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    🏠Home » Recipes » Comfort Food Recipes

    Old Fashioned Meatloaf

    Feb 6, 2022 | Last Updated Mar 11, 2022 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.58 from 54 votes

    Make this old-fashioned meatloaf for two or a crowd—a simple classic meatloaf recipe we have used for almost 50 years. Moist and tender with excellent taste, homemade meatloaf like grandma would make will become a classic at your home, too.

    whole meatloaf on a white plate

    Table of Contents
    • What is Meatloaf?
    • Ingredients
    • 👨‍🍳How to Make Old-Fashioned Meatloaf
    • ⏰How Long to Cook Meatloaf
    • FAQs
    • 🍽️Serving and Storage of Meatloaf
    • 📖Meatloaf Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📖Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Introduction

    We all need everyday recipes for great comfort food and leftovers at times. It is not complicated and uses only eight common ingredients you already have at home. Just follow these easy step-by-step photos for the best meatloaf ever.

    We have enjoyed this at least monthly for 40+ years. This is my wife's recipe, and the only variation is that I actually measured things to publish this. Please enjoy one of our standard recipes that have had decades of development.

    My Rating

    My rating system. Great 5 out of 5

    Nothing less than a five will do. I do love our old-fashioned meatloaf recipe, and I'm very picky. This is super moist with great taste—a great recipe.

    What is Meatloaf?

    Meatloaf is a dish of ground meat that has been mixed with other filler. During the Great Depression, it was a way for families to stretch their budget by using inexpensive ground meat and leftover ingredients like bread or cereal. It is then formed into the shape of a loaf then baked.

    When a starch like bread or grains is combined with an added liquid that forms a "panade," added to ground meat and keeps the results moist.

    Ingredients

    The Meat

    Ground beef is the most commonly used ground meat for meatloaf. I generally use ground chuck, but other versions will work fine.

    Most ground beef is about 20% fat. Lean ground beef maybe just a little dryer, but lower-fat beef is preferred if you are using a pan like a loaf pan or making cupcake meatloaves where it is hard to drain.

    You can mix in some ground pork or other ground meat to make it your own. Or you can also use ground chicken or ground turkey, but the flavor will vary.

    The Vegetables

    For aromatics, some chopped onion is used. Also, some garlic can be added but is in most seasoning salt.

    Other vegetables commonly added are celery, green bell pepper, or carrot. Whatever you add, they should be chopped small to cook thoroughly.

    The Seasoning

    This recipe is so easy because the seasoning salt, black pepper, and ketchup provide the spicing and taste. So the quality of those ingredients becomes essential.

    For the ketchup, I only recommend Hunts or Heinz. Please do not use generic, or your taste buds will pay the price. While I claim some expertise in ketchup, the seasoning salt is up to you, but Lowery's is my choice.

    The Glaze

    I'm super simple here. Just a nice coat of ketchup. Many recipes fancy this up with brown sugar, mustard, or even top with bacon or barbecue sauce. I like it simple.

    👨‍🍳How to Make Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

    Preheat the oven to 350° and choose a baking pan that will allow the size of meatloaf you are making to be about 1 to 1 ½ inches thick and a bit of space around the loaf to allow for drainage space and an opening for lifting out the meatloaf.

    Mix all ingredients except for the ketchup for the topping. Keep it a little dry but mix thoroughly. Use one egg per pound of meat.

    The meatloaf is done when the final internal temperature reaches 160° for beef meatloaf. But if any poultry is used, the final internal temperature needs to reach 165° to be safe. You must use an instant-read or meat thermometer.

    ⏰How Long to Cook Meatloaf

    For a 2 pound meatloaf in a 350° oven, baking time will be about 1 hour.

    Ground beef is safe at 160°, and the egg does not change that. If you use ground poultry in the meatloaf, it must be 165° to be safe.

    Size of MeatloafApproximate Baking Time at 350°
    1 pound30-40 minutes
    2 pounds1 to 1 ¼ hours
    3 pounds1 ¼ to 1 ½+
    Mini or Cupcake 20 to 30 minutes
    This chart is approximate cooking times assuming 350° oven and 1 to 1 ½ thick meatloaf. Beef meatloaf is done at 160° internal temperature. Any meatloaf with poultry products needs to reach 165° for safety.

