Meat Loaf

4.3
(384)
20 Reviews

Whenever you need a comforting dinner at home, make this popular dish for your family. It's a classic meat loaf recipe that is topped with an irresistible ketchup and brown sugar glaze.

By
Sheryl Geerts
Sheryl-Geerts headshot
Sheryl Geerts
Sheryl Geerts is an editor and author who has nearly three decades of writing and editing experience. She enjoys writing about garden, food, and home topics. Her bylines have appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Allrecipes, Martha Stewart Living, and several other publications.
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Updated on March 28, 2024
Recipe tested by
Colleen Weeden
Recipe tested by Colleen Weeden
As a food expert, Colleen Weeden has written extensively for Better Homes & Gardens. From airfryer tips to advice on how to poach an egg, she shares her passion for food with practical, easy-to-follow tips. She has also contributed to Midwest Living magazine.
Learn more about the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen
Prep Time:
20 mins
Bake Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Stand Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 40 mins
Servings:
8
Jump to Nutrition Facts

The best meat loaf recipe starts with the best combination of ground beef chuck (85% lean, 15% fat) and ground sirloin (90% lean, 10% fat). The higher fat content of ground chuck adds flavor and moisture to the loaf, while the lean sirloin adds good structure. If using all beef for your meat loaf, is not your first choice, try making one of the other three meat combinations provided. This traditional meatloaf recipe is topped with an irresistible ketchup and brown sugar glaze. We’ll also show you how to make meat loaf using the three additional glaze options below.

If you have leftover ham and are not sure what to do with it, try making the included ham loaf variation. This moist meatloaf recipe combines ground cooked ham, pork, and ground beef for a mild, smoky flavor.

When you want more ways to include meat loaf in your meal rotation, be sure to check out our recipe collection to spice up your comfort food dinner plans.

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs, beaten

  • ¾ cup milk

  • ⅔ cup fine dry bread crumbs or 2 cups soft bread crumbs

  • ¼ cup finely chopped onion

  • 2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon dried leaf sage, basil, or oregano, crushed

  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef, lamb, or pork

  • ¼ cup ketchup

  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl combine eggs and milk; stir in bread crumbs, onion, parsley, salt, sage, and pepper.

  2. Add ground meat. Using clean hands, mix lightly until combined. Lightly pat mixture into an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan.

    Test Kitchen Tip: Instead of using all beef, we also like to do these meat combos (1 pound of each): ground beef + bulk sweet Italian sausage; ground turkey breast + ground pork; and ground beef chuck + ground veal. If the meat mixture is on the lean side, cover the meat loaf with foil for the first 35 minutes of baking to keep it from drying out.

  3. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until internal temperature registers 160 degrees F. Spoon off fat.

    Meat Loaf
    Blaine Moats

  4. In a bowl combine ketchup, sugar, and mustard; spread over meat.

  5. Bake for 10 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting into eight slices.

Apricot-Mustard Glaze

Stir together ½ cup apricot preserves and 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard.

Cranberry Glaze

Stir together ½ cup ketchup and ¼ cup whole cranberry sauce.

Peach-Chile Glaze

Stir together ½ cup peach preserves and 2 teaspoons each Asian chili sauce with garlic and grated fresh ginger.

Ham Loaf

Prepare as above, except use soft bread crumbs. Substitute 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard for the sage, basil, or oregano and omit the salt. Substitute 12 ounces lean ground beef or pork and 12 ounces ground cooked ham for the 1-1/2 pounds ground beef, lamb, or pork. Bake and let stand as above.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

225 Calories
10g Fat
13g Carbs
19g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 225
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 108mg 36%
Sodium 676mg 29%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 19g 38%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 60.6mg 5%
Iron 2.3mg 13%
Potassium 104mg 2%
Folate, total 16.1mcg
Vitamin B-12 1.2mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.2mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.