Best 3 Best Ever Meat Loaf Recipes

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with our collection of meatloaf recipes. From classic to creative, each recipe promises a moist, flavorful, and satisfying meatloaf that will tantalize your taste buds. Discover the traditional version made with ground beef, bread crumbs, and a tangy tomato glaze, or explore variations featuring turkey, pork, or a combination of meats. Unlock the secrets to achieving a perfectly browned crust, a tender and juicy interior, and a symphony of herbs and spices that will leave you craving for more. Elevate your meatloaf game with unique twists like a bacon-wrapped meatloaf, a cheesy meatloaf stuffed with mozzarella, or a meatloaf topped with a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. Whether you prefer a classic comfort food or an adventurous culinary experience, our meatloaf recipes are sure to satisfy your cravings.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

BEST EVER MEAT LOAF

Best Ever Meat Loaf image

The best meat loaf I have ever found. Try it and you will see.

Provided by Matt O

Categories Main Dish Recipes Meatloaf Recipes Beef Meatloaf Recipes

Time 1h20m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

2 eggs
⅔ cup milk
2 teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
3 slices bread, crumbled
1 ½ pounds ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded carrot
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and ground black pepper in a large bowl. Add crumbled bread and stir until dissolved. Mix ground beef, onion, Cheddar cheese, and carrot into bread mixture; transfer mixture to a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Combine brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard in a small bowl; spread over meat mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 409.5 calories, Carbohydrate 22.3 g, Cholesterol 155 mg, Fat 22.7 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 28.4 g, SaturatedFat 10.3 g, Sodium 1227.3 mg, Sugar 14.4 g

BEST-EVER MEAT LOAF

Best-Ever Meat Loaf image

The combination of onion, carrots, parsley and cheese-plus the tomato-mustard topping-makes this meat loaf really colorful. The recipe lends itself easily to being doubled or halved to suit the number you're cooking for, and it freezes well, too. It's the best meatloaf ever! -Anna Baker, Blaine, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 1h30m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

2 large eggs
2/3 cup whole milk
3 slices bread, torn
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 cup shredded cheddar or part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil, thyme or sage, optional
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
TOPPING:
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard

Steps:

In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add milk and bread; let stand until liquid is absorbed. Stir in the onion, carrot, cheese and seasonings. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. , Shape into a 7-1/2x3-1/2x2-1/2-in. loaf in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes. , Combine the topping ingredients; spoon half of the mixture over meat loaf. Bake 30 minutes longer or until meat is no longer pink and a thermometer reads 160°, occasionally spooning remaining topping over loaf. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 398 calories, Fat 17g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 164mg cholesterol, Sodium 771mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (22g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 30g protein.

MATTHEW'S BEST EVER MEAT LOAF

Matthew's Best Ever Meat Loaf image

This is comfort food at its best. Mushrooms, beef stock, tomato paste, Worcestershire and soy sauce help boost the meaty flavor of this classic diner staple. -Matthew Hass

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 1h45m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

3 slices white bread, torn into small pieces
1/2 cup beef stock
2 large portobello mushrooms (about 6 ounces), cut into chunks
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
1 medium carrot, cut into chunks
1 celery rib, cut into chunks
3 garlic cloves, halved
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/4 pounds ground beef
3/4 pound ground pork
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
GLAZE:
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground mustard

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine bread and stock; let stand until liquid is absorbed. , Meanwhile, pulse mushrooms, onion, carrot, celery and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add mushroom mixture; cook and stir until vegetables are tender and liquid is evaporated, 5-6 minutes. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute longer. Cool slightly., Add next 7 ingredients and cooked vegetables to bread mixture; mix thoroughly. Place a 12x7-in. piece of foil on a rack in a foil-lined rimmed baking pan. Transfer meat mixture to the foil and shape into a 10x6-in. loaf. , Bake 1 hour. Mix together glaze ingredients; spread over loaf. Bake until a thermometer reads 160°, about 15-25 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing., Freeze option: Shape meat loaf on a plastic wrap-lined baking sheet; wrap and freeze until firm. Remove from pan and wrap securely in foil; return to freezer. To use, unwrap meat loaf and bake as directed, increasing initial baking time to 2 hours. Mix together glaze ingredients; spread over loaf. Bake until a thermometer inserted in center reads 160°, 15-25 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 341 calories, Fat 18g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 119mg cholesterol, Sodium 832mg sodium, Carbohydrate 19g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 25g protein.

Tips:

Choose the right ground beef: Use a combination of ground chuck and ground sirloin for a juicy and flavorful meatloaf.
Don't overmix the meatloaf mixture: Overmixing can make the meatloaf tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
Use bread crumbs or crackers for binding: Bread crumbs or crackers help to bind the meatloaf together and keep it moist.
Add vegetables to the meatloaf mixture: Vegetables like onions, celery, and carrots add flavor and moisture to the meatloaf.
Use a loaf pan that is the right size: Use a loaf pan that is just big enough to hold the meatloaf mixture. A loaf pan that is too big will result in a dry meatloaf.
Cook the meatloaf at the right temperature: Cook the meatloaf at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Let the meatloaf rest before slicing: Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This will help the meatloaf hold its shape and make it easier to slice.

Conclusion:

Meatloaf is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. By following these tips, you can make the best meatloaf ever. Serve it with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans, for a complete and satisfying meal.