The best easy comfort food recipe you can make using ground beef and a tasty sticky sauce on top is Granny's Classic Meatloaf. This is the ultimate easy-to-make dinner that your entire family will enjoy.
Why this recipe works:
If you're wondering what to cook for dinner tonight, you can't go wrong with a Classic Meatloaf. There are a ton of different recipes out there, but this one is different. There are several reasons this recipe has been viewed over 1 Million times!
This recipe incorporates chopped sauteed onions into the meatloaf which adds amazing texture and flavor. It takes a bit of time and effort but you'll find that it is totally worth it.
This recipe uses milk. It may seem odd, but the milk adds a richness and really helps it keep it's shape.
Most importantly, the simple sauce on top adds a tremendous amount of flavor and gets wonderfully sticky as it cooks.
How to make this recipe:
This classic recipe consists of two parts: the meatloaf and the sauce on top.
To make the meatloaf:
- Start by sauteing some onion and garlic in butter (photo 1 below). Adding raw onion to the meatloaf would be too intense. Cooking them first and allowing them to cool before combining with the remaining ingredients allows you to get the best onion and garlic flavors without them being to harsh or intense.
- Next, the recipe is super easy to make because you simply add the ground beef to a large bowl (photo 2) and add all of the remaining ingredients including an egg, panko bread crumbs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and salt (photo 3) along with the cooled sauteed onion and garlic.
- Once mixed, the meatloaf gets shaped it into a mound on a baking sheet (photo 4). I always use parchment paper for easy clean up. This is how my family has been making meatloaf since I was a kid.
To make the sauce:
- While the meatloaf is cooking, mix up the super simple sauce (photo 5). This easy combination of ketchup, brown sugar, and spicy brown mustard is just what the meatloaf needs.
- Half way though the cooking time, the meatloaf gets covered in the sauce which gets extra sticky and delicious while it cooks.
How long to cook it:
There are two considerations when cooking a meatloaf recipe like this one: cook time and temperature. You see, depending on the size and shape of the meatloaf you make, the time will vary.
If you make it in a loaf pan, your cooking time could be longer because the meatloaf is taller and more compact.
If you bake it on a baking sheet like I did, it will generally be more flat, thus increasing it's surface area and cooking faster.
A general cooking time range would be anywhere from an hour to an hour and twenty minutes.
The only sure way to know when your homemade meatloaf is done cooking is to verify the internal temperature is 160 degrees F.
Cooking tips for perfect results:
- Don't over work the meatloaf while mixing. Mix it just until everything is combined.
- If you really like the ketchup topping, double that part of the recipe!
- If you prefer the crunchy outer layer, consider making your meatloaf flat so that you have more surface area to get crispy. This will also reduce your cooking time.
- Always use a trusted meat thermometer to verify that the meatloaf is done.
Side dish recipe recommendations:
You can't enjoy the perfect homemade meatloaf without some tasty side dishes to go alongside it. Here are some of my favorites.
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Gorgonzola Celery Root Mashed Potatoes
- Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Perfect Garlic Sauteed Asparagus
Recipe video below!
Did you make this recipe? Please leave me a comment below to let me know what you think!
Granny's Classic Meatloaf
CLICK TO PLAY RECIPE VIDEO
Ingredients
Meatloaf:
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 medium sized yellow onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (can use less or replace with 1Tbsp fresh thyme)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Topping (see note):
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven or grill to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and milk. Stir to combine.
- Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook the onions until they are fragrant and slightly brown while stirring occasionally, about 3-5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 2-3 additional minutes. Remove the pan from heat and set it aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, soaked bread crumbs with the milk, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and the cooked onions and garlic. Use your hands to combine the mixture, but try not to overwork the meat. Shape the mixture into a loaf on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to cut a crisscross pattern on top.
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 40 minutes. While the meatloaf is cooking, combine ketchup with mustard and brown sugar in a bowl. Set aside.
- After 40 minutes of cooking, spread the sauce mixture over the top of the meatloaf and continue baking for about 30-35 minutes to an internal temperature of 160°F (70°C).
Notes
Cooking tips for perfect results:
- Don't overwork the meatloaf while mixing. Mix it just until everything is combined.
