• Start Here
    • Recipe Index
      • Instant Pot Recipes
      • Air Fryer Recipes
      • Soups & Chilis
      • Desserts
      • Ingredients
        • Beef
        • Chicken
        • Pork
        • Seafood
        • Vegetables
      • Meals
        • Appetizers
        • Breakfast
        • Dinner
        • Lunch
        • Side Dish
      • Popular
        • 30 Minute Meals
        • Casseroles
        • Simple Fit Forty
        • Slow Cooker Meals
        • Soups & Chili
        • 30 Minute Meals
        • Weekly Meal Plan
        • Crafts & DIY
          • How to Use Essential Oils
          • Essential Oil Uses
          • Silhouette Crafts
          • DIY Furniture
          • Knitting and Sewing Projects
          • DIY Gift Ideas
          • Free Printables
          • Holiday Crafts
          • No Sew Projects
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Slow Cooker Meals
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
Header logo for homepage

PinkWhen

Easy Recipes for Everyone

The Best Homemade Meatloaf

Home » Meals » Dinner » The Best Homemade Meatloaf

Published June 6, 2020 by Jennifer. 2 Comments.
This post may contain affiliate links. Your cost is the same but it helps support this site and the fun freebies we share. See our full disclosures here.

Share
Pin
Share
Share
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
This is literally the best meatloaf recipe you're ever going to taste, and it's one our family has passed down for generations. It's made with ground beef, brown sugar, bell pepper, onion, crushed crackers, and more. It's our favorite thick and hearty meatloaf recipe and one that the entire family consumes in record time.This is literally the best meatloaf recipe you're ever going to taste, and it's one our family has passed down for generations. It's made with ground beef, brown sugar, bell pepper, onion, crushed crackers, and more. It's our favorite thick and hearty meatloaf recipe and one that the entire family consumes in record time.This is literally the best meatloaf recipe you're ever going to taste, and it's one our family has passed down for generations. It's made with ground beef, brown sugar, bell pepper, onion, crushed crackers, and more. It's our favorite thick and hearty meatloaf recipe and one that the entire family consumes in record time.

This is literally the best meatloaf recipe you’re ever going to taste. It’s made with ground beef, brown sugar, bell pepper, onion, crushed crackers, and more. It’s our favorite thick and hearty meatloaf recipe and one that the family consumes quickly! If you’re looking for something quicker, you can always make this Instant Pot Meatloaf. It’s the same recipe, but finished faster!

Simply the best homemade meatloaf recipe, sliced and ready to serve.

Every time that someone says that they’re not a fan of meatloaf, I immediately know that it means that they just haven’t tried this meatloaf recipe with crackers yet. Because once they do, it’s a total game-changer on how meatloaf is viewed.

This southern meatloaf recipe will have you scraping the plate to make certain that you’re getting every last little morsel…and trust me on this…there will be no judgment coming from me!

Sliced meatloaf ready to serve.

THE BEST HOMEMADE MEATLOAF

The secret to this recipe that takes it over the top is the crushed saltine crackers that are added in. They add such a great flavor and it’s fun to have people guess as to why they “think” that this meatloaf recipe is better than any of the other ones that they’ve ever tried.

Make certain that you make this as often as you can because it’s one of those dishes that you’re going to crave. Plus, if you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers, it somehow just keeps tasting better and better!

Are you in a rush? Scroll down to the bottom of this page and grab the full printable recipe card. It has all of our tips and tricks and notes for this recipe. If you’re not in a rush, then definitely keep reading!

Thick and hearty sliced meatloaf.

WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED?

Don’t worry, all the ingredients that you’re going to use are simple and easy to find or you might even have them already all on hand!

  • Lean ground beef
  • Ketchup
  • Brown sugar
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Salt
  • Oregano
  • Ground black pepper
  • Onion
  • Green bell pepper
  • Crushed saltine crackers
Ingredients to make a homemade meatloaf recipe.

Step by Step Recipe for Meatloaf

Best Meatloaf

Beast Meatloaf Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Press the brown sugar into the bottom of the pan. 

Brown sugar pressed into the bottom of a meatloaf pan.

Mix the meat, eggs, onion, peppers, seasoning, crackers, and milk. 

Lightly pack the pan with the meatloaf mixture. 

