Classic Meatloaf Recipe

While there may be a million recipes for meatloaf available, this recipe is what you’ve been looking for. If you want to make the best old-fashioned perfect meatloaf topped with the most delicious sticky sauce, this is the recipe to make.

I’ll explain what makes this recipe different than all the others, why it works, recipe variations, and you can see how easy it is to make with the step-by-step photos or the recipe video.

This recipe has been viewed almost 2 million times, and so many of you agree that this is the best meatloaf recipe out there!

Why This Recipe Works So Well

If you’re wondering what to cook for dinner tonight, and are craving some good old comfort food, you can’t go wrong with a Classic Meatloaf. These are just a few reasons why people love this recipe.

• Amazing flavor – A really good meatloaf requires the perfect balance between a delicious, perfectly cooked, ground beef mixture and a tangy glaze. This recipe incorporates sauteed onions into the meatloaf which adds amazing texture and flavor. The sauce on top couldn’t be easier to make, and it compliments the flavors perfectly.
• Secret ingredient – This recipe uses milk. It may seem odd, but the milk adds richness to the meatloaf, softens the bread crumbs, and is the secret to moist meatloaf.
• Leftovers – This is one of those recipes that might just be even better the next day. If you like making a family dinner big enough so that it can also be enjoyed throughout the week, then this recipe is for you!
• That meatloaf sauce – Most importantly, the simple sauce added towards the end of the cooking process adds a tremendous amount of flavor. Plus, it gets wonderfully sticky as it cooks.

Some other favorite comfort food ideas that you might like are my country fried steak recipe or my smothered chicken.

Ingredients Needed

The exact measurements are listed in the full printable recipe card below, but here is a list what you will need to make this for dinner tonight.

How to Make This Easy Meatloaf Recipe

This classic recipe consists of two parts: the meatloaf and the sauce on top.

Prior to cooking, you will need to prepare the sheet pan or baking dish by covering it with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This makes for easy cleanup.

Step 1: Soak the breadcrumbs

Combine the bread crumbs with the milk in a small bowl. This softens them while they absorb the liquid. (Note: this step was not shown in the pictures and recipe video and can be skipped, however it is highly recommended).

Step 2: Sauté the onion

Sauté the onion and garlic in butter or olive oil. Adding raw onion and garlic to the meat mixture would be too intense. Cooking them in butter first allows you to get the best onion and garlic flavors without them being too harsh or intense.

Step 3: Mix meatloaf ingredients

Combine the soaked breadcrumbs, onion and garlic mixture, and the remaining meatloaf ingredients in a large bowl. The best way to mix everything together is with your hands. Once mixed, the meatloaf mix gets transferred to the prepared pan.

Step 4: Shape the meatloaf.

Use your hands to create a loaf shape. I also like to use a sharp knife to create a crisscross pattern on top. This just helps create an extra crispy exterior.

Step 5: Bake the meatloaf

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the meatloaf, uncovered, for about 40 minutes. Mix the sauce while it is cooking.

Step 6: Make the sauce

Combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and spicy brown mustard in a small bowl.

Pro tip: if you think you’ll really like the sauce, double this portion of the recipe.

Step 7: Add the sauce

Pour the sauce over the top of the meatloaf about halfway through the cooking time, after about 40 minutes, and continue to cook for at least another 30 minutes or so.

This process will allow the meatloaf to have a nice crispy outside and the sauce will get wonderfully sticky as it cooks.

Step 8: Let meatloaf rest

Once the sauce-covered meatloaf has reached an internal temperature of 160°F, remove it from the oven.

For best results, let the meatloaf rest for a few minutes before serving.

Recipe Variations

• Meat – You can use any kind of ground meat in this recipe. For traditional beef meatloaf, anything from ground chuck to lean ground beef will work. Keep in mind that fat will release during the cooking process, and lean meat will have less grease. This can also be made with ground pork, chicken, turkey, or any combination thereof. If you really want to take this meatloaf to the extreme, you can lay strips of bacon over the top prior to cooking it. This is similar to how I make my mini bacon meatloaf recipe.
• Breadcrumbs – Panko bread crumbs work great in this recipe, but you can also use plain bread crumbs or stale chewy bread that is run through a food processor. Many readers have recommended using crushed crackers as well. Gluten-free breadcrumbs work just as well as traditional ones.
• Milk – If you need a non-dairy milk substitute, you can replace the cup of milk with something like chicken stock, oat milk, etc.
• Sauce – If you don’t want to mix the sauce, traditional barbecue sauce actually works quite well. It will give a different flavor, but will still produce finger-licking sticky results. You can also add chili sauce to the recipe’s sauce mixture to add a little heat. If you like the sauce on the thicker side, you can mix in a tablespoon of tomato paste.
• Onion and Garlic – If you don’t want to sauté the onion and garlic, you have a few options. Simply adding about a tablespoon of onion powder and a teaspoon of garlic powder will create a similar flavor. Other options include using crispy fried onions (the kind you put on top of green bean casserole), onion dip mix, or dried onion soup mix.

Side Dish Recommendations

You can’t enjoy the perfect homemade meatloaf without some tasty side dishes to go alongside it. The most classic options to serve alongside this amazing homemade meatloaf recipe are mashed potatoes and green beans or sauteed spinach.

Storage and reheating

Store any leftover meatloaf in an airtight container and refrigerate. Meatloaf is best if consumed within 3-5 days.

To reheat, microwave in 1-minute increments at 50% power until heated through. It can also be reheated in the oven, covered, until heated through.

Enjoy it as a meal with leftover mashed potatoes or turn it into a meatloaf sandwich!

Meatloaf FAQs

Did you know you can turn this traditional meatloaf recipe into a holiday appetizer? Check out my meatloaf meatballs if you’re looking for a party recipe that will fly off the platter!

This recipe was originally created in October 2018 and has been updated with helpful information and cooking tips. Don’t worry – I didn’t change the recipe!