When it comes to easy, flavorful and delicious, this Slow Cooker Meatloaf is it. With a delicious tangy sweet glaze, set it and forget it for the perfect weeknight meal.
Meatloaf is one of my families favorite meals. I loved it growing up, and my kids and husband scarf it down any time it’s made.
We turned our classic meatloaf into a slow cooker version so no heating the oven, just mix it, place it and walk away.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Easily available ingredients make it super simple to whip up, usually these are pantry staples, so no scavenging to find that one ingredient.
- Add all your meatloaf ingredients into one bowl and mix makes the dishes super easy and hassle free.
- The brown sugar/ketchup glaze adds a sweet and tangy aspect that gives it the absolute perfect flavor.
Slow Cooker and Crockpot recipes are ones that we do all year round. It’s easy for our family as we stay quite busy, and they usually take minimal effort.
Just check out this Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef or these Cheesy Crockpot Potatoes, those are just two of our all time faves.
Some other Slow Cooker recipes we love include: Ultimate Crockpot Chili, Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy and these Crockpot Sloppy Joes!
No matter what the season, the crockpot is our friend, especially when it comes Crockpot Meatloaf!
HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER MEATLOAF, STEP BY STEP:
- In large bowl add your ground beef, onion, eggs, breadcrumbs, garlic, milk, italian seasoning, parsley, salt, pepper and ketchup (Photo 1).
- Using your hand or a spoon mix it all together gently just until it is combined, you don’t want to over mix (Photo 2).
- Line your crockpot with tinfoil and place meat inside and shape it into a a loaf to fit the pan, cover and cook on low for 6 hours (Photo 3).
- Once your meatloaf is done cooking in smaller bowl add ketchup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce, whisk together until combined (Photos 4 & 5).
- Remove your meatloaf from crockpot using the tinfoil and place on baking sheet, spread your glaze all over the meatloaf and broil for a few minutes until bubbly and baked in (Photo 6).
I’m not sure why I feel like Meatloaf, especially this Slow Cooker Meatloaf recipe is literally the ultimate comfort food ever.
If you are like me, then comfort food is what you tend to go to when you have a bad day, when you’re sick or just because, if I had to choose one recipe to run to it would be this one for sure.
It is just so super simple to make!
CAN YOU MAKE THIS MEATLOAF IN THE OVEN?
Absolutely, like I said we adapted our regular classic meatloaf recipe for the crockpot so we have made this in the oven many of times.
Follow all the directions the same, but place in a loaf pan and bake at 350 for about 60 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160.
CAN YOU COOK CROCKPOT MEATLOAF ON HIGH?
Again, absolutely! To cook this recipe on high, do the same steps as previously stated but cook for about 3 hours instead of 6.
This should give it ample amount of time to reach the needed internal temperature.
This recipe is just as simple as they come. Nothing compares to a deliciously good meatloaf recipe. It is just pure comfort that you can’t pass up!
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING SLOW COOKER MEATLOAF:
- Use at least 80/20 or 85/15 fat ground beef, anything with a higher fat ratio will produce more grease and have your meatloaf shrink.
- You can mix up your meats and use turkey, a combo of ground beef and pork or italian sausage.
- Gently combine the mixture together, you don’t want to over mix your meat or it will become chewy and tough.
- Drain any grease off of your meatloaf before removing the tinfoil from the pan, there will be grease regardless, but draining it will be easier for you to place on the baking sheet.
- Lather it up with the sauce, don’t be shy, you may even have some leftover which we use to dunk our bites into.
If you want that perfect Slow Cooker Meatloaf recipe, this is it! With directions for both oven and crockpot you cant go wrong with this classic comfort dish.
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If you’ve tried this SLOW COOKER MEATLOAF or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and what shenanigans I’m getting into!
Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- 1 tsp parsley
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup ketchup
GLAZE:
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp worchestershire sauce
Instructions
- In large bowl add your ground beef, onion, eggs, breadcrumbs, garlic, milk, italian seasoning, parsley, salt, pepper and ketchup.
- Mix together gently with your hands or a wooden spoon until it just comes together.
- Line a crockpot with tinfoil and place your meat mixture into pot and shape into a loaf.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
- Drain off any grease, then remove meatloaf with tinfol and place on baking sheet.
- In small bowk whisk together ketchup, brown sugar and worchestershire sauce until combined, slather over whole meatloaf (you may have some leftover, use this for dipping).
- Place in oven and broil for a few minutes until bubbly and baked on slightly.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
- Use at least 80/20 or 85/15 fat ground beef, anything with a higher fat ratio will produce more grease and have your meatloaf shrink.
- You can mix up your meats and use turkey, a combo of ground beef and pork or italian sausage.
- Gently combine the mixture together, you don't want to over mix your meat or it will become chewy and tough.
- Drain any grease off of your meatloaf before removing the tinfoil from the pan, there will be grease regardless, but draining it will be easier for you to place on the baking sheet.
- Lather it up with the sauce, don't be shy, you may even have some leftover which we use to dunk our bites into.
Nutrition
Tornadough Alli is not a nutritionist or dietitian, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and nutritional value is important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and values can vary depending on which brands were used.
Alicia Kucik
Meatloaf was great!!! TIP/TRICK- add foil balls under the meatloaf to keep the grease and meatloaf separate. Makes it easier!
Jane Saunders
Great idea!!!
Terry Hill
I use carrots under the meat loaf. Bonus roast carrots!
Bart Coker
One of the best if not the best meat loaf recipes for both ease and taste I’ve ever tried. Best of all my finicky eaters loved it and now ask for a Monday Meatloaf, which suits me due to the ease of the recipe. I now keep a few uncooked loafs in the freezer at all times!