Meatloaf lightly packed and ready to bake.

Add the ketchup glaze to the meatloaf. 

Bake uncovered for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until juices run clear. 

Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. 

Freshly baked meatloaf cooling before being sliced for serving.

Like this recipe? PIN IT to one of your favorite boards! Follow PINKWHEN on Pinterest! 

If you have any other fun recipe ideas for this meatloaf recipe, leave it below in the comments. We’re always looking for feedback or great ideas for all of you! 

Sliced meatloaf with mashed potatoes and ready to serve.

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:

If you love this easy southern meatloaf recipe as much as we do, you might also enjoy these other recipes, too! 

  • Instant Mashed Potatoes
  • Keto Crock Pot Recipes
  • Oved Baked Green Beans

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Make sure you click on the social media share buttons and share it with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest. If you make this recipe and have Instagram, make sure to tag us at @pinkwhenjen. We love to see it when our readers make our recipes! 

Don’t forget to rate this recipe! It lets us know what we should keep sharing and lets our readers know what they should try next! Thanks for taking the time to visit us here at PinkWhen! You can also find us and follow us on Facebook and Pinterest.

Sliced homemade meatloaf

The Best Meatloaf Recipe

Jennifer
SImply the most flavorful meatloaf recipe I have ever tasted. A tried and true recipe we've made for decades.
3.88 from 16 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 354 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 3/4 cup crushed saltine crackers

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
  • Press the brown sugar into the bottom of the pan. 
  • Mix the meat, eggs, onion, peppers, seasoning, crackers, and milk. 
  • Lightly pack the pan with the meatloaf mixture. 
  • Add the ketchup glaze to the meatloaf. Bake uncovered for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until juices run clear. 
  • Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. 

Notes

  1. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. 
  2. Best served with mashed potatoes and green beans for the complete meal.

Nutrition

Calories: 354kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 29gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 1148mgPotassium: 652mgFiber: 1gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 371IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 4mg

*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you’re using with each recipe.

©PinkWhen 2023

Share this recipe! Follow @PinkWhen on Pinterest.
Share
Pin
Share
Share

June 6, 2020 · 2 Comments

MORE FROM PINKWHEN!

Overhead shot of one pot lasagna and shells topped with fresh parsley.
Easy One Pot Lasagna
Instant Pot Tri Tip sliced and served with potatoes and carrots.
Instant Pot Tri Tip
Garlic Butter Steak bites made in the air fryer and served on a white plate.
Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites

ABOUT JENNIFER

about me

Do you feel like there is not enough time in the day? I'm with you. Hi! I'm Jen, a wife, mother, and tennis lover who likes to share all of my quick easy recipes, crafts, and more. You can find anything from delicious 30-minute dinners or scrumptious dessert recipes the whole family will love. Read more...

Previous Post: « Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce Recipe
Next Post: The Best Baked Beans Recipe »

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

Popular Posts

  • Vegetable skewers in the basket of the air fryer.
    Air Fryer Vegetable Skewers
  • Taco stuffed shells made in the air fryer and served with queso cheese dipping sauce.
    Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Shells
  • air fryer chicken taquitos on a white plate and topped with salsa and sour cream.
    Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
  • Air fryer pineapple rings topped with cinnamon and sugar and served on a white plate.
    Air Fryer Pineapple
  • Start Here
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Slow Cooker Meals
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Desserts

Footer

Popular

Homemade Lavender Lotion Bars

How to Make Homemade Lavender Lotion Bars

Tic Tac Toe Backyard Bean Bag Toss

Tic Tac Toe Backyard Bean Bag Toss

Glass Vase Makeover

Featured

Chocolate and white chocolate coated pretzel rods with sprinkles on a white plate.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Vegetable skewers in the basket of the air fryer.

Air Fryer Vegetable Skewers

Taco stuffed shells made in the air fryer and served with queso cheese dipping sauce.

Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Shells

Latest

White chocolate and milk chocolate coated Oreo balls stacked on a white plate in front of milk and Oreo cookies.

Oreo Balls

Creamy fruit dip in a clear bowl with fresh fruit surrounding the bowl.

Fruit Dip

air fryer chicken taquitos on a white plate and topped with salsa and sour cream.

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

Copyright © 2023 pinkwhen.com. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy.