Image shows meatloaf resting on a cutting board.

Here is how to make a moist and delicious meatloaf that is a perfect comfort food for the fall and winter months or any time of year.

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This post is all about how to make the best meatloaf recipe.

Name: Classic Meatloaf
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 1 pound ground Italian sausage; 1 medium onion (peeled and finely chopped); 1 medium bell pepper (red or green, cored and finely chopped); 2 cloves garlic (peeled and minced); 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 cup bread crumbs; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped, plus extra for garnish); ½ cup ketchup; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; ½ tsp Italian seasoning; ¼ tsp garlic powder

If you’ve been searching for the perfect comfort food to cozy up with this fall, look no further—this is the ultimate guide to making the best ever meatloaf.

We’re talking about a juicy, flavorful meatloaf that’s tender, moist, and packed with cheesy, herby goodness.

Whether you’re a meatloaf newbie or just looking to level up your classic meatloaf recipe, this post will walk you through everything you need to know to make a delicious meatloaf that will be the star of any comfort meal.

From choosing a blend of meats and veggies to adding those secret ingredients that take it over the top, you’ll learn the tricks for creating a meatloaf that is so delicious, your friends and family will be begging for the recipe.

Let’s dive in to make the coziest, most satisfying old fashioned meatloaf meal of the season.

What is Meatloaf?

Meatloaf is one of the best comfort foods—a blend of ingredients like ground meat, bread crumbs, cheese, eggs, and a bunch of seasonings and veggies all packed together and baked into a loaf shape that’s easy to serve for dinner and make into sandwiches the next day.

With the right ingredients, meatloaf can bake up incredibly moist and flavorful, making it an irresistible main course for a warm and satisfying meal.

Meatloaf is like a giant, juicy meatball that you can slice! It’s one of those cozy, old school dishes that feels like a warm hug on a plate, especially when it has a sweet and tangy glaze on top and some classic side dishes like mashed potatoes, sautéed green beans, or roasted veggies.

Meatloaf is a super versatile dish, easy to customize with different ingredients, and perfect for fall nights when you’re craving something hearty and satisfying. In this post, we’ll cover how to make a moist and delicious meatloaf that is perfect for fall and winter meals.

Why You’ll Love This Best Ever Meatloaf Recipe

Here’s a quick list of reasons to love this meatloaf recipe.

Meatloaf is packed with flavor. The combination of ground beef, Italian sausage, sautéed vegetables, garlic, and mozzarella cheese makes every bite incredibly flavorful and tasty.
It’s easy to make. Just mix everything up, pop it in the oven, and you’re good to go—meatloaf is a perfect meal to make for weeknights or lazy weekends.
Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food. Warm, hearty, and filling—this meatloaf is like a hug in dinner form, especially with that sweet and tangy glaze on top.
It’s great for leftovers. If there are any leftovers (big if!), they reheat beautifully for quick meals later in the week.
It’s customizable. You can easily add extras like shredded carrots or swap out ingredients to make it your own.

Meatloaf is the perfect dish for anyone who loves cozy, delicious comfort food!

The Best Meatloaf Recipe Ingredients

These ingredients come together to make the best ever meatloaf—a cozy, comforting dish that’s perfect for fall meals.

