This tender and sticky meatloaf recipe is one of the best glazed meatloaf recipes you will ever try! It's packed with a long list of flavorful ingredients, formed into a loaf in minutes, and baked in the oven with a deliciously sweet and sticky meatloaf glaze. It is a classic comfort food dish that is easy to make and always a hit!
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
This glazed meatloaf is the best meatloaf recipe you will ever try! It's packed with an abundance of flavor from the juicy meat mixture that is made with a combination of ground beef, minced garlic, onion, carrot, celery, green onion, and parsley.
It's formed into a log, baked in the oven, and basted with the best meatloaf glaze that is sweet and tangy to provide the perfect finishing touch to this already amazing meatloaf.
Unlike most meatloaf recipes that use bread crumbs to bind the tasty meatloaf, this recipe uses a secret ingredient of bread soaked in milk to keep it together and keep it moist and tender.
It takes just over an hour from start to finish to bake this delicious family meal, and although the ingredient list may seem extensive, you will probably have 80% of them in your cupboards and pantry.
This glazed meatloaf recipe is sure to be a hit with your family and friends! It is packed with flavor, easy to make for home cooks, and always turns out tender and juicy. Give this recipe a try the next time you are looking for a delicious comfort food dish. You won't be disappointed!
🍽 Key Ingredients
This is the only meatloaf recipe you'll ever need after making and eating it! With just over an hour required to bake using a list of pantry staple ingredients, it's the perfect weeknight dinner to sit down to with your family.
Meatloaf Ingredients
Ground Beef – If you want a meaty meatloaf like this one, get 100% ground beef. Ground chuck is an excellent option for meatloaf recipes as it is lean and fatty providing a tender and moist meatloaf.
Mined veggies - Celery, carrot, onion, and garlic add the flavor to the meatloaf mixture and keep it juicy while it bakes in the oven.
Green Onion –Sliced green onion adds freshness and flavor to the meatloaf.
Parsley – Chopped fresh parsley gives the meatloaf a bright flavor.
Eggs – Binds the meatloaf together and helps it to cook evenly.
Bread soaked in milk – The secret ingredient in this meatloaf recipe! It helps to keep the meatloaf moist and tender.
Grated Parmesan cheese – Adds depth of flavor and helps to bind the meatloaf together.
Worcestershire sauce – Another ingredient that adds depth of flavor to the meat mixture.
Dry spices – Chili flakes, basil, and oregano give the meatloaf its Italian essence, and the salt and pepper help to season it perfectly.
Meatloaf glaze recipe
Ketchup – The base for the sweet and sticky glaze.
Vinegar – Adds a touch of acidity to balance out the sweetness.
Brown sugar – To make the glaze sticky and sweet.
Chili flakes – For a bit of heat.
Garlic powder and onion powder – help to intensify the flavor of the glaze.
Substitutions
Ground meat
Instead of using 100% ground beef, you use a mixture of half ground beef with half ground pork for a juicier meat loaf. Alternatively, you could use ground turkey or chicken.
Bread soaked in milk
Although I recommend using bread soaked in milk as it makes so much of a difference in keeping the meatloaf moist, you can substitute it for panko bread crumbs if desired.
Herbs
If you don't have dried oregano and basil on hand, you can use a teaspoon of herbs de Provence instead.
Worcestershire sauce
This lovely sauce adds a unami flavor to any recipe, but if you can't find it in your local grocery store, use soy sauce as a 1-1 replacement.
🔪 How to make
This glazed meatloaf recipe will become your new family favorite meatloaf recipe after the first bite! Follow the step-by-step instructions below for the foolproof guide on how to make it, and check out the helpful cooking tips section for additional tips and recommendations.
Preparations
Step 1
Finely dice the celery, carrot, white onion, parsley and garlic on a chopping board using a sharp knife.
Step 2
Break up the bread and soak it in milk in a bowl.
Step 3
Combine ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and dried seasonings in a bowl to make the tangy glaze for meatloaf.
Cooking instructions
Step 4
Prepare a foil-lined baking sheet and preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
Step 5
Combine the ground beef and the finely diced vegetables in a large bowl. Drain the milk from the bread cubes and add them to the mixture, followed by the parmesan cheese, lightly whisked eggs, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, and seasonings.
Step 6
Gently combine the mixture with your hands or a fork until just combined.
Step 7
Pour the meaty mixture onto the foil-lined baking dish and form the meatloaf shape with your hands.
Step 8
Bake meatloaf uncovered in the preheated oven for an initial 30 minutes, then remove it and spread half of the glaze over the meatloaf, baking again for another 15 minutes covered with foil.
Step 9
Remove the foil cover from the meatloaf and add remaining glaze on top. Bake again for a final 15 minutes so that glaze becomes sticky and the internal temperature hits 160°F.
Step 10
Remove the cooked meatloaf from the oven and let it rest covered with foil before serving. This will allow the meatloaf juices to settle and make it easier to carve slices with crumbling into pieces.
💭 Cooking tips
Do not overmix the mixture
You don't need to combine the mixture too much, just enough so that all the ingredients are incorporated. Overworking the meatloaf mixture can result in a dense meatloaf.
Using a loaf pan
If you want to use a loaf pan lined with parchment paper to make the meatloaf instead of a baking sheet, just follow the instructions above, covering the loaf pan with foil and removing it when applying the sauce. When it is cooked, you'll need to leave it to rest for 15 minutes before removing the meatloaf. The parchment paper will allow you to easily take it out of the loaf pan.