    Thicker meatloaf takes longer and thinner cook faster. But always cook to the final internal temperature, never by time alone since there are variables.

    The main variables for how long to cook a meatloaf are the oven temperature and the weight and thickness of the meatloaf. There can be other variables, so only some generalities can be given.

    You can use a higher temperature or convection. The higher the temperature, the more the surface will cook and brown before the center reaches the final temperature. So 375° is generally acceptable and will be a bit faster and more browning. Using convection will be like adding 25° to the oven temperature.

    FAQs

    How big to make the loaf for meatloaf.

    We always make a two-pound meatloaf for leftovers for the two of us. Make a one-pounder if you want fewer leftovers. A pound of meat will make four larger servings.

    Make up a loaf 1 to 1 ½ inches thick. Cooking time will vary by thickness and weight.

    Can I make cupcake meatloaves?

    You can use a cupcake pan for smaller servings, and it should take 20-30 minutes depending on the tray material, size, and how full you make it.

    Of course, you are cooking to a final temperature, not by time estimates.

    Should I cover the meatloaf with aluminum foil to bake?

    No, it is not needed. Meatloaf should be cooked uncovered. The meatloaf will still be moist.

    What is a panade?

    When a starch like bread or grains is combined with a liquid, it forms a panade, which is then added to ground meat and keeps the results moist.

    For meatloaf, the panade is made of bread, breadcrumbs, oatmeal, or crackers soaked in milk and is usually about ¼ to ⅓ of the volume of the meatloaf. You can use other things like oats for the starch, and, of course, you can substitute for the dairy with something like beef broth.

    🍽️Serving and Storage of Meatloaf

    What to serve with meatloaf?

    We usually place a couple of baking potatoes in the oven with the meatloaf. Add in a simple vegetable like green beans or corn.

    Reheat a slice in a microwave or make a meatloaf sandwich for leftovers.

    How to store meatloaf

    Seal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    If you are freezing the meatloaf, I suggest cutting it into serving-size slices and wrapping well. Good in the freezer for 3-4 days.

    📖Meatloaf Recipes

    Paula Deen Inspired Basic Meatloaf

    Baked Meatloaf Burgers

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    101's Best Recipes, Beef Recipes, Comfort Food Recipes
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    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    All images and instructions are for a two-pound meatloaf—our usual amount. You can adjust the ingredient amounts in the recipe card with the serving setting—but it will not change the text instructions.

    ground meat with meatloaf ingredients

    Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a shallow baking dish with PAM.

    chopped onion on a black board

    Chop a medium onion.

    pouring chopped onion into the meat mixture

    Add all ingredients minus ¼ cup of ketchup for topping in a large bowl. Mix well, being sure not to leave any chunks of burger not mixed. I use clean hands for this. Officially, use a wooden spoon.

    spreading ketchup over the raw meatloaf

    Move the meat mixture into the baking pan, shape, and cover the top with ¼ cup of ketchup.

    cooked meatloaf on a white plate

    Place in the preheated oven and cook to an internal temperature of 160° — about 1 to 1 ¼ hour. Remove from the pan for serving.

    meatloaf with ketchup on a blue plate
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    📖Recipe

    whole meatloaf on a white plate

    Old Fashioned Meatloaf

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    Make this old-fashioned meatloaf for two or a crowd—a simple classic meatloaf recipe we have used for almost 50 years. Moist and tender with great taste, homemade meatloaf like grandma would make will become a classic at your home, too.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.58 from 54 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 8

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 2 lbs ground beef
    • 2 egg
    • 1 onion - medium - minced
    • ¾ cup bread crumbs
    • ½ cup ketchup
    • ½ cup milk
    • 1 tablespoon Lawry's Seasoning salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Glaze

