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Homemade Meatloaf Recipe

4.5 from 97 reviews

This homemade meatloaf recipe features a succulent blend of lean ground beef, sautéed onions and garlic, and flavorful seasonings. Topped with a tangy ketchup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar glaze, this classic comfort food is baked to perfection and makes for a hearty, satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatloaf

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef (you can replace 1/2 of the beef with pork if you like)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or dried parsley; plus more for garnishing)

Glaze

  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for even baking while you prepare the meatloaf mixture.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Then add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to release its fragrance. Remove the skillet from heat.
  3. Mix the meatloaf ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the sautéed onion and garlic mixture with ground beef, milk, eggs, breadcrumbs, ketchup, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
  4. Shape the meatloaf: Transfer the meat mixture into a loaf pan and gently press it down to form a smooth, even surface.
  5. Bake the meatloaf: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 40 minutes.
  6. Prepare and apply the glaze: While the meatloaf is baking, mix together ketchup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl. After the initial 40 minutes of baking, spoon the glaze evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
  7. Bake with glaze: Return the meatloaf to the oven and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes until cooked through and the glaze is set and glossy.
  8. Rest and serve: Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with extra parsley if desired, then slice and enjoy!

Notes

  • You can substitute half of the ground beef with ground pork for a different flavor.
  • Use fresh parsley for a brighter taste and garnish, or dried parsley if fresh isn’t available.
  • Make sure not to overmix the meat mixture to keep your meatloaf tender.
  • Resting the meatloaf after baking is essential to keep it juicy and easy to slice.
  • Feel free to adjust the glaze ingredients to your taste, adding more brown sugar for sweetness or vinegar for tang.

Keywords: meatloaf, homemade meatloaf, ground beef recipe, comfort food, baked meatloaf, meatloaf glaze