I Tested Top Meatloaf Recipes, and This One Surpassed All Expectations Unknown food and drink, foodies, meals, meat, meatloaf <p> I will keep returning to this one repeatedly. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rEBYj" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rEBYj.jpg"/> <p> The autumn leaves now emerging across the scenery have me longing for something. comfort food In grand style. Hand over the casseroles, fetch the soups, let's prepare a meatloaf. Serve it fresh from the oven while it's still warm. mashed potatoes , chilling it from the fridge late at night, or cooking it up as a sandwich the following day, meatloaf holds a special place on my list of comfort foods. To discover the ultimate meatloaf recipe, I tested the top five options available online, leaving our family with quite the appetite, and identified the absolute best version among them. </p> <h2> What Constitutes an Excellent Meatloaf? </h2> <p> The perfect meatloaf should be tender yet firm internally, with an exterior that’s crunchy but still gives way easily under a fork. It needs to hold together well after resting and being removed from its pan, allowing clean slices for plating. Seasoning must enhance rather than overshadow the primary flavor of the meat. While numerous recipes include combinations of pork, veal, and beef—or even just one type—the focus here was solely on beef-based preparations to streamline the testing process. </p> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rEqvM" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rEqvM.jpg"/> <h2> ‘Meat’ The Contestants </h2> <ul> <li> Rempel Family Meatloaf submitted by Connie Levesque </li> <li> Cheeseburger Meatloaf by Douglas Tuccinardi </li> <li> Brown Sugar Meatloaf by tangastar </li> <li> Air Fryer Meatloaf by aigerekairfryer </li> <li> Easy Meatloaf by Janet Shum </li> </ul> <h2> The Criteria: </h2> <p> I utilized three primary classifications to evaluate the participants: </p> <ul> <li> <strong> Texture: </strong> Meatloaf should never be soggy. However, an even greater concern is ensuring it isn’t parched. The ideal consistency comes from soaking breadcrumbs or crackers in milk for moisture, using eggs for structure, and adding seasonings for both crispness and taste. The method used plays a crucial role in achieving this texture. After mixing all components, gently forming the mixture into a loaf shape is essential; overworking can make the meat stringy, whereas insufficient handling may cause it to fall apart. </li> <li> <strong> Flavor </strong> The finest meat loaves derive their taste from aromatic elements, veggies, and careful seasoning such as ground onions, carrots, celery, and herbs. Commencing with salt and pepper is ideal, but if you lack fresh components, garlic and onion powders can be used instead. Ingredients like mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, and even fish sauce enhance the savory profile of the dish. </li> <li> <strong> Crust: </strong> Preferably, the exterior portions of your meatloaf ought to appear uniformly caramelized and slightly crunchy. Traditional meat loaves are often cooked or brushed with a coating of ketchup on top; when this method is used, the primary objective is to prevent the dish from becoming gummy. To accomplish this effectively, you can cook the loaf first and then apply the glaze midway through baking or immediately after removing it from the oven. </li> </ul> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rEGBR" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rEGBR.jpg"/> <h2> The Results </h2> <h3> Best for Meatloaf-Related Emergencies </h3> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rEqw1" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rEqw1.jpg"/> <ul> <li> <strong> The recipe: </strong> Rempel Family Meatloaf , from Connie Levesque </li> <li> <strong> Average Rating </strong> : 4.6 </li> <li> <strong> Rave Review </strong> "I have been making this for years. I've experimented with other versions but always return to this one." - Vicki </li> </ul> <p> This recipe was the simplest to follow among them all, requiring no vegetable chopping or grating. It only needed beef, crackers, cheddar cheese, and onion soup mix The ingredients are mixed together while the eggs are beaten separately and then blended with ketchup and steak sauce. These two mixtures are subsequently combined and formed into an attractive meatloaf, which cooks beautifully in about sixty minutes. It boasts a delightful crispy exterior and a soft inside that cuts effortlessly. Using the onion soup blend instead of raw onions gives it a consistent texture throughout. My relatives absolutely loved this dish. </p> <h3> Most Creative </h3> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rEv4B" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rEv4B.jpg"/> <ul> <li> <strong> The