    • ¼ cup ketchup

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a shallow baking dish with PAM. Note: instructions and images are for 2 pounds. You can adjust the ingredients in the setting above—does not adjust the text of instructions.
      ground meat with meatloaf ingredients
    • Chop a medium onion for a 2-pound meatloaf.
      chopped onion on a black board
    • Add all ingredients except topping in a large bowl. Mix well, being sure not to leave any chunks of burger not mixed. I use clean hands for this. Officially, use a wooden spoon.
      pouring chopped onion into the meat mixture
    • Move the meat mixture into the baking pan, shape, and cover the top with ¼ cup ketchup.
      spreading ketchup over the raw meatloaf
    • Place in the preheated oven and cook to an internal temperature of 160° — about 1 to 1 ¼ hour for a two-pound meatloaf. Remove from the pan for serving after a 10 minute rest.
      cooked meatloaf on a white plate
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

    My Private Notes

    Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
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    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips:

    1. Cheap ketchup would probably spoil this, so I always use Hunt's or Heinz.
    2. This is a very easy recipe to adjust. You need one egg per pound of meat. You can adjust the size of the recipe with the serving setting.
    3. This can be cut down to a 1 pound meatloaf and should take 35-45 minutes to bake. Or you can also use cupcake pan for smaller servings and it should take 20-30 minutes depending on the tray material, size, and how full you make it. Of course, you are cooking to a final temperature, not by time estimates.
    4. Ground beef is safe at 160° and the egg does not change that. If you use ground poultry in the meatloaf, it needs to be 165° to be safe.
    5. I like to use a 7-8 inch spatula to remove the meatloaf from the pan.
    6. Reheats well in a microwave when cut into slices but is also good cold for sandwiches.
    7. You can cut this recipe down, but we usually do about 2 pounds since the leftovers are great.
    8. Lots of handwashing, please. We have raw ground meat and eggs, so the risk of contamination is relatively high.
    9. We usually put a couple of baking potatoes in the oven with this. Cooking time is a good match.
    10. Good refrigerated for 3-4 days. Good frozen for 3-4 months. You can also make it ahead and hold it in the refrigerator for a day before cooking.
    11. Store cooked meatloaf in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freezer for 3-4 months.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Calories : 292 kcal (15%) | Carbohydrates : 15 g (5%) | Protein : 26 g (52%) | Fat : 13 g (20%) | Saturated Fat : 5 g (25%) | Cholesterol : 115 mg (38%) | Sodium : 423 mg (18%) | Potassium : 514 mg (15%) | Fiber : 1 g (4%) | Sugar : 7 g (8%) | Vitamin A : 206 IU (4%) | Vitamin C : 2 mg (2%) | Calcium : 64 mg (6%) | Iron : 3 mg (17%)
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Main Course
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editor's Note: Originally published on February 17, 2010. Updated with refreshed photos and a total rewrite of everything except the actual recipe.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janet

      March 23, 2022 at 3:09 pm

      Hello, wanting to make this tonight.. how can I add bell pepper and celery to this mix? I'd like to not have to reduce the amount of onion, but I'm not sure if I'd end up with too much bulk. Thanks! Love your site!

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        March 23, 2022 at 10:55 pm

        Hi Janet,

        Sorry, I missed your comment earlier today. Just put some in. Be careful with the bell pepper, although we don't think of it as having much taste, it can take over a meatloaf. Both can release some fluid during cooking, so mix a little dry.

        Dan

    2. marcy youker

      February 07, 2022 at 9:35 am

      5 stars
      love your recipes, easy to change to two, simple ,plain, just like I like ,Thanks a lot.

      Reply
    3. EFT3

      May 07, 2020 at 2:21 pm

      Super quick and easy and great recipe. If, however, you have destroyed a meatloaf trying to get the meatloaf out of the pan, as I have, a recommendation. Make two sheets of foil or parchment, one as wide as the pan is long and one as wide as the pan is wide. When placed in the pan each should be higher than the loaf pan by about 1”. After the meatloaf is done let it sit for 10 minutes to set. Then you can easily lift the meatloaf from the pan.

      Reply
    4. Debra

      January 25, 2020 at 9:31 pm

      Lol on the proof read! I do love your recipes and your pups!! In fact your pulled pork recipe is the Best!!

      Reply
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