Ground Beef (1 pound). Ground beef is the base of many great meatloaf recipes. Start with a good quality ground beef—lean but not too lean (85% lean can be a good place to start), because a little bit of fat keeps things juicy and flavorful.
Ground Italian Sausage (1 pound). Italian sausage adds extra flavor to the meatloaf. It adds a bit of spice and that delicious, herby kick that takes the meatloaf up a notch.
Onion (1 medium, finely chopped). It’s almost impossible to have a cozy, savory dish without adding some onion. Onion adds moisture, sweetness, and a bit of texture to meatloaf. Chop it finely so that the onion melts right into the meatloaf.
Bell Pepper (1, finely chopped). A little red or green bell pepper adds a pop of color and flavor to meatloaf. It can also add a slight sweetness and some veggie goodness to the loaf.
Carrot (1 small—about ¼ cup, shredded). Shredded carrot adds moisture, sweetness, and veggie goodness to the meatloaf recipe.
Garlic (2 cloves, minced). Garlic adds a nice depth of flavor to the meatloaf.
Brown Sugar (1 tablespoon). Brown sugar adds sweetness to the meatloaf, and it helps to caramelize the meat.
Mozzarella Cheese (1 cup, shredded). Who doesn’t love some melty, gooey cheese in their comfort food? Mozzarella adds a creamy, cheesy element that makes every bite heavenly. Plus, it helps to hold the meatloaf together.
Bread Crumbs (1 cup). Bread crumbs help to bind the meatloaf together and give it a great texture.
Egg (1 large). Egg is the glue that holds all the deliciousness together. They add richness and help keep the meatloaf nice and moist.
Italian Seasoning (2 teaspoons). A blend of Italian herbs—like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary—brings savory and cozy flavors to the dish.
Onion Powder (½ teaspoon). Onion powder adds just a bit more oniony goodness to round out the flavor profile of the meatloaf.
Salt and Black Pepper (½ teaspoon each). Salt and pepper are essential for bringing out all the other flavors.
Fresh Parsley (2 tablespoons, chopped). Chopped fresh parsley adds a fresh, bright note to the meatloaf to balance out all the richness. Save a little extra chopped parsley to sprinkle on top of the meatloaf before serving it.
Glazed Tomato Topping. A simple mix of ketchup (1/2 cup), brown sugar (2 tablespoons), and Worcestershire sauce (½ teaspoon) makes a sweet and tangy glaze that is essential for getting that class meatloaf flavor. It’s like the cherry on top of the perfect meatloaf! If you like extra sauce for the meatloaf, then double the ingredients needed to make the tomato glaze.

How to Make Old Fashioned Meatloaf

Here is how to prepare a meatloaf that is moist and delicious.

1–Preheat the oven.

Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9×5 inch loaf pan by greasing the inside of the loaf pan and lining it with parchment paper (the parchment paper helps to make cleanup way easier).

2–Prepare the vegetables.

Then, peel and dice a medium onion, core and dice a bell pepper, peel and shred a carrot, and mince a couple of garlic cloves. Sauté the vegetables together in a skillet with olive oil over medium heat until they’re soft and fragrant. Once they’re done, let the vegetables cool while you get the rest of the ingredients ready.

3–Make the meatloaf mixture.

Add ground beef, Italian sausage, shredded mozzarella cheese, bread crumbs, eggs, Italian seasoning, onion powder, light brown sugar, salt, pepper, and some freshly chopped parsley to a large mixing bowl.

Then, add in the sautéed veggies to the bowl. Stir until the ingredients just come together. Next, shape the mixture into a loaf and place it in the loaf pan, pressing the meat mixture gently so that it holds together.

4–Bake the meatloaf.

Place the loaf pan into the oven it goes for about an hour, just enough time for the house to fill with that amazing, homey aroma. As the meatloaf nears 1 hour of baking time, make the tomato glaze.

To make the glaze: Whisk together some ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate the glaze until you are ready to use it on the meatloaf.

Glaze the meatloaf: After the meatloaf has baked for about an hour, carefully remove the meatloaf from the oven and spread the glaze on top of the meatloaf.

Bake the meatloaf for 15 to 20 minutes longer or until the tomato glaze is golden and the meatloaf is fully cooked. The meatloaf should reach an internal temperature of at least 160°F as measured by an instant read meat thermometer.

5–Serve the meatloaf.

Once it’s done baking, let the meatloaf rest for a bit so all those juices can settle, making it super easy to slice. Garnish the meatloaf with a little more chopped fresh parsley for color, and it’s ready to serve.

Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food, especially with some mashed potatoes or roasted veggies on the side. It’s a perfect meal for cozy fall nights!

Tips for Making the Best Meatloaf Recipe

Here are some quick tips for making the best ever meatloaf.

