Description
A forgiving, budget-friendly classic beef meatloaf with a sweet and savory brown sugar glaze. This kid-approved comfort food is moist, flavorful, and perfect for feeding a family with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds ground beef (80/20 fat content)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup plain dry breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup ketchup (for meat mixture)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup ketchup (for glaze)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Dice onion, mince garlic, and measure all ingredients.
- In a small bowl or saucepan, whisk together 1/2 cup ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Heat gently if using a saucepan to dissolve sugar, then set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, 1/4 cup ketchup, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Mix ingredients gently with hands until just combined. Do not overmix to avoid a tough texture.
- Transfer mixture to a 9×5 inch loaf pan, pressing down firmly and smoothing the top. Alternatively, shape into a loaf on a baking sheet.
- Loosely cover the loaf pan with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.
- Remove foil, spoon the brown sugar glaze evenly over the top, and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes until the glaze caramelizes.
- Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should reach 160°F (71°C).
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.
- Slice into 1-inch thick pieces and serve.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat to prevent a dense texture. Letting the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes is crucial for juiciness. If baking on a sheet pan, fat will drip away; if using a loaf pan, drain excess fat before slicing. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 4 days or frozen for 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
Keywords: meatloaf, beef meatloaf, brown sugar glaze, family dinner, comfort food, budget meal, kid-friendly, easy dinner, leftovers