Try this easy Meatloaf recipe, typically known as classic American comfort food, and the whole family will love you for it. Made with minced beef, it is a hearty and tasty dish but so simple to make at home.
There are so many minced beef recipes that most of us cook regularly, but most of us Brits aren’t overly familiar with the classic. Meatloaf.
It’s a classic American dish but we still have it in the UK too. I have been making my own version for years, but not with gravy as is a little more traditional here, but instead with tasty tomato, rich sauce which gives it a lot of flavor and makes it nice and juicy.
If you’re looking for an alternative to your regular Spag Bol or Chilli Con Carne, I promise you won’t regret doing it. It gives us something completely different and is really delicious.
Why you’ll love this easy Meatloaf recipe
Simple but special ground beef recipe
All baked one pan for convenience
Great an alternative for joint roasting
Sarah’s Notes
This Meatloaf it’s a baked dish that takes about an hour to cook, but after the initial preparation it’s pretty hands off.
It is also a simple recipe but to make it easier to assemble the loaf, there is a step by step video guide below to walk through it.
I like to make it cheaper, easier and less labor intensive an alternative to a Sunday roast because it is still satisfying enough to serve as a hearty family dinner.
I serve mine greens and mashed potatoesbut it also goes with many other types of sides.
Meatloaf Ingredients
- Oil – Use olive oil or sunflower oil.
- Minced beef – I find 10% fat works very well, and 5% is also good but can be quite dry, so make sure you keep an eye on it if you go for this.
- Bread crumbs – Out of a package is good, I like the Panko type.
- Herbs – Garlic powder and onion powder.
- An egg – One, beaten.
- BBQ sauce – This gives a good flavor to the beef.
- To make the sauce: Onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, canned tomatoes and balsamic vinegar.
- To season – Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
How to make Meatloaf
1. Mix the meat ingredients (minus the oil) in a clean bowl, with a good pinch of salt and pepper.
2. Press the mince well into a loaf tin. Heat some oil in a large pan and place the meatloaf on top. Bake it according to the full recipe below.
3. Meanwhile, make your sauce in a bowl with a good pinch of salt and pepper then set aside.
4. Halfway through the cooking time, remove the meatloaf from the oven, pour the sauce around it and spoon some sauce over the top of the meatloaf. Continue to bake until cooked. Slice and serve.
Substitutions
- Minced – You can make this recipe with ground turkey or chicken if you like but it won’t be as delicious.
- Proteins – You can combine this with a can of beans, lentils or vegetables cooked with the sauce.
Remains
In the fridge If you have leftovers, line up in the fridge as this is so tasty as a snack! You can add it to a sandwich, or a wrap, or just eat it alone. You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days.
In the freezer This is great for freezing. You can freeze it before or after cooking. Simply defrost in the fridge overnight and then cook as directed by raw, or reheat for 25-30 minutes if already cooked. Check that it is warm.
Recipe Tips
Cutting
Ideally, you let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing. But, if you don’t have time, don’t worry. It might be a little more crumbly if you cut it while it’s hot, but it won’t affect the taste.
Loaf tin
I use one of these to act as a ‘mold’ to form the meatloaf. Press the meat well and then invert the tin and turn it out (loud bang and it should come out in one piece!)
If you don’t have one, don’t worry. You can simply shape the meatloaf with your hands into a shape.
More ground beef recipes…
Beef
Keema Curry {Easy Ground Beef Recipe!}
Under 15 minutes
Sticky Beef Mince Stir Fry {15 Minute Meal}
Minced Beef Recipes
Sheet Pan Kebabs
Under 30 minutes
Beef Burritos Recipe {30 Minute Meal}
FAQs
Yes! This is a great one to make ahead of time and freeze for later. You have the option of preparing it and freezing it raw, or you can cook it and then freeze it once it’s cool. It will need defrosting in the fridge overnight, and if you are cooking from raw, follow the recipe, or if it is pre-cooked, heat it for 25-30 minutes. It will need to be hot before serving.
Don’t worry! If you feel that it is drying out as you are cooking with the sauce, cover it with a lid or tin foil and let it continue to cook.
It’s really hard to tell if the meat is cooked as you won’t be looking inside (!), so for this recipe I recommend checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. I find this to be a good choice. There are cheaper ones out there but this one tends to be really reliable.
Sure – just assemble the Meatloaf until ready to bake, then refrigerate until ready. This is particularly useful to do on a busy weekend when you are out and about during the day!
This will go with loads of different side dishes for a main meal. I usually make mine with plain greens and mash, but the kids also love it with Kjardi, Mashed Potatoes, Homemade Oven Chips or corn on the cob.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the below.
Me too LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Easy Meatloaf
#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * { fill: #343434; }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50); }#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * { fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66); }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50 stop { stop-color: #343434; }linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66 stop { stop-color: #343434; }
Ingredients
For beef:
- 2 tsp Oil
- 750 g Minced beef
- 50 g Bread crumbs
- 2 tsp Garlic powder
- 2 tsp Onion powder
- 1 An egg Beaten up
- 4 tbsp BBQ sauce
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the sauce:
- 2 tsp Onion powder
- 2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 2 tsp Smoked paprika
- 800 g Tinned tomatoes
- 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 180°C fan/200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6.
-
Assemble the meatloaf: Mix the meat ingredients (minus the oil) in a clean bowl with a good pinch of salt and pepper, then press it into a loaf/log shape (see recipe notes below).
-
In the oven: Drizzle the oil into a large oven safe pan and place the meatloaf on top. Bake for 30 minutes.
-
Make a quick sauce: While this is in the oven, make your sauce by mixing all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, with a good pinch of salt and pepper, then set aside.
-
Pour it in: After 30 minutes, remove the meatloaf from the oven, pour the sauce around it and spoon some of the sauce over the top of the meatloaf.
-
Turn it over and cook: Turn the oven to 170°C fan/190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5 and put the meatloaf back in for 30 minutes.
-
Time to serve: Check for doneness (with a meat thermometer if you have one) before serving.
Have you made this recipe? Click here to let us know how it went and give it a thumbs up rating! Your feedback helps us make more recipes you really want.
Notes
Cutting the meatloaf: Wait until it cools for at least 10 minutes to get uniform slices. You can cut into pieces while it is hot but it will be a little crumbly.
Loaf tin: If you like you can use one to act as a ‘mould’ to shape the meatloaf. Press the meat well and then invert the tin and turn it out (loud bang and it should come out in one piece!)
Nutrition
This recipe was first published here on October 27, 2022 and was fully updated with a new and improved recipe and step-by-step videos on March 3, 2026.
The post Meatloaf appeared first on Taming Twins.