Easy Meatloaf Recipe

5 from 31 votes

Easy Meatloaf Recipe

Our easy Meatloaf Recipe bakes tender and juicy with a sweet tangy ketchup glaze, easy to prep ahead and perfect for dinner.

Prep Time15

Cook Time1 10

Total Time1 25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Kristyn Merkley

Ingredients

1 cup ketchup
⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
2 teaspoons dry mustard
4 bread slices
2 pounds lean ground beef, 80% lean/20% fat
¼ cup diced onion
1 egg, beaten
1 beef bouillon cube, crushed

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a small bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and the dry mustard and mix until smooth. Set aside.
Pulse bread slices in a food processor until crumbled and uniform in size.
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, egg, bouillon cube and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Add half the ketchup mixture and mix until well combined. Form meat into a loaf and place in a lightly greased casserole dish.
Bake for 1 hour. Drain fat from the dish, then top with remaining ketchup mixture and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Video

Notes

Recipe tips.

Over-mixing can cause the meatloaf to turn out tough and dense.
Use 80/20 ground beef for the best balance of moisture and flavor.
When shaping don't over-pack the meat, just gently form it into the loaf shape.
Double the glaze ingredients for an extra saucy meatloaf (still only add about ¾ cup to the meat mixture and slather the rest on top).

Prep ahead. Form the meatloaf and place it in a baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight. The sauce can be stored in a separate container in the fridge.

Freezer meal. Make the meat mixture as directed, form the loaf, and wrap it with plastic wrap. Place the glaze in a Ziploc bag. Place both together in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge for 24 hours before baking according to the recipe directions.

Store in an airtight container(s) in the fridge for about 3 days or freeze meatloaf for up to 3 months. Leftovers also make great meatloaf sandwiches!

Nutrition