Description
Hearty home-style classic meatloaf recipe brings comfort and nostalgia to family dinner tables. Rich ground beef combined with herbs and spices creates a satisfying main course that welcomes everyone to the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) ground beef (85 – 90% lean)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (plain, panko or seasoned)
- 1 cup onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup milk
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 2 tbsps ketchup
- 2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tsps cider vinegar
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp dried or fresh basil
- 1 tsp dried or fresh oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika (sweet or smoked)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Combine ground beef, garlic, onion, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl, blending ingredients thoroughly until uniformly mixed.
- Chilling Phase: Refrigerate the meat mixture for 30-60 minutes to enhance flavor integration and texture cohesiveness.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking dish with parchment paper for convenient cleanup.
- Shaping: Gently mold the meat mixture into a compact loaf, maintaining a consistent height to ensure uniform cooking, without compressing the meat excessively.
- Initial Baking: Place the formed meatloaf in the prepared dish and bake for 45 minutes, allowing the meat to cook through and develop a golden-brown exterior.
- Glazing Process: During baking, whisk the glaze ingredients until smooth, then remove the meatloaf and liberally brush the entire surface with the prepared mixture.
- Final Roasting: Increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) when verified with a meat thermometer.
- Resting and Serving: Allow the meatloaf to rest 5-7 minutes after removing from the oven, enabling juice redistribution, then slice into even portions and serve with complementary side dishes.
Notes
- Chill for Flavor: Refrigerating the meat mixture helps ingredients blend and creates a more tender, cohesive texture.
- Handle with Care: Mix ingredients gently and avoid overworking the meat to prevent a tough, dense meatloaf.
- Temperature Perfection: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe, juicy results.
- Resting is Key: Allow the meatloaf to rest after baking, letting juices redistribute for maximum tenderness and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg