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Momma’s Meatloaf (+Video)

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!

slices, meatloaf on a plate with mashed potatoes.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST MEATLOAF:

What type of ground beef should I use for 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.

Can I make meatloaf with ground turkey?

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.

Why does the meatloaf mixture seem “wet”?

This is normal. It should look like that and will help this meatloaf come out super moist and tender!

Can I use bread crumbs instead of cubed bread?

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.

Can I make this in a loaf pan?

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.

Can I make meatloaf in the instant pot?

I converted this same recipe for the Instant Pot too!

Can this be made in an air fryer?

Yes! Head over to my Air Fryer Meatloaf recipe on how to do that.

a whole cooked meatloaf shown on a metal steak serving platter.

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
ground beef, milk, egg, sliced bread, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder salt, dry ground mustard, black pepper hot sauce, garlic powder, ketchup.

HOW TO MAKE MOMMA’S MEATLOAF:

Heat oven to 350F degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (except ketchup.)

ground beef, sliced bread, seasoning and milk in a large bowl.

Don’t be afraid to get in there with your hands – they work best.

meatloaf mixture combined in a glass bowl.

Spread mixture into an ungreased loaf pan or shape into a loaf on a sheet pan.

meatloaf spread into a loaf shape on a cookie sheet.

Spread ketchup on top of meatloaf.

spread ketchup on top of meatloaf before baking.

Cook for an hour to an hour and 15 minutes (or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.) 

The best meatloaf on a platter, garnished with parsley flakes.

Let stand for 5 minutes and serve.

forkful, meatloaf topped with ketchup.

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Originally published: August 2011
Updated & republished: December 2019

Momma's Best Meatloaf recipe

Momma’s Meatloaf (+Video)

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!
4.79 from 55 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 4

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 1/2 cup finely chopped onion)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon dry ground mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
  • teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup ketchup

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350F degrees. Combine 1 pound ground beef, 3/4 cup milk, 1 large egg, 3 slices bread, torn up into small pieces, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ Tablespoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon dry ground mustard, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon hot sauce and ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder in a large bowl.
  • Shape into a loaf onto a sheet pan.
  • Spread ½ cup ketchup on top of meatloaf.
  • Cook for an hour to an hour and 15 minutes (or until a meat thermometer reads 160F degrees).
  • Let stand for 5 minutes then serve.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • This can be made in a loaf pan with about the same cooking time.
  • Try adding 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce to the ketchup topping for a slightly smoky flavor. 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 26g | Sodium: 832mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g

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 and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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