10+ Meatloaf Recipes to Try for Simple, Delicious Dinners

Meatloaf’s one of those classic comfort foods that just feels right at home. It brings together simple ingredients for a warm, satisfying meal you can make your own in so many ways.

Whether you’re just starting out in the kitchen or craving something familiar, meatloaf recipes have a little something for everyone.

You can whip up a delicious meatloaf with just some basic ingredients. That’s what makes it such a good pick for busy weeknights or family dinners.

If you’ve got a few go-to recipes, you’ll never be stuck for a crowd-pleaser.

1) Classic Beef Meatloaf with Ketchup Glaze

Here’s a classic beef meatloaf that’s simple but packs a lot of flavor. You mix ground beef with bread crumbs, onion, and some seasonings—nothing fancy, just the basics.

The ketchup glaze on top gives it that sweet, tangy bite everyone seems to love. You don’t need anything special—just kitchen staples.

Pop it in the oven until it’s juicy and browned. It’s a real family dinner kind of dish.

The glaze keeps the meatloaf moist and shiny. Just stir together ketchup, vinegar, and brown sugar for a good balance of sweet and tangy.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ cup milk
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• For the glaze: ¾ cup ketchup, 1 ½ teaspoons white vinegar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Shape the mixture into a loaf and place it in a baking pan.
4. Mix ketchup, vinegar, and brown sugar for the glaze. Spread half over the meatloaf.
5. Bake for 45 minutes, then spread the rest of the glaze on top.
6. Bake for another 15 minutes until the meatloaf is cooked through.
7. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

You can find more tips on making this dish at this Classic Beef Meatloaf recipe.

2) Ina Garten’s Easy Meatloaf Recipe

Ina Garten’s meatloaf keeps things simple—great for beginners. You’ll mix ground chuck with sautéed onions, breadcrumbs, eggs, and a little fresh thyme.

Don’t pack it too tight; that’s how you get a tender loaf. Spread ketchup on top for some tang, then bake it at 350°F (175°C) until it’s cooked through.

This one feels homemade but doesn’t ask for much effort. It’s a cozy, classic meal with just a hint of something fresh.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground chuck
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped and sautéed
• 1 ½ cups dried breadcrumbs
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
• ½ cup ketchup

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large bowl, mix the meat, onions, breadcrumbs, eggs, and thyme lightly.
3. Shape the mixture into a loaf and place in a baking pan.
4. Spread ketchup evenly over the top.
5. Bake for about 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C).
6. Let rest before slicing.

For more details, see Ina Garten’s Easy Meatloaf Recipe.

3) Old-Fashioned Southern Meatloaf with Oats

This old-school Southern meatloaf swaps bread crumbs for oats. That gives it a nice texture and helps keep everything together.

You’ll mix ground beef with onion, bell pepper, eggs, and a few simple seasonings for a dish that tastes like home. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for an even cook and a golden top.

It’s pretty easy and perfect for a cozy night.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
• 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a bowl, mix ground beef, oats, eggs, milk, onion, bell pepper, salt, pepper, and tomatoes.
3. Shape the mixture into a loaf and place it in a baking dish.
4. Bake for about 50-60 minutes until cooked through.
5. Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing.

For more details, you can visit this Old-Fashioned, Southern Meatloaf recipe.

4) Budget Bytes’ Tender and Juicy Meatloaf

If you’re after something easy and comforting, Budget Bytes’ meatloaf is a winner. It’s tender and juicy, topped with a rich tomato glaze that really makes it pop.

Most of the ingredients are probably already in your pantry. Mix ground meat with breadcrumbs, eggs, and spices, then slather on the sauce before baking.

This one’s perfect for a quiet night in. Leftovers? They reheat like a dream.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup ketchup (for glaze)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste (for glaze)
• 1 tbsp mustard (for glaze)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Shape mixture into a loaf on a baking sheet.
4. Mix ketchup, tomato paste, and mustard for the glaze. Spread over the top.
5. Bake for 45-55 minutes until cooked through.
6. Let it rest 10 minutes before slicing.

Try this easy recipe from Budget Bytes for a classic, juicy meatloaf experience.
Best Homemade Meatloaf Recipe – Budget Bytes

5) Natasha’s Kitchen Meatloaf with Garlic and Onion

Natasha’s Kitchen keeps things simple but tasty. The combo of ground beef, onion, and garlic brings in lots of flavor.

Eggs, fresh parsley, and breadcrumbs pull it all together. The glaze—ketchup and brown sugar—gives it a sweet, tangy finish.