- Since it was rec
- If you prefer the crunchy outer layer, consider making the meatloaf flat so that you have more surface area to get crispy. This will also reduce your cooking time.
- Always use a trusted meat thermometer to verify that the meatloaf is done.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
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!
Sandra Barca
My boyfriend said give me some elbow room I made Granny’s meatloaf it was amazing
Thank you for recipe.
Cindy
I’m Asian and was struggling with cooking American food. Meatloaf is my husband’s favorite meal. I tried several recipe and failed. I’m so glad I found this recipe and I’d been using this ever since. The best!!! Problem solved ❤️
Krissy
Yay! Thank you so much for letting me know and I'm happy he enjoys it!
Julia
Can I use half and half?
Krissy
Yep. It will just make it more rich.
CC
I'm sure I've commented about this meatloaf in the past, but it's seriously my and my family's absolute favorite. I've made it at least twenty times over the last few years. Easiest prep and cook. Freaking ridiculously simple and delicious. Thank you for the umpteenth time!
Stacy M
My meatloaf has always tasted more like a meatball than a meatloaf. This recipe was completely out of my wheelhouse. I mean milk in hamburger! Never heard of that before. However this was amazing, I added bacon and cheddar cheese and my family all went back for more! Definitely will be making it again.
Krissy
I struggled with adding the milk the first time too. We just made it again last week and I had forgotten how important that milk was to the texture! This time I threw some crispy onion pieces on top - the kind you put on green bean casserole at Thanksgiving.
Daniel C Driver
I prefer crushed tomato sauce instead of ketchup. I also added bell pepper, cheese, and ginger. I meant to include the cheese to the mixture, but didn't remember until too late. So, I added the cheese to the top before finished baking.
Amy Limehouse
Love this recipe and everyone who tries loves it too. I sauté half a green bell pepper and half an onion instead of a whole onion. Moist and delicious!
Brenda Burton
It was great, but I will adjust the sauce or alter a bit next time as my sons and husband found it too sweet. One question- in the video you are cook it on a baking sheet, but under the parchment paper, do you use a rack? Thanks!
Starz1288
Try BBQ sauce!! Thay what my family even me likes the most on it!!
Sheila B
Have always loved meatloaf. But this one is my most favorite. Thank you.
Stephanie
This is the best meatloaf recipe I have made! The family devoured it. I was hoping for leftovers, but I guess not! Delicious! Thank you!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Debbie
This is a keeper.
Muffy
Outstanding. Moist. Delicious. I had Dijon mustard not brown. Very good.
Chris G.
I agree . I made this meatloaf today for the second time and it’s so good! give this a five ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.
Krissy
Glad you liked it! Not sure why it wouldn't let you give it a rating of 5, but I really appreciate the comment!
Tyla
Is the nutritional information per serving?
Thanks 🙂
Krissy
yes
Pam McNulty
Best meatloaf I have ever tasted and so easy to make! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Virginia
Tonight's dinner... great
Christine
Just made this for dinner and it’s awesome will be my go to recipe.Thank you.
Susan A Johnson
This was the best meatloaf that I've ever had. I was so proud. I new I should have taken a picture. I'll make it again. Thank you
P J Parker
My husband, company and I loved this! Thank you for sharing. His birthday is this weekend and we expect about 20 for dinner...guess what I am cooking....Granny's meatloaf!!
Cheers!
Nicole
Excellent recipe! I doubled mine for two. Has that classic taste. I added more ketchup to mine and didn't sauté my onions because we like that little crispy onion.
Sandra
I made this for supper and everyone loved it. I will defiantly be making it again.
LEONARD BANKS
NEVER MADE THIS BEFORE IT WAS SO EASY AND TASTED FANTASTIC
Carolann
Deliciously good old-fashioned meatloaf.
Kathy
My husband and I both loved this recipe. This meatloaf was flavorful, moist and tender and baking it on the cookie sheet with parchment paper let the extra oils escape making this a less greasy meatloaf. Genius! My husband who usually takes me out for lunch on Sundays wanted to come home for more of this meatloaf (and a side of baked & mashed butternut squash) instead! I doubled the sauce as others suggested.