📖 Variations
If you want to change the glaze or add some crunch to the meaty mixture, give these tasty variations a go using the same delicious recipe.
BBQ meatloaf glaze
Using a BBQ glaze adds a delicious smokiness to the meatloaf while still providing that sticky sweet outer layer on top. Use 1 cup of smoky BBQ sauce for best results.
Hot sauce glaze
If you like your meatloaf on the spicy side, add ¼ cup of your favorite hot sauce to the ketchup glaze and add 1 or 2 diced jalapenos to the meatloaf mixture.
Pork rinds mixture
Adding 1 cup of crushed pork rinds to the meatloaf mixture is an upgrade from the soaked bread that adds crunch and texture. It's an amazing combination! So if you have some pork rinds at the back of the cupboard, now is the time to use them up. For a full recipe check my stuffed meatloaf with pork rinds.
🥗 What to serve with
Glazed meatloaf is the perfect showpiece for a family dinner with other tasty side dishes. A slice of meatloaf goes with pretty much anything, from greens to rice and potatoes. Check out these easy recipes to accompany the delicious meatloaf recipe.
Mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the number one side dish for meatloaf along with some creamy country-style gravy, and this recipe for mashed potatoes with cream cheese is sublime. It's creamy, garlicky, and easy to make in less time than it takes to cook meatloaf.
Cauliflower rice
Cauliflower rice with cilantro and lime is the perfect upgrade from starchy white and brown rice. It's flavorful and is a much lighter side dish to serve with a few slices of meatloaf with a sticky glaze!
Asparagus
Asparagus is one the best greens to have on your table that kids and adults love. And this irresistible recipe for crisp asparagus cooked in butter and tossed in toasted almonds is absolutely delicious and ready in just 15 minutes!
🙋 Frequently asked questions
What does putting milk in meatloaf do?
Soaking bread in milk before adding it to the meatloaf mixture is key, as it adds moisture, binds the meat together, and keeps the meatloaf from drying out.
Can I prepare the meatloaf in advance?
Yes, you can prepare the uncooked meatloaf mixture in advance and bake it when you're ready. Simply shape the mixture into a loaf on a baking sheet, wrap it tightly in cling film and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to bake it, remove it from the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
Glazed meatloaf is perfect for storing leftovers in the fridge or freezer and can either be reheated or eaten cold for leftover meatloaf sandwiches.
Fridge - The best way to store leftover meatloaf is by placing it in an airtight container and refrigerating it for up to 3 days.
Freezer - If you aim to freeze meatloaf, it is best to do so uncooked, as it tends to fall apart when thawing and reheating pre-cooked meatloaf. To freeze uncooked meatloaf, simply cover the formed meatloaf in several layers of plastic freezer wrap and freeze it for up to 6 months.
Reheating - To reheat the leftover meatloaf, preheat an oven to 350F and bake it for 10-12 minutes until hot. Alternatively, you could heat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes on high power or heat it in a skillet over medium-high heat for 10 minutes.
👪 Serving size
This recipe for glazed meatloaf will have enough slices for 8 servings, depending on how big you cut the slices. You could easily scale the recipe to make a huge one (if you have a big enough baking sheet) to cater to more guests or just freeze one for a no-hassle midweek dinner.
This will be your go-to meatloaf recipe from here on in for your family after trying this delicious tender and juicy meatloaf mix. The sticky glaze rounds it off perfectly, and any leftovers can be used for meal prep or making tasty sandwiches. Give it a try. I promise you'll love it!
📋 Recipe
The Best Glazed Meatloaf Recipe
Ingredients
Meat Loaf
- 2.5 to 3 lbs. Ground beef - medium or lean
- 1 Celery stalk
- ½ cup Chopped parsley
- 1 Onion - Medium
- 5 Garlic cloves
- 1 Carrot - Medium
- 1 cup Cubed bread
- ½ cup Milk
- 3 Eggs
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese - Grated
- 1 teaspoon Chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Salt
Glaze
- ¾ cup Ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon Chili flakes
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
Preparations
- Finely dice the celery, carrot, white onion, and garlic on a chopping board using a sharp knife.
- Chop the fresh parsley.
- Break up the bread and soak it in milk in a bowl.
- Combine ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and dried seasonings in a bowl to make the tangy glaze for meatloaf.
Cooking instructions
- Prepare a foil-lined baking sheet and preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
- Combine the ground beef and the finely diced vegetables in a large bowl. Drain the milk from the bread cubes and add them to the mixture, followed by the parmesan cheese, lightly whisked eggs, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, and seasonings.
- Gently combine the mixture with your hands or a fork until just combined.
- Pour the meaty mixture onto the foil-lined baking dish and form the meatloaf shape with your hands.
- Bake meatloaf uncovered in the preheated oven for an initial 30 minutes, then remove it and spread half of the glaze over the meatloaf, baking again for another 15 minutes covered with foil.
- Remove the foil cover from the meatloaf and add remaining glaze on top. Bake again for a final 15 minutes so that glaze becomes sticky and the internal temperature hits 160°F.
- Remove the cooked meatloaf from the oven and let it rest covered with foil before serving. This will allow the meatloaf juices to settle and make it easier to carve slices with crumbling into pieces.
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