You can throw this together for any weeknight dinner. It’s straightforward and doesn’t take forever.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef (80% or 85% lean)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• For the glaze: 3 tbsp ketchup, 2 tbsp brown sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, onion, garlic, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, salt, and pepper.
3. Shape the mixture into a loaf and place in a baking dish.
4. Mix ketchup and brown sugar, then spread this glaze over the meatloaf.
5. Bake for about 1 hour or until meatloaf reaches 160°F (71°C) inside.
6. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

6) Sourdough Breadcrumb Meatloaf with Tangy Glaze

Sourdough breadcrumbs add a nice crunch and a little tang to your meatloaf. The glaze on top brings a sweet kick that’s hard to resist.

Mix everything gently so your meat stays tender. The glaze spreads on easy before baking, and it helps keep things moist.

This one’s great with mashed potatoes or whatever veggies you like.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• 1 cup sourdough breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the glaze:

• ½ cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon mustard

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, sourdough breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
3. Shape the mixture into a loaf and place it in a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
4. In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients and spread evenly on top of the meatloaf.
5. Bake for 1 hour or until cooked through.
6. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

7) Meatloaf with Ground Chuck and Milk

Ground chuck brings a rich flavor and a good bit of fat to meatloaf. When you add milk, it keeps everything moist and tender as it bakes.

This combo makes a classic, easy dish that’s perfect for a family dinner. Just mix the ground chuck with milk, breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasonings.

The milk soaks into the breadcrumbs and softens the texture. After mixing, shape your meatloaf and bake until the inside hits 160°F (71°C).

You can add a simple glaze if you want, but honestly, the juicy meat is the star here.

Ingredients

• 1½ pounds ground chuck
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup dried bread crumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1 onion, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Combine ground chuck, milk, bread crumbs, egg, onion, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
3. Gently mix until just combined.
4. Shape into a loaf and place in a baking pan.
5. Bake for about 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
6. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

8) Traditional Meatloaf with Eggs and Breadcrumbs

Start by mixing ground beef with eggs and breadcrumbs. The eggs help everything stick together, and the breadcrumbs keep it moist.

Toss in some chopped onions for extra flavor. I like to add salt, pepper, and sometimes a pinch of garlic powder.

Once everything’s mixed, shape it into a loaf. Bake at 350°F (175°C) until it’s cooked through, which usually takes about an hour.

A layer of ketchup or tomato sauce on top gives a nice glaze, if you’re into that.

Ingredients

• 1½ pounds ground beef
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 onion, chopped
• ½ cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup ketchup (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, onions, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
3. Shape into a loaf and place in a baking pan.
4. Spread ketchup on top if you want.
5. Bake for about 1 hour or until fully cooked.
6. Let it rest a few minutes before slicing.

9) Laura Vitale’s Homemade Meatloaf

Laura Vitale’s meatloaf is a straightforward, homey dish. She uses ground beef, garlic, and Italian bread for a flavorful, satisfying result.

Mix everything together, shape the loaf, and bake. The recipe takes about 50 minutes at 350°F (175°C).

You can easily tweak it with Worcestershire sauce or your favorite spices. I love it with mashed potatoes or some steamed veggies.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 slices Italian bread, crusts removed
• ½ cup milk
• 1 egg

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Soak the bread in milk until it’s soft.
3. Combine ground beef, soaked bread, onion, garlic, and egg in a big bowl.
4. Shape into a loaf on a baking pan.
5. Bake for 50 minutes or until cooked through.
6. Let it rest before slicing and serving.

You can check out the full recipe here.

10) Mom’s Classic Free-Form Baked Meatloaf

This meatloaf is as simple as it gets and feels like home. Shape the mixture by hand and bake it right on a pan.

A ketchup glaze on top brings extra flavor and helps keep things moist. You don’t need any fancy gadgets here.

It’s a solid choice for a no-fuss dinner that everyone will probably like. I usually serve it with mashed potatoes or whatever veggies I have on hand.

Bake for about 1 hour at 350°F (175°C). Keep an eye on it so it stays juicy.

Ingredients

• Ground beef (1 ½ lbs)
• Bread crumbs (¾ cup)
• Milk (½ cup)
• Egg (1)
• Onion, finely chopped (1 small)
• Garlic, minced (2 cloves)
• Salt (1 tsp)
• Black pepper (½ tsp)
• Ketchup (½ cup, divided)
• Worcestershire sauce (1 tbsp)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Toss all the ingredients into a bowl, but hold back half the ketchup.

3. Shape the mixture into a loaf.

4. Set it gently on a baking sheet.

5. Slather the rest of the ketchup over the top.

6. Pop it in the oven and bake for about an hour.

7. Check that it’s cooked through.

8. Let it rest for 5 minutes before you slice and serve.