First things first, don’t overmix the meat! Just gently combine everything just until the meatloaf just holds together. Overmixing the ingredients can make the meatloaf dense.

For extra moisture, use a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage; the sausage adds fat and flavor and helps keep the loaf juicy.

Sautéing the onions, bell peppers, and garlic beforehand is a game changer; it makes them sweet and tender and really deepens the flavored.

Also, don’t forget to let the meatloaf rest for about 10 minutes after baking—this keeps all the delicious juices inside, so every slice is perfect.

And finally, don’t skip the glaze! That sweet and tangy topping takes things to the next level when it comes to making classic meatloaf.

What Goes Well with Meatloaf?

Here’s a quick rundown of the perfect sides to serve with this epic meatloaf.

To make this meatloaf even more of a cozy, comforting meal, serve it with creamy mashed potatoes—bonus points if those potatoes are loaded with garlic and butter. A creamy macaroni and cheese dish also makes a good side.

A side of roasted veggies, like carrots, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or green beans, adds a nice balance and some color to the plate.

And you can’t go wrong with a warm, crusty piece of garlic bread to soak up all those delicious juices.

If you’re feeling like a little freshness is in order, then a crisp green salad with a zesty vinaigrette also pairs really well and keeps the whole meal feeling lighter and balanced.

How to Store Leftover Meatloaf

Once the meatloaf has cooled, slice it up and place the slices into an airtight container. Place a small piece of parchment paper between each slice of meatloaf to help keep them from sticking. Store the meatloaf in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

For longer storage, wrap the individual slices in plastic wrap and then put them in a freezer bag or freezer container to store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

That way, you have an easy, delicious meal that’s ready to go whenever the craving hits. Simply reheat in the microwave or oven until the meatloaf is completely warmed through.

Classic Meatloaf Recipe

This meatloaf is juicy, cheesy, and full of delicious Italian inspired flavors. Pair it with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad for a complete meal. The meatloaf is packed with flavor thanks to the combination of ground beef, Italian sausage, and mozzarella cheese, along with the addition of fresh vegetables and herbs.

Classic Meatloaf

Here is how to make a moist and delicious meatloaf that is perfect for those times when you want comfort food

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword ground beef recipes

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1 5

Total Time 1 20

Servings 6

Author Sweet Bacon & Pecans

Ingredients

For the meatloaf:

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground Italian sausage
1 medium onion peeled and finely chopped
1 medium bell pepper red or green, cored and finely chopped
2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup bread crumbs
1 large egg
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped, plus extra for garnish

For the tomato glaze:

½ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp Italian seasoning
¼ tsp garlic powder

Instructions

Prepare the vegetables:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
In a medium skillet, sauté the chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic over medium heat until they are soft and translucent, for about 5 to 7 minutes. Allow the vegetables to cool slightly before adding them to the meatloaf mixture.

Make the meatloaf mixture:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ground Italian sausage, sautéed vegetables, shredded mozzarella cheese, bread crumbs, eggs, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley. Mix gently with your hands or a spoon until the ingredients are just combined.

Form the meatloaf:

Transfer the meat mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Shape it into a loaf, pressing gently to ensure it holds together. Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake the meatloaf for 1 hour.

Bake the meatloaf:

As the meatloaf nears 1 hour of baking time, make the tomato glaze. Whisk together some ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
Carefully remove the meatloaf from the oven, and apply the glaze using a spoon or heat resistant pastry brush. Return the meatloaf to the oven, and continue to bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
Allow the meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes after removing it from the oven. This helps the juices redistribute and makes slicing easier. Garnish with additional chopped fresh parsley and serve with your favorite sides.

Notes

You can also double the amount of ingredients for the tomato glaze, and brush the second half of the glaze over the meatloaf during the last 15 minutes of cooking time for additional flavor.

Looking for more of the best comfort food recipes?

This post was all about how to make old fashioned meatloaf.

Credits

Featured photos by bhofack2 via Canva.com
Photos and images are for illustration purposes only.

The Best Old Fashioned Meatloaf Recipe | Amazing Italian Style Meatloaf