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Leigh Anne Wilkes

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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Course / Main Dishes / Classic Meatloaf

Classic Meatloaf

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 4/14/22Updated: 1/13/26

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

Easy Classic Meat Loaf 2

This easy Classic Meatloaf recipe should be a part of everyone’s cooking repertoire! A delicious, classic meal your family will love.

Easy Meatloaf

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Classic Meatloaf is just what the name says, easy and classic, just like mom used to make. It has great color, great texture and great flavor.  The sauce on top is made from ketchup, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar. And it is delicous. It is a perfect dinner option and the leftovers make an amazing sandwich.

Classic Meatloaf

Ingredients

  • Ground Beef, I prefer extra lean for this recipe
  • Minced Onions, you can substitute with fresh onion chopped
  • Garlic, minced
  • Eggs
  • Panko Bead Crumbs
  • Steak Sauce
  • Ketchup
  • Mayonnaise
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Salt, Black Pepper, and Italian Seasoning
sliced meatloaf

How To Make Meatloaf

  • Mix together all meat loaf ingredients and
  • Shape meat into a loaf and place on a roasting pan or some pan that has drainage.
  • Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Increase heat to 400 degrees and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until internal temperature of meat is 160 degrees F.
  • Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl.
  • Pour over the top of the meat loaf and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
  • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
meatloaf

Tips for Making Meatloaf

  • I used panko crumbs because that is what I had on hand but you can also use regular bread crumbs or seasoned bread crumbs. If you use seasoned bread crumbs leave out the Italian seasoning.
  • Bake the loaf on a roaster pan.  This will allow the grease from the meat to drain away from the meat and you won’t end up with your meatloaf sitting in a puddle of grease.
  • Add the ketchup mixture at the end and bake for an additional ten minutes.  Just bake it long enough for the sauce to set.

Be sure and follow me over on YouTube for weekly cooking demos.

Check out more classic dinner recipes:

  • Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • The Perfect Pot Roast
  • Mini Meatloaf
  • Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
5 from 11 votes
Easy Classic Meat Loaf

Classic Meatloaf Recipe

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
Easy and delicious classic meatloaf, just like your mom used to make! 
serves: 6 servings
Prep:10 minutes minutes
Cook:1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Total:1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

Meatloaf

  • 2 lbs. extra lean ground beef
  • 2 Tbsp dried minced onion or 1 cup fresh onion chopped
  • 4 tsp garlic minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 cup panko crumbs
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 Tbsp steak sauce
  • 2 Tbsp ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp worcestershire sauce

Topping

  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Combine all meat loaf ingredients. Mix to combine.
  • Shape meat into a loaf and place on a roasting pan or some pan that has drainage.
  • Bake for 40 minutes. Increase heat to 400 degrees and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until internal temperature of meat is 160 degrees F.
  • In a bowl combine the topping ingredients. Pour over the top of the meat loaf and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
  • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Tips & Notes:

  • I used panko crumbs because that is what I had on hand but you can also use regular bread crumbs or seasoned bread crumbs. If you use seasoned bread crumbs leave out the Italian seasoning.
  • Bake the loaf on a roaster pan.  This will allow the grease from the meat to drain away from the meat and you won’t end up with your meatloaf sitting in a puddle of grease.
  • Add the ketchup mixture at the end and bake for an additional ten minutes.  Just bake it long enough for the sauce to set.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 360kcal (18%) Carbohydrates: 22g (7%) Protein: 36g (72%) Fat: 13g (20%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Cholesterol: 150mg (50%) Sodium: 994mg (43%) Potassium: 714mg (20%) Sugar: 11g (12%) Vitamin A: 230IU (5%) Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) Calcium: 61mg (6%) Iron: 4.9mg (27%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Main Dish
Cuisine:American
Easy Classic Meat Loaf
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5 from 11 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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  1. Tonie McElroy says

    Posted on 10/26 at 2:44 pm

    Very good

    Reply
  2. Kathryn Mader says

    Posted on 4/14 at 7:28 pm

    Oh, we love meatloaf. I’m eager to try your recipe, which is fancier than mine (mine is from the Betty Crocker old-timey Children’s Cookbook, haha!). But I never tried meatloaf sandwiches until I was an adult and someone introduced me to the delicacy. Love at first bite and no turning back, must be on white bread, though. BTW, your new profile picture in the blue and white striped blouse is beautiful!

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 4/15 at 8:09 am

      Kathryn, Thank you!!
      Meatloaf Sandwiches are a hidden treasure!! Hope you enjoy the recipe too.

      Reply
  3. Donna Howard says

    Posted on 4/14 at 12:52 pm

    Ugh – so did the ‘other family’ know the meat loaf was a barf meal?? And if not, I hope she isn’t reading your blog!! I always made meatloaf when my daughters were young, and now just recently one of my adult daughters has informed me she hates meat loaf, it was the worse meal I made, and never makes it and wouldn’t let her kids touch it!! But I am going to make this – and ‘gift’ it to the missionaries who never turn down anything from your blog!!! Thank you for that!!! Have a great Easter!

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 4/14 at 3:10 pm

      Donna, Hope the missionaries enjoy it!! I never said anything to the other family 🙂

      Reply
  4. Izzy says

    Posted on 4/14 at 11:50 am

    Thank you so much for this recipe. PTMLS is real and living in America. My Mom’s meatloaf was always good and the sandwiches the next day was the best part. I like mine with coleslaw. My meatloaf is hit or miss and I have tried many recipes and variations. I look forward to trying this. Your pictures are yummy.

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 4/14 at 3:10 pm

      Izzy, I hope you enjoy my version!

      Reply
  5. Lisa M says

    Posted on 4/14 at 11:24 am

    Hi. Ah, meat loaf. #1 rule should be to only eat your mother’s meat loaf (if it’s a winner)! A neighbor gifted us a huge meat loaf. Knowing her strange culinary ‘talents’ I was hesitant. Upon unwrapping the meat loaf there was about a 3 # brick of a cooked meat loaf – it was gray. When I cut slices, it was FULL of marble-size globs of fat. Gross. One mini taste and the entire slab was fed to the garbage disposal along with what I spit out. I have no idea what those white fat globs were. I never asked. So, I only eat my Mom’s creation – no meat loaf ‘gifts’, but we will try your recipe. Thanks. Lisa Also – very hesitant about eating anonymous contributions at picnics, community events, etc. People seem to like to use the cheapest ingredients…

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 4/14 at 3:10 pm

      Lisa, Good rule – only eat your mother’s meat loaf!!

      Reply
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