THE BEST Meatloaf Recipe in the WORLD!! | Montana Happy (2024)

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The Best Easy Meatloaf Recipe Everis going to put an end to your hunt for the best meatloaf recipe in existence. Strong statement, I know. It’s something I can say with confidence.

If you’re looking for more ground beef recipes, How to Make Stuffed Pepper Soup and Salt Encrusted Prime Rib are the perfect recipes to try.

THE BEST Meatloaf Recipe in the WORLD!! | Montana Happy (1)

This classic, moist ground beef meatloaf is delicious with a brown sugar glaze that will leave your taste buds happy. It’s a recipeyou can never get enough of – you’ll be dreaming about this comfort food. There are never any leftovers.

In our cozy living group, I shared a photograph and story about a possum that broke into a bakery in Australia. He gorged himself on jelly pastries all night.

In the morning, he was found in a corner, unable to move. His belly was so round he lost the ability to get up.

They took a picture of him, and he looked helpless and adorable simultaneously – with his face and paws covered in sticky jam.

What does that story have to do with meatloaf? Everything.

THE BEST Meatloaf Recipe in the WORLD!! | Montana Happy (2)

You know when you start eating something; and cannot stop – even when you know you’re already full?

This juicy meatloaf recipe is a dish you’ll have to know that it’s one of those recipes before you start.

Pace yourself; otherwise, there won’t be any leftovers for meatloaf sandwiches.

You don’t have to believe me. Just read all the comments I’ve received over the last couple of years. Then try it yourself. This perfect balance of savory and sweet will make your taste buds happy.

On my road trip through Montana, we stopped at a bakery cafe that had a meatloaf sandwich as the special. Yummm…comfort food. I love arecipe for cheesy meatloaf.

The restaurant we went to had a 4 1/2 star Yelp rating – so it seemed so promising.

The meatloaf was dry and bland. What a letdown! This prompted me to crave my recipe for meatloaf because it’s, quite frankly…amazing.

Bold statement, I know. But I do have many supporters. When the topic of my meatloaf sandwich came up – my niece and nephew asked my sister why she didn’t make her delicious meatloaf anymore because it was one of their favorite meals.

Yes, you read that right – her meatloaf. My sister is a notorious recipe poacher.

For the rest of the road trip, I fantasized about my recipe. As soon as I got home, I zipped to the store and cured my craving.

I realized that the rest of the world didn’t know there was a brown sugar meatloaf recipe with a such delicious flavor that put all others to shame.

Today I’m giving you my special recipe for classic meatloaf. That’s right…yummy, juicy, and downright delicious meatloaf.

How long to cook this recipe for meatloaf?

It depends on how much ground beef you use and how high of oven temperature you bake the meatloaf. This meatloaf recipe has 2 lbs of ground beef, so it takes between 1 – 1 1/4 hours at 350 degrees.

What’s in the secret meatloaf sauce?

The meatloaf glaze in this recipe has three ingredients: ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. The combined ingredients make the best tangy glaze for meatloaf.

How long does meatloaf last in the refrigerator?

If you properly store your leftover meatloaf, it will last 3-4 days in the fridge.

Can you freeze meatloaf?

When properly stored in an airtight container, cooked meatloaf will last 3-4 months in the freezer. Make individual slices before freezing for best results.

Creating a Cozy Life Group:

Since you found this recipe for this traditional meatloaf recipe, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group, Creating a Cozy Lifewith over 108,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

THE BEST Meatloaf Recipe in the WORLD!! | Montana Happy (3)

Here’s How to Make The Best Meatloaf Recipe Ever

Simple Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef

2 eggs

1/4 cup dried minced onion

2/3 cup wheat crackers

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

salt and freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 cups ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

THE BEST Meatloaf Recipe in the WORLD!! | Montana Happy (4)

Directions for Making this Homemade Meatloaf Recipe

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) In a small bowl, mix the three ingredients for the ketchup mixture (ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce) together and set aside.

3) In a separate large bowl blend together the ground meat, eggs, dried onions, crushed wheat crackers, shredded cheese, salt and pepper to taste, and 1/2 of the ketchup mix.

4) Press meat mixture in a loaf pan. You can use plastic wrap to form your loaf shape.

