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Classic Meatloaf

Updated September 29, 2025 / By Natalie Mortimer

Easy and classic, this homemade meatloaf recipe is the best ever! Meaty, tender and juicy, it’s a family favorite, and the leftovers are great, too.
Sliced meatloaf on a plate topped with a brown sugar and ketchup glaze, a classic comfort food dinner recipe.
Photography by Gayle McLeod

My classic meatloaf recipe is simply the best, for so many reasons! It’s tender and moist thanks to a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage. It has a delicious crust, because it’s hand-formed instead of baked in a pan. And lastly, grating the onion gives every bite of this meatloaf a savory richness that everyone will adore. 

Sliced meatloaf on a plate topped with a brown sugar and ketchup glaze, served with broccoli, a classic comfort food recipe

Top the meatloaf with a ketchup and brown sugar glaze (the same one I use on turkey meatloaf and mini meatloaves) and skip the loaf pan for an easy, fabulously classic meatloaf that your family will love. The best part of making meatloaf for dinner? Meatloaf sandwiches tomorrow! 

Ground beef, breadcrumbs, onions, eggs, herbs, and spices neatly arranged, ready to create a classic, savory meatloaf.

Ingredients For Classic Meatloaf 

  • Meat: I use lean, 90/10 ground beef because it will be mixed with mild Italian sausage, which is fattier. If you want to make an all-beef meatloaf, use 80/20 beef. 
  • Onion: Grate it with a box grater or use your food processor’s grating attachment. Grated onion is a trick borrowed from this Gryo recipe and it’s a great way to keep meatloaf moist. 
  • Breadcrumbs: Some folks use panko, but I keep it classic with plain breadcrumbs. 
  • Eggs: Eggs hold it all together. 
  • Milk: Whole milk is best, but 2% or even plant-based milks are OK. 
  • Seasonings: Italian seasoning, Worcestershire, garlic & onion powder, salt and pepper. Because the meatloaf recipe has sausage in it, you don’t have to worry much about adding a lot of additional seasons. Yay! 
Ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce blending together in a bowl to create a tangy, sweet meatloaf topping.

How To Make Meatloaf

  1. Mix the topping: Ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
  2. Grate the onion. It’ll be kind of watery, so grate it into a bowl lined with a kitchen towel. Then, grab the corners of the towel and squeeze out any extra onion liquid before adding the onion to the meat.  
  3. Gently mix all the meatloaf ingredients. TIP: I like to mix with my hands, just like you would when making meatballs. Taking care not to overmix will keep your meatloaf from being tough.  
  4. Use your hands to form the meat mixture into a loaf on a lined baking sheet
  5. Top the meatloaf with the ketchup glaze. 
  6. Bake for 50 minutes. 
Ground beef, breadcrumbs, onions, eggs, and spices being mixed together in a bowl to create a flavorful meatloaf mixture.

Tips For The BEST Meatloaf

  • No loaf pan: Form the meatloaf into a loaf with your hands (use the damp-palms trick that we’ve talked about in all our Meatball Recipes to keep your hands clean). Then, bake the meatloaf on a sheet pan just like that (the same technique we use for mini meatloaves). Why? It’ll bake more evenly, get a delicious outer crust, and taste WAY better. 
  • Make it moist: That ketchup glaze topping doesn’t just taste good, it tastes great!
  • Make it so tender: mix the meatloaf with your hands so that you don’t accidentally overmix it. Overmixing will make the meat tough. 
  • Use two kinds of meat! Using some Italian sausage in my meatloaf recipe is what makes it the best, in my opinion! It adds richness, moisture and a next-level flavor that’s hard to beat.  
  • Let it rest: ten minute rest may not seem essential, but traps the juices in the meatloaf and makes every bite tender and juicy when you finally do cut into it. 
A perfectly formed meatloaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet, being brushed with a savory, sweet sauce for added flavor.

How To Store Leftovers

Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It’s delicious in sandwiches (I do white bread and mayo, sometimes a little ketchup) or you can warm it gently in the oven, OR you can even slice it and warm the slices in a pan over low heat until they’re warmed through. 

Golden-brown meatloaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet, freshly out of the oven, ready to be sliced and served.

To Freeze Meatloaf

You can certainly freeze the fully cooked meatloaf. Let it cool and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Label it clearly with the date and keep it in the freezer for 2-3 months. You could also freeze any leftover meatloaf in slices to make it easier to defrost a single serving at a time. 

Sliced meatloaf on a plate topped with a brown sugar and ketchup glaze, a classic comfort food dinner recipe.

What To Serve With Meatloaf

Sliced meatloaf on a plate topped with a brown sugar and ketchup glaze, served with broccoli, a classic comfort food recipe

More of My Best Comfort Recipes

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Sliced meatloaf on a plate topped with a brown sugar and ketchup glaze, a classic comfort food dinner recipe.

Classic Meatloaf Recipe

  • Serves:  8
  • Prep Time:  15 min
  • Cook Time:  50 min
  • Calories:  286

Description

Easy and classic, this homemade meatloaf recipe is the best ever! Meaty, tender and juicy, it’s a family favorite, and the leftovers are great, too.
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    Ingredients

    The Best Meatloaf

    • ¼ cup ketchup
    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ yellow onion, grated
    • 1 ½ pounds 90/10 ground beef
    • 8 ounces mild Italian sausage, ground or casing removed
    • ¾ cup breadcrumbs
    • 2 large eggs, beaten
    • ¾ cup whole milk
    • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder

    Method

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center position. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment or foil.

      Ground beef, breadcrumbs, onions, eggs, herbs, and spices neatly arranged, ready to create a classic, savory meatloaf.
    2. In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of the Worcestershire sauce.

      Ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce blending together in a bowl to create a tangy, sweet meatloaf topping.
    3. Place the grated onion in a clean kitchen towel and wring out any excess liquid. Transfer the onion to a large bowl. Add the ground beef, sausage, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire. Mix well, then transfer to the center of the prepared sheet pan. With wet hands, form the mixture into an 8 x 4-inch loaf. Rub the meatloaf with the brown sugar mixture until coated.

      A perfectly formed meatloaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet, being brushed with a savory, sweet sauce for added flavor.
    4. Bake until the internal temperature reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 50 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. 

      Sliced meatloaf on a plate topped with a brown sugar and ketchup glaze, served with broccoli, a classic comfort food recipe

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 286
    • Protein 25 g
    • Carbohydrates 13 g
    • Total Fat 14 g
    • Dietary Fiber 0 g
    • Cholesterol 123 mg
    • Sodium 839 mg
    • Total Sugars 7 g

    Classic Meatloaf

    Questions & Reviews

    Rated 5 stars by 2 readers

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      Any questions?

      Need to change up some ingredients? Unsure about a step in the method? Click the Ask a Question button above. We’re here for you.

    • Dawna

      5-star rating

      Very flavorful meatloaf! Delicious!! I think I will add 2 minced cloves of garlic next time I make it!

      So glad you loved it, thank you!

    • Zoe

      5-star rating

      Even better than my mom's growing up! Shhh don't tell her.

      Thanks Zoe! So glad you like it and your secret is safe with us!