Easy Homemade Meatloaf

This moist and easy homemade meatloaf is delicious, nutrient-dense, and so simple to mix up! Flavored with basil, garlic, onion, and just a touch of thyme, it is easy to pair with a variety of different side dishes, and can be rewarmed later for a quick lunch or dinner.

You can also change up the seasonings for a different flavor if you feel like it (I’ve included some suggestions below).

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Kitchen Equipment

Ingredients for Easy Homemade Meatloaf

• Bread crumbs – Bread crumbs help add moisture to your meatloaf. I use the heels of my sourdough or regular bread loaves, blend them in my Nutribullet, and then use them. You can freeze any extra breadcrumbs for quick use later!
• Diced onions – You want to make sure these are VERY finely diced; we don’t want huge bites of onion in our meatloaf!
• Ketchup – I use an organic ketchup that is free of high-fructose corn syrup for the meatloaf, as well as to top it! It keeps things simple, easy, and delicious.
• Whole milk – I recommend using whole milk in this recipe. However, if you experiment with a different type of milk, let me know in the comments below!

Tips for Making Easy Homemade Meatloaf

• Break up your ground beef – As you add the ground beef to the bread crumb mixture, break it up into small bits. This helps it mix more thoroughly without overmixing the meatloaf mixture.
• Allow the breadcrumbs to soak – Allowing the breadcrumbs to soak in the milk and eggs softens the breadcrumbs, creating better texture.
• Don’t overmix – Overmixing the meatloaf mixture can yield a dense loaf.
• Use a 9×13 inch baking dish – Using a 9×13 inch baking dish allow the meatloaf to “breathe” as it bakes, avoiding a soggy meatloaf (like you might get in a loaf pan).
• Allow the meatloaf to rest – Allowing the meatloaf to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing helps the temperature of the meat to stabilize and the juices to distribute evenly throughout the loaf.

Variations and Add-Ons

This recipe shines due to its simplicity and few ingredients. However, if you want to mix it up, you can experiment with adding some of these ingredients:

• Worcestershire sauce – This can be added to the loaf itself, or in the topping for an additional tangy flavor.
• Parmesan and oregano – If you want to turn this meatloaf into an Italian loaf, try adding grated parmesan cheese and dried oregano to the meatloaf mixture. Yummy!
• Brown sugar glaze – Add brown sugar to your ketchup for a more carmelized glaze on your meatloaf

Step-by-Step Instructions and Pictures

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish or a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Combine the milk, eggs, and breadcrumbs and mix well. Allow this mixture to sit for 10 minutes.

3. Add the finely chopped onions, 1/3 cup of ketchup, basil, garlic granules, onion granules, thyme, salt, and pepper, and combine well.

4. Break up the ground beef into small chunks as you add it to the mixture, and then use your hands to mix everything together. Do not overmix, but do make sure there are no chunks of ground beef.

5. Shape the meatloaf mixture into a loaf shape in the center of the pan, and bake until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, about 55 minutes – 1 hour 15 minutes.

6. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

For some side dish ideas to pair with this meatloaf, check out my oven-roasted butternut squash or roasted garlic and herb potatoes!

Easy Homemade Meatloaf

Moist, delicious, and so easy to make, this homemade meatloaf is nutrient-dense and a family favorite recipe. Flavored with basil, thyme, garlic, and onion, it can be paired with a variety of different side dishes, and is easily rewarmed for a quick meal.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Calories 190 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups ground beef
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup whole milk
• 1 ½ cups bread crumbs
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• ½ cup onion finely chopped
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp garlic granules
• 1 tsp onion granules
• scant ⅛ tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish or a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Combine the milk, eggs, and breadcrumbs and mix well. Allow this mixture to sit for 10 minutes.
• Add the finely chopped onions, 1/3 cup of ketchup, basil, garlic granules, onion granules, thyme, salt, and pepper, and combine well.
• Break up the ground beef into small chunks as you add it to the mixture, and then use your hands to mix everything together. Do not overmix, but do make sure there are no chunks of ground beef.
• Shape the meatloaf mixture into a loaf shape in the center of the pan, and bake until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, about 55 minutes – 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Remove the meatloaf from the oven and allow it to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

Notes

• Break up your ground beef – As you add the ground beef to the bread crumb mixture, break it up into small bits. This helps it mix more thoroughly without overmixing the meatloaf mixture.
• Allow the breadcrumbs to soak – Allowing the breadcrumbs to soak in the milk and eggs softens the breadcrumbs, creating better texture.
• Don’t overmix – Overmixing the meatloaf mixture can yield a dense loaf.
• Use a 9×13 inch baking dish – Using a 9×13 inch baking dish allow the meatloaf to “breathe” as it bakes, avoiding a soggy meatloaf (like you might get in a loaf pan).
• Allow the meatloaf to rest – Allowing the meatloaf to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing helps the temperature of the meat to stabilize and the juices to distribute evenly throughout the loaf.

Keyword beef, meatloaf