5) Put the remaining half of the ketchup mix on top of the meatloaf.

6) Bake the meatloaf at 350 degrees for 1 – 1 1/4 hours.

Tips for Making this Easy Moist Meatloaf Recipe

  • Turkey can be substituted for ground beef, which tastes just as fabulous. Adding a combination of ground pork and lean ground beef also tastes delicious.
  • You can serve this ultimate comfort food with green beans, mashed potatoes, carrots, or apple sauce for a great meal.
  • Check the meatloaf after an hour of cook time.
  • You can add garlic powder or onion powder to the meatloaf mix for more flavor.
  • Let your meatloaf sit for 10 minutes to ensure clean slices.
  • Plain bread crumbs can be substituted for wheat crackers.
THE BEST Meatloaf Recipe in the WORLD!! | Montana Happy (5)

We’ve reached the end ofThe Best Easy Meatloaf Recipe Ever. I hope you enjoyed it.

Tell me in the comments below how you liked thisEasy Cheesy Meatloaf Recipe.

Make sure you join our Creating a Cozy Life – Hygge Style Facebook group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

I created a pin for this good meatloaf recipe to add to your favorite Pinterest food board so you can refer back to it.

You can follow me here on PINTEREST. If you make this meatloaf recipe and take a picture, be sure to tag me here on INSTAGRAM.

Thanks for stopping by! I’m so happy you found us.

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Printable Recipe Card of this Great Meatloaf with Nutrition Information

THE BEST Meatloaf Recipe in the WORLD!! | Montana Happy (6)

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

This is one of those perfect recipes you've been searching for, but thought deep, down in your heart that it didn't exist. It does. This is the best meatloaf recipe ever. I pinky swear.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup dried minced onions
  • 2/3 cup wheat crackers
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups ketchup
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the three ingredients for the ketchup mix (ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce) together and set aside.
  3. In a separate large bowl, mix together the ground beef, eggs, dried onions, crushed wheat crackers, shredded cheese, salt and pepper to taste, and half of the ketchup mix.
  4. Press the meat mixture in a loaf pan.
  5. Put the remaining half of the ketchup mix on top of the meatloaf.
  6. Bake the meatloaf for 1 - 1 1/4 hours.
THE BEST Meatloaf Recipe in the WORLD!! | Montana Happy (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

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.

What is the best binder for meatloaf? ›

The most traditional meatloaf binder is probably torn up bread soaked in milk, but you can also use bread crumbs, Panko, dehydrated potato (instant mashed potatoes), or just about any other grain.

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 make a Bobby Flay meatloaf? ›

directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. ...
  3. Whisk together the eggs and herbs in a large bowl. ...
  4. Whisk together the remaining ketchup and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl then brush the mixture over the entire loaf.
  5. Bake the meatloaf for approximately 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

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

Fewer eggs will create a denser and firmer meatloaf that will be more compact and easier to slice, but more eggs can create a more tender and light texture that allows the meatloaf to melt in your mouth.

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.

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.

What happens if you forget the milk in meatloaf? ›

Without milk, the meatloaf may be slightly drier [1]. However, there are alternative ingredients that can be used to maintain moisture, such as water or dairy-free milk substitutes. Binding: Milk acts as a binding agent in meatloaf, helping to hold the ingredients together.

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.

Why do you put baking powder in meatloaf? ›

Yes, ground beef can sometimes dry out and get tough. However, baking soda mixed with water (slurry) and added to the ground beef will ensure tender meat. It will also speed up the browning process. I use 90% ground beef, but it is very tender by adding the baking soda.

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.

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.

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.

How do you keep meatloaf moist when baking? ›

Make Use of Milk: Soak breadcrumbs in milk before adding them to your mixture. This will keep your meatloaf moist during baking. Slather on Sauce: Add a layer of ketchup, barbecue sauce, or a mixture of both on top of your meatloaf before baking. This enhances flavor and helps retain moisture.

Is meatloaf better on a sheet pan or loaf pan? ›

Not only does sheet pan meatloaf bake up faster than its traditional loaf-shaped cousin, it also has more surface area, meaning every bite is laden with that deliciously caramelized topping.

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