recipe </strong> : Cheeseburger Meatloaf , from Douglas Tuccinardi </li> <li> <strong> Average rating </strong> : 4.4 </li> <li> <strong> Rave review </strong> “It was incredibly tasty. Everyone in my family enjoyed it immensely. I included some crushed bacon since we’re big fans of bacon cheeseburgers. This recipe will be added to our family’s cookbook.” - David0029 </li> </ul> <p> Without question, this was the most enjoyable meatloaf I've ever prepared—it yielded quite a substantial portion size too. The instructions call for two pounds of ground beef mixed with bread crumbs, onions, eggs, salt, and pepper. Next, you spread this blend evenly into a rectangular shape, sprinkle three cups of grated cheddar over it, and roll it up like a jellyroll before placing it in a 10x13-inch baking pan to bake for one hour. The exterior had a delightful crunch, while the gooey interior offered a fantastic twist away from traditional recipes. </p> <h3> Best For Sandwiching </h3> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rExFJ" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rExFJ.jpg"/> <ul> <li> <strong> The recipe </strong> : Brown Sugar Meatloaf , from tangastar </li> <li> <strong> Average rating </strong> : 4.5 </li> <li> <strong> Rave review </strong> “I’ve experimented with many methods for making meatloaf, but this particular recipe has become my absolute favorite!” – Dinie </li> </ul> <p> This dish lives up to its title by requiring half a cup of packed brown sugar mixed with ketchup and spread at the base of a well-greased loaf pan. For the beef mixture, combine eggs, onions, milk, crushed saltines, and grated fresh ginger. Once baked and allowed to rest, you'll be rewarded with an enticing presentation from below. While scrumptious alone, my first bite made me envision savoring slices between lightly toasted white bread, enhanced with additional pickles. The delightful contrast created when those sweet-brown-sugar flavors mingle with salty pickle notes could easily induce culinary bliss. </p> <h3> Best Texture </h3> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rEsOO" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rEsOO.jpg"/> <ul> <li> <strong> The recipe </strong> : Air Fryer Meatloaf , by aigerekairfryer </li> <li> <strong> Average rating </strong> :4.6 </li> <li> <strong> Rave review </strong> "The air fryer easily produces this incredible dish, achieving a perfectly crispy exterior that makes it really outstanding." - Russell </li> </ul> <p> Not long ago, convincing me to purchase an air fryer was out of the question. Why add another bulky appliance to my jam-packed kitchen? Absolutely no interest. Yet, the numerous instances where an air-fried dish has both astonished and delighted me are countless. Can you believe making meatloaf in an air fryer is possible? This particular recipe nails it right from the start with ingredients like milk-soaked breadcrumbs, eggs, onions, enhanced further by the addition of fresh thyme providing a subtle blend of freshness and earthiness. A coating applied towards the final stages yields a beautifully crisp exterior. Cooking concludes within just 20 minutes—now I’m compelled to get myself an air fryer. </p> <h3> Best Classic Meatloaf </h3> <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rEGCh" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rEGCh.jpg"/> <ul> <li> <strong> The recipe </strong> : Easy Meatloaf , by Janet Shum </li> <li> <strong> Average rating </strong> : 4.7 </li> <li> <strong> Rave review </strong> “This was an easy and tasty meatloaf. My entire family had big smiles. Even though I’m not typically fond of meatloaf, I must say I really enjoyed this particular version. The topping truly elevates the whole dish! It’s awesome.” – member </li> </ul> <p> Janet’s recipe leans on traditional ingredients: beef, eggs, onions, breadcrumbs, milk, and salt and pepper. Following the preparation steps of combining and forming the mix, it is crowned with a sauce made from ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar prior to being baked. This process yields a glossy, vibrant red crust. The dish exudes an essence of Americana through its straightforward yet comforting taste; the consistency strikes a balance between moistness and firmness, avoiding sogginess, complemented perfectly by the delicious topping. This is the go-to meatloaf recipe for me when feeding my loved ones repeatedly. </p> <p> Read the initial article on All Recipes . </p> I Tested Top Meatloaf Recipes, and This One Surpassed All Expectations Unknown food and drink, foodies, meals, meat, meatloaf I will keep returning to this one repeatedly. The autumn leaves now emerging across the scenery have me longing for something. comfort food In grand style. Hand over the casseroles, fetch the sou… Read more »