There’s nothing quite like a classic meatloaf to bring comfort and warmth to your table. This recipe delivers a wonderfully savory and tender meatloaf with a sweet and tangy glaze that will have everyone asking for seconds. It’s the perfect cozy meal for a weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend gathering.
This irresistibly tender and flavorful meatloaf, topped with a delightful glaze, is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Savory, beefy, with hints of onion, garlic, and a sweet-tangy tomato glaze.
- Textures: Tender and moist interior, with a slightly caramelized top from the glaze.
- Total Active Time: Approximately 20 minutes
- Total Cook Time: Approximately 1 hour 5 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Easy
What You’ll Need
To create this delicious oven baked meatloaf, you’ll need a few essential components: a hearty blend of ground beef and binders like toasted breadcrumbs and crushed crackers, aromatics like onion and garlic, simple seasonings, an egg for richness, a touch of sour cream for moisture, Worcestershire sauce for depth, tomato sauce, milk to adjust consistency, and ketchup for that classic glaze.
Ingredient Notes
- Extra-Lean Ground Beef – Using extra-lean ground beef helps prevent the meatloaf from becoming too greasy.
- Bread and Crackers – Toasted bread and buttery round crackers are crumbled to create a binding mixture that ensures a tender, not dense, meatloaf.
- Tomato Sauce and Ketchup – These form the base of the delicious glaze that caramelizes beautifully during the final bake.
- Sour Cream – A small amount of sour cream adds a wonderful richness and moisture to the meatloaf mixture.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Vegetables – For an extra layer of flavor and texture, you can finely mince and sauté some bell pepper along with the onion and garlic.
- Herbs – Fresh or dried herbs like parsley or thyme can be added to the meat mixture for an aromatic boost.
- Spice – If you enjoy a little heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be incorporated into the meat mixture or the glaze.
How to Make Oven Baked Meatloaf
Let’s get started on this comforting classic!
- Prepare the Base: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While the oven heats, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion and garlic, cooking until they’re softened and fragrant, which should take about 5 minutes. Season this mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Combine the Ingredients: In a large bowl, gently combine the sautéed onion and garlic mixture with the extra-lean ground beef. Add the crumbled toasted bread, crushed buttery round crackers, lightly beaten egg, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the can of tomato sauce. Mix everything together until just combined. If the mixture seems a bit dry, add milk a teaspoon at a time until it reaches a moist but not soggy consistency.
- First Bake: Carefully place the meatloaf mixture into a 5×9-inch loaf pan, shaping it evenly. Bake it uncovered in the preheated oven for 40 minutes.
- Second Bake and Glaze: After 40 minutes, increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). While the oven heats up, prepare the glaze by mixing the remaining tomato sauce with the ketchup in a small bowl. Once the oven is at the higher temperature, pour this glaze mixture evenly over the top of the meatloaf. Continue to bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the meatloaf reaches 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
- Final Bake and Rest: Bake for another 10 minutes with the glaze on.
- Pro Tip: Don’t skip the resting period! Allowing the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven helps the juices redistribute, ensuring a more tender and flavorful final product.
- Serve: Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving hot.
Recipe Tips
- Gentle Mixing: Be careful not to overmix the meatloaf ingredients, as this can result in a tougher texture. Mix just until everything is incorporated.
- Moisture Control: The milk is your key to a perfectly moist meatloaf. Add it gradually, ensuring the mixture is moist but not wet.
- Internal Temperature: Using an instant-read thermometer is the most reliable way to ensure your meatloaf is cooked through safely and perfectly.
- Pan Preparation: While this recipe uses a loaf pan, you can also shape the meatloaf directly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
FAQs
- Can I use different kinds of ground meat?
While this recipe is crafted for extra-lean ground beef, you could experiment with a blend of beef and pork or even ground turkey, adjusting the seasonings as needed. - How do I know if my meatloaf is cooked through?
The safest and most accurate way is to use an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meatloaf. It should register 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). - Why is my meatloaf dry?
Overmixing, too long of a baking time, or not enough binder can lead to a dry meatloaf. This recipe includes ingredients like sour cream and milk to help maintain moisture.
Serving Suggestions
This oven baked meatloaf is wonderfully versatile. It pairs beautifully with classic mashed potatoes, a side of green beans, or a fresh garden salad. Roasted root vegetables or a simple dinner roll also make excellent accompaniments.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can prepare the meatloaf mixture up to a day in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. For best results, shape and bake it fresh. Leftover baked meatloaf can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days and is delicious reheated.
Oven Baked Meatloaf
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
This oven baked meatloaf recipe delivers a wonderfully savory and tender meatloaf with a sweet and tangy glaze that is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend gathering.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
0.25 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 teaspoons salt
1.5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds extra-lean ground beef
3 slices bread, toasted and crumbled
7 buttery round crackers, crushed
1 egg, lightly beaten
3.5 tablespoons sour cream
1.5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce, divided
0.25 cup milk, or as needed
3 tablespoons ketchup
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Melt butter in a skillet and cook onion and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large bowl, combine the onion and garlic mixture with ground beef, crumbled bread, crushed crackers, egg, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the tomato sauce. Mix well. Add milk a teaspoon at a time if the mixture feels dry, until it’s moist but not soggy.
Place the mixture into a 5×9-inch loaf pan. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Then, increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
In a small bowl, mix the remaining tomato sauce with ketchup. Pour this mixture over the top of the meatloaf and bake for 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Be careful not to overmix the meatloaf ingredients, as this can result in a tougher texture. Mix just until everything is incorporated.
The milk is your key to a perfectly moist meatloaf. Add it gradually, ensuring the mixture is moist but not wet.
Using an instant-read thermometer is the most reliable way to ensure your meatloaf is cooked through safely and perfectly.
While this recipe uses a loaf pan, you can also shape the meatloaf directly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Protein: N/A
