Classic Juicy Meatloaf Recipe
The secret in this classic juicy meatloaf recipe is the tangy and savory sauce added to the meatloaf as it bakes. It easily comes together with basic pantry ingredients that you likely already have at home! The results are juicy, tender, and moist – the perfect weeknight dinner idea.
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Published April 14, 2022
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recipe
WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT THIS RECIPE
- It’s affordable and oh-so-easy to make.
- You likely already have the simple pantry ingredients in your kitchen.
- The extra sauce on top sets this classic meatloaf recipe apart.
- It bakes up in a little less than an hour, for the perfect weeknight meal.
- Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food!
BASIC PANTRY INGREDIENTS FOR JUICY MEATLOAF RECIPE
One of the best parts about this classic meatloaf recipe is that you can prepare it with basic pantry ingredients that you likely already have on hand. It’s a great way to use up the ground beef in your freezer. These basic pantry ingredients are all you’ll need for the perfect weeknight dinner:
- The base of this classic meatloaf is, you guessed it, ground beef. You’ll need 2 pounds of 85-90% lean ground beef.
- The sautéed chopped onion and garlic paired with salt, pepper, and thyme will add a new dimension to the recipe. Toasting the thyme with the onion and garlic highlights its flavor.
- To hold it all together, create a binder using eggs and breadcrumbs.
- The added Worcestershire sauce and beef broth will give you a moist meatloaf recipe every time!
- Brown sugar, coarse mustard, and ketchup come together to create the tangy special sauce. Add some as your meatloaf bakes, but make sure to save a little for serving.
Meatloaf COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How Do You Make a Juicy Meatloaf?
The key here is to not skip out on the added moisture. In this classic meatloaf recipe, you’ll notice that it requires both Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. That, along with the special sauce will give you the most moist meatloaf recipe ever!
Is it Better to Cook Meatloaf Covered or Uncovered?
You don’t have to for this recipe. The added moisture in the mixture itself as well as the addition of the sauce will give you the mouth-watering classic meatloaf you’re after. If you’re worried about yours drying out and prefer to cover it, make sure to remove the foil for the last 15-minutes of baking.
What Ingredients Keep Meatloaf From Falling Apart?
The secret to keeping meatloaf from falling apart is the binder. In this recipe, the binder is the breadcrumbs and the eggs. You may be tempted to skip the egg, but trust me, it’s important.
MORE TO COOK AND EAT
- Teriyaki Meatloaf – tender, juicy, and full of umami flavor.
- BBQ Turkey Meatloaf – uses barbecue sauce instead of ketchup for robust results.
- Garlic Marinated Ribeye Steaks – melt-in-your-mouth tender and bursting with garlic.
- BBQ Baked Ribs – succulent baked ribs that fall off the bone.
Juicy Tender Meatloaf Recipe
The secret in this classic juicy meatloaf recipe is in the tangy and savory sauce added to the meatloaf as it bakes as well as for serving. It also comes together with basic pantry ingredients that you likely already have at home! The results are juicy, tender, and moist – the perfect weeknight dinner idea.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 70
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 large cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 TB olive oil
- 1 tsp thyme
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 3 TB Worcestershire sauce
- 2 TB packed brown sugar
- 2 TB stone ground (coarse) mustard
- 2/3 cup ketchup
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup dried bread crumbs
- 2 lbs ground beef
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F, with rack on middle position. Place large pan of water on lower rack underneath.
- In a large heavy saucepan, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add a pinch of kosher salt, pinch of pepper, and the thyme. Saute 30 seconds more, and transfer to large bowl.
- Add 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, eggs, beef broth, and bread crumbs. Whisk by hand to combine ingredients. Add ground beef and stir with wooden spoon until fully combined.
- Form beef mixture into a loaf (roughly 2x5x8) in a larger baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine brown sugar, coarse mustard, and ketchup. Pour half of this sauce over the meatloaf.
- Bake about 50 minutes. Brush on more sauce, reserving a little for serving, if desired. Bake 10 more minutes or until meatloaf is cooked through.
- Let meatloaf sit at room temp about 10 minutes before cutting into it. Serve, and drizzle with any leftover sauce.
Notes
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Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 283
- Sugar: 8.2 g
- Sodium: 684.5 mg
- Fat: 8.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.6 g
- Fiber: 1.3 g
- Protein: 28.8 g
- Cholesterol: 114.3 mg
- Category: main, dinner
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: juicy meatloaf recipe, classic meatloaf, moist meatloaf recipe
Source: Chew Out Loud
