Meatloaf is a versatile yet straightforward meal that can be whipped up using different cooking techniques, appliances, and a mix of ingredients. Most households that enjoy meatloaf tend to have their own spin on the traditional recipe based on their preferences. To find a go-to meatloaf dish that one would enjoy preparing and eating, reviewing and choosing from a few easy, popular, tried-and-tested recipes can be a good starting point.
1. Oven-cooked meatloaf with oatmeal
Oatmeal lovers would enjoy this recipe. Here, to make the meatloaf more nutritious and tasty, the bread crumbs are swapped with quick-cooking oats. This gives the recipe a richer texture. In addition to the oats and ground beef, ingredients like eggs, salt, onion, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup are key parts of the mixture. If wondering how to make meatloaf in the oven, the process is pretty straightforward. All one has to do is combine the ingredients to make a meatloaf mixture, add it to a loaf pan, and then place the pan in a preheated oven. After baking it uncovered at 350° for 1 hour 15 minutes, one can serve it.
2. Airfryer meatloaf
It’s safe to say that air fryers are the latest kitchen favorites, and for good reason. There is little that these tiny ovens cannot do. One can also use an air fryer to make meatloaf. For this recipe, one needs a handful of ingredients—egg, milk, crushed saltines, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and ground beef. Then, one can mix them all together, shape the mixture, and place it in the air fryer. Halfway through the cooking process, one must glaze and baste the meatloaf to get that perfect juicy, moist burst of flavor.
3. Slow-cooked meatloaf
Slow cookers are designed for long, low-temperature cooking, making them ideal for preparing meat and fish. These appliances also reduce the effort involved in making meatloaf. All one has to do is combine the ingredients, add the prepared sauce over it, and place the mixture in a slow cooker. Then, one can let it cook for three to four hours. As for the ingredients, this recipe mainly uses eggs and saltine as the binding agents, tomato sauce, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce for flavor, and ground beef and sausage as meat. To switch things up a bit, one can make a sauce using tomatoes and basil leaves.
4. Grilled meatloaf
An interesting alternative to the traditional oven-made meatloaf is this grilled version, which is easy to follow. This recipe is also great for an outdoor hangout. All one needs is 10 minutes of prep time to get things going. One can mix some oats, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and ground beef and shape the mixture into two loaves. Here, too, it is important to use quick-cooking oats, as they are semi-cooked and will help the meatloaf retain more moisture. Then, one can place a foil over the grill and let the loaves sit on it until the meat is no longer pink. Finally, cut the loaves into slices and glaze each slice with the sauce to get the perfect smoky, juicy taste.
5. 15-minute microwave meatloaf
Although not everyone’s go-to option for cooking meat, a microwave can be used to make a delicious meatloaf. Those with busy schedules or unannounced guests would enjoy this option. The recipe primarily uses ground beef, bread crumbs, and ketchup. Begin by mixing egg, ketchup, breadcrumbs, mustard, salt, pepper, and onion soup mix. Once combined, add the ground beef, shape the mixture into a loaf, and place it in a microwave-safe dish. Following this, one only needs to wait 15 minutes for the meatloaf to cook in the microwave. At the 11- or 12-minute mark, one can drizzle vinegar and ketchup over the meatloaf and then let it cook on high for three more minutes. The excess fat should be drained from the dish before serving it.
6. Instant pot meatloaf
Another option for those looking for an easy meatloaf recipe is this instant pot meatloaf, which cooks faster than most options on the list. The pot also helps seal in the moisture. All one has to do is combine beef, eggs, garlic, onion, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper and shape the mixture into a loaf. Then, one can place the loaf on heavy-duty aluminum foil with the sides folded. Next, one can pour water into a pressure multicooker or instant pot, place a cooker rack in the pot and the meatloaf over the rack, cover the pot with the lid, and lock it in place. The steam release handle should be turned to the “Sealing” position, the cooking setting should be “Manual/Pressure cook,” and the pressure should be set to “High.” One can let the pot do its thing for 25 minutes. Then, one must let the steam escape the pot completely before removing the lid and letting the meatloaf rest for a few minutes.
7. Veggie-stuffed meatloaf
One can opt for this recipe to add a lot of texture and nutrients to the traditional meatloaf. Along with pork and beef, one can add red onion, spinach, fresh tomatoes, and a healthy dose of cheese to the loaf mixture. Even eggplant, mushrooms, and zucchini are great additions. The veggies don’t have to go into the mix. One can just prepare the meatloaf as they normally would and then saute veggies separately, later serving them as a side dish.