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This old-fashioned southern meatloaf recipe is down-home comfort food, with the perfect blend of seasonings and a classic sweet-and-tangy ketchup glaze on top. It only takes 10 minutes to put together!
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Pin RecipeMeatloaf Like Grandma Used to Make
I have been making this southern meatloaf recipe for years. Based on my grandma’s comfort food recipe, it’s a family tradition handed down through generations. It’s also one of my favorite easy meals to whip up on a busy weeknight. All you have to do is mix the ingredients and press the mixture into a loaf pan. Add a side of southern green beans, and we’re good to go!
The ground beef is combined with onions, green peppers, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup to flavor it up, but it’s the glaze that really gets my kids running to the table! It’s a simple mixture of ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard powder, but it gets sticky and caramelized when baked, making it irresistible.
My Tips for Perfect Southern Meatloaf
As promised, making this meatloaf recipe is easy as can be, but I’ve got a few additional pointers to make sure it turns out perfect for you!
- Use your hands to mix it. Okay, if you’re squeamish, you might be hesitant, but it’s really the best way to make sure all the ingredients are evenly incorporated so every part of your meatloaf is well-seasoned.
- Don’t over-work the meat. Squeezing, mixing, and pressing too much or too vigorously will give you a tough, dense meatloaf. You want to be thorough, but also use a light hand
- No loaf pan? If you don’t have a loaf pan, you can also bake the meatloaf on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Shape the meatloaf mixture on the pan, creating a loaf about 9 inches long and 4 inches wide. Bake the meatloaf on the tray for about 50 minutes.
Variations
- Use ground turkey or ground chicken in place of ground beef. The same quantity of ground meat will work well. However, I recommend adding one extra egg to the recipe as turkey and chicken tend to be much softer than ground beef. They will need that extra egg to bind the meat together and make it a sliceable meatloaf.
- Replace the ketchup in the meatloaf and the glaze with barbecue sauce.
- Regular breadcrumbs work in place of panko breadcrumbs in this southern meatloaf.
Serving Suggestions
Southern meatloaf pairs well with so many side dishes. I absolutely love serving meatloaf with potatoes. My easy cheesy potatoes are perfect with this recipe, but you also can’t go wrong with crispy smashed potatoes.
Easy 5-ingredient corn casserole is a great veggie side dish, or keep it simple with steamed green beans. Don’t forget to make a southern-inspired dessert like chess pie to complete the meal!
How to Store + Freeze Southern Meatloaf
- Store leftover meatloaf in the fridge for four to five days. To keep it fresh, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, or place it in an airtight container.
- Freeze cooked southern-style meatloaf for up to two months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to eat.
- Reheat leftovers in 30-second increments in the microwave.
Southern Meatloaf
Equipment
- 1 9-inch loaf pan
- 2 Mixing bowls
Ingredients
Meatloaf
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced white onion
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 2 Tablespoons whole milk
- 1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 3 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup pank breadcrumbs
Meatloaf Glaze
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon mustard powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 9 inch loaf pan with foil and spray it lightly with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together all of the meatloaf ingredients. I find that it is easiest to use my hands so I can really feel everything getting mixed together well.1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 1/2 cup diced white onion, 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper, 2 Tablespoons whole milk, 1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce, 3 Tablespoons ketchup, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup pank breadcrumbs
- Scoop the meatloaf mixture into the prepared loaf pan and press it evenly inside the pan.
- Next, make the meatloaf glaze. Whisk all of the ingredients for the glaze together in a small bowl. Spread half of the glaze over the top of the meatloaf and save the rest for after the meatloaf bakes.1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon mustard powder
- Bake the meatloaf in the hot oven for 1 hour. The meatloaf should feel firm when touched and also be pulled away from the edges of the pan slightly.
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven and spread the rest of the glaze over the top.
- Use the edges of the foil to pull the meatloaf up and out of the pan. Then, slice and enjoy!
Notes
- If you do not have a loaf pan, you can also bake the meatloaf on a foil lined baking tray. Simply shape the meatloaf on the tray using your hands, making it into a log about 8 inches long and 3 inches thick. Bake as directed!
- Red, yellow or orange bell peppers will work in place of green.
Nutrition
Did you make this Classic Southern Meatloaf recipe? Let us know how it turned out with a rating and comment!
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