Momma's Best Meatloaf recipe is full of flavor and is moist and scrumptious! It's simple to make and comes out perfect every time!
THE BEST MEATLOAF RECIPE
I think most folks at some point in their lives have had either great experiences with meatloaf or really bad ones. Maybe the meatloaf was a tad dry or maybe it tasted like a lump of beef and nothing else. Don't worry, I am about to change your mind about any of your bad meatloaf experiences! This meatloaf recipe is not only delicious and flavorful, it is most definitely not dry!
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST MEATLOAF:
80/20 or 85/15 are going to be your most flavorful ground beef for the recipe. You can certainly use a leaner meat but you sacrifice some flavor by having less fat.
Yes you can. Turkey is very lean though so you obviously are not going to get anywhere near the flavor as you would with a fattier ground beef.
This is normal. It should look like that and will help this meatloaf come out super moist and tender!
Store bought bread crumbs soak up a lot of moisture in the meatloaf. I really don't recommend using them in baked meatloaf (it's a bit different in a slow cooker meatloaf). Sliced bread is a great filler without it soaking up all the moisture from the meatloaf. If you insist on using breadcrumbs, I would use panko breadcrumbs.
Yes. This can be made in a loaf pan (with about the same cooking time.) Cooking it on a sheet pan helps some of the fat spread away from the meat.
I converted this same recipe for the Instant Pot too!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- ground beef (80/20 works good)
- milk
- egg
- sliced bread
- Worcestershire sauce
- onion powder
- salt and black pepper
- dry ground mustard
- garlic powder
- ketchup
HOW TO MAKE MOMMA'S BEST MEATLOAF:
Heat oven to 350F degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (except ketchup.)
Don’t be afraid to get in there with your hands – they work best.
Spread mixture into an ungreased loaf pan or shape into a loaf on a sheet pan.
Spread ketchup on top of meatloaf.
Cook for an hour to an hour and 15 minutes (or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.)
Let stand for 5 minutes and serve.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Momma's Best Meatloaf (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 3 slices bread torn up into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon onion powder or ½ cup finely chopped onion
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dry ground mustard
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon hot sauce
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup ketchup
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350F degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (except ketchup.)
- Spread mixture into an ungreased loaf pan or shape into a loaf on a sheet pan.
- Spread ketchup evenly on top of meatloaf.
- Cook for an hour to an hour and 15 minutes (or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees).
- Let stand for 5 minutes and serve
Video
Notes
- This can be made in a loaf pan with about the same cooking time.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: August 2011
Updated & republished: December 2019
Kelly
Absolutely fantastic! Even the picky kiddos loved it. It was juicy, flavorful, and delicious! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Linda
My entire family loved this meatloaf, I can finally say I found a really good meatloaf recipe we all loved! I used 3 slices of regular light honey sandwich bread since I didn’t have any white bread. I also put 2 slices of bread one in front of the other under the meatloaf before I baked it. It was a hit! Enjoy!
I’m finally done searching meatloaf recipes, yeah!
Enjoy
Sharon M.
Sharon M. 8/30/2020
One of the best and easiest meatloaf
recipes I ever made! I’m reading that many people have trouble slicing the meatloaf without it falling apart. I have the answer!! A few years ago I came across a “Meatloaf Pan” as seen on TV.
I found it in the local commercial pharmacy! (They often sell these type of items, and there’s no shipping!!! It’s the best pan ever. It includes a non-stick loaf pan, and an insert that has holes on the bottom to allow the grease from the meat to go through. After baking, lift
the insert by both side handles and slide it right on a platter!! Slice away!!
Leslie Mc
I, too, grew up with dry meat loaf. I thought it bland, and could take or leave it (depending on whether or not I was starving!) Not till my 30's or so did I taste a meat loaf I fell in love with! My best friend's mother made the Most Delicious Meat Loaf Ever! Got her recipe, made it & my husband loved it, too! Present day, 2020, lost the recipe (my housekeeping sucks) and my friend is fighting cancer as well as her dog being sick. I just can't bring myself to ask her to read it to me over the phone or to copy it down & send it to me. BUT, I do remember it was a mixture of beef and pork, had finely minced green pepper, grated onion and shredded carrots, then she also mixed ketchup & brown sugar, then poured that down the center of the top of the meat loaf. Your recipe is the best one out there!
SCV
This is just like what my Mom made and instead of just ketchup on top she would mix ketchup and worcestershire sauce and a little bit of brown sugar the ketchup sauce was made to her liking so there was no recipe for it,it was all by taste.
John D Mahaney
I'm 71 and this is the very best meatloaf I have ever had!I am done with those dry sawdust breadcrumbs. This is how you do it!
Molly
Kids and husband loved it!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know Molly! So happy to hear that!!
lefemme
this's what i'm talkin' about!
YUM.
Thank You, Kindly 🙂
Rochelle
This is a great recipe.. Thank you for sharing!!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Rochelle!
Kim
Very delicious!!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love hearing that! Thank you so much Kim!