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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: 5/30/25

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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.

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Check out more classic dinner recipes:

  • Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • The Perfect Pot Roast
  • Mini Meatloaf
  • Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
5 from 10 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 10 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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  1. J l says

    Posted on 12/2 at 7:34 pm

    Best meatloaf ever!!!! Made this multiple times. This is my go to recipe for meatloaf, love it. Firm, moist, tasty. Whole family loves it. Excellent texture. Not mushy like my past attempts with other recipes. Thanks so much!!!!!!

    Reply
  2. jeanne speir says

    Posted on 9/14 at 1:05 pm

    I only wanted a 1# meat loaf so I halved the ingredients and used an instant digital thermometer to adjust the time to the temp. Incredibly good! Thank you so much

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne Wilkes says

      Posted on 9/16 at 12:53 pm

      So glad you loved it!

      Reply
  3. JL says

    Posted on 7/16 at 11:49 am

    So good. Best meatloaf I have ever made or Had! Thank you for the amazing recipe!

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne Wilkes says

      Posted on 7/16 at 3:34 pm

      I am so glad you loved it!

      Reply
  4. Janice says

    Posted on 1/31 at 7:28 pm

    I really got a kick out of the typo in step 3 of the instructions!
    Our preacher always said he didn’t eat meat loaf when out because he didn’t now what was in it, but didn’t eat meat loaf at home because he did know what was in it! I’m sure I’ll try this recipe because we love it and the leftovers are the best, on white bread, of course. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  5. Deborah says

    Posted on 1/31 at 12:35 pm

    Hello Leigh Anne.

    Can’t wait to make this it looks so yum! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
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