too few eggs or when they have not cooled partially in the fat-filled loaf pan in which they were baked. We suggest adding no more than 1/3 cup of crumbs for each pound of meat and adding 1 egg for each pound of meat plus an extra egg.

Do you drain the juice from meatloaf? ›

When the meatloaf is done, remove the loaf pan from the oven and let the meatloaf rest for 10-15 minutes. Drain the extra fat and liquid off of the meatloaf and discard. Slice the meatloaf and serve.

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.

Does Gordon Ramsay have a meatloaf recipe? ›

Gordon Ramsay's meatloaf recipe is made with ground beef, although you could use ground lamb, pork, veal, venison, or poultry as well if you like. When your meatloaf is cooked, you can slice it like a loaf of bread to make individual portions and serve them to your family or guests.

What is the basic meatloaf formula with ketchup? ›

Mix ground beef, onion, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a bowl. Mix in bread, milk, egg, 1 tbsp mustard, and 1/4 cup ketchup. Press mixture into a loaf and put in baking dish.

What percent ground beef is best for meatloaf? ›

Like meatballs, many meatloaf recipes include a blend of meat, which will determine whether you need fattier or leaner beef. If it's an all-beef recipe, avoid 90/10, and go for 80/20 or 85/15. Most recipes call for 70/30 or 80/20 ground beef, which makes a rich and juicy burger patty with a good exterior crust.

What are the elements of beef loaf? ›

The typical meatloaf contains ground meat and bread crumbs, together with eggs, vegetables and seasonings (salt, pepper, catsup, etc.). Each of these ingredients in turn is composed of various combinations of proteins, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins and minerals, the building blocks of all foods.

Is it better to cook meatloaf at 350 or 375? ›

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.

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