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Tender Classic Meatloaf: Easy 1-Hour Glazed Recipe

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A juicy, tender meatloaf made with simple pantry ingredients and topped with a sticky, caramelized sweet brown sugar glaze. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup plain dry breadcrumbs (or Panko)
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (for glaze)
  • 1/2 cup ketchup (for glaze)
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (for glaze)
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard (for glaze)
  • Butter or cooking spray (for greasing pan)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, combine milk and breadcrumbs; let sit for 5 minutes to create a panade.
  3. Heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté diced onion until translucent (about 3 minutes), add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Let cool slightly.
  4. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, cooled onion mixture, eggs, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Add the soaked breadcrumb mixture.
  5. Mix gently with your hands until just combined; avoid overmixing to prevent toughness.
  6. Transfer mixture to the prepared loaf pan, pressing down firmly but gently. Smooth the top with a spatula.
  7. Bake for 45 minutes until the meat is firm to the touch and starting to brown.
  8. While meat bakes, combine brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and yellow mustard in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves and mixture bubbles. Simmer for 2 minutes.
  9. Remove loaf from oven. Pour off excess grease. Brush half of the glaze over the hot meatloaf.
  10. Return to oven for 10 more minutes.
  11. Remove loaf and brush with remaining glaze. Let rest in the pan for 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Do not overmix the meat to keep it tender. Sautéing the onions first removes the raw bite and improves texture. Letting the meatloaf rest is crucial to retain juices. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed pork rinds.

Nutrition

Keywords: meatloaf, ground beef recipe, brown sugar glaze, comfort food, easy dinner, weeknight meals, classic meatloaf

Find it online: https://sparklespoon.com/tender-classic-meatloaf-easy-1-hour-glazed-recipe/