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All Posts / The Best Meatloaf Recipe EVER

The Best Meatloaf Recipe EVER

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By Rosie Published: April 8, 2015 Updated: July 14, 2023
This post may contain affiliate links.

Meatloaf doesn't have to be boring! This recipe makes meatloaf a dish your kids will look forward to!

Table of Contents
  1. The only Meatloaf Recipe, you’ll ever need!
  2. Here’s the video tutorial
  3. The Best Meatloaf Recipe EVER

The only Meatloaf Recipe, you’ll ever need!

I’m not going to lie … Meatloaf was something I actually hated growing up… FINALLY, I can admit to it. I’m not sure what my mom put in it, but whatever it is I hated it. I never understood why people liked meatloaf, and I never cared… Until I met my husband!

I remember when I first met my husband and we started dating. He loved the fact that I could cook. Like he was so impressed that I could cook food without using a box . I knew I had him wrapped around my finger, from the first dinner I had ever made him. One day I asked him, what his favorite meal was and he replied ” Meatloaf!”.. I almost died. I couldn’t believe that his favorite meal was freaking MEATLOAF. Why couldn’t he say steak, or mac and cheese. He had to say meatloaf. I thought I had a crazy man on my hands, but I played it cool and smiled and promised to make him some darn meatloaf. That evening I searched high and low for a meatloaf recipe… I came across several that actually seemed okay, but then I didn’t know what kind of meatloaf to make him. Did he want gravy, barbecue, or what? I studied him over the next few weeks, and picked up what kind of foods he liked, and I simply ran with that.

  • He liked everything barbecue ( omg all the barbecues he made me go to….)
  • He loved onions and peppers
  • He hated gravy ( I seriously thought he was crazy when I figured this one out!)

I had a lot to work with… From that point, I simply created very basic but OUTSTANDING meatloaf recipe… To make a long story short, he loved it. He requests it at least once every two weeks… and I am now a meatloaf lover myself! ( By the way – please don’t tell my mom that I hate her meatloaf… I’d never hear the end of it)

Keep this meatloaf moist by not overstuffing and overfilling it.

For my meatloaf, I use a combination of our favorite things… I have onions, peppers, garlic, salsa, and I even use cheese.  I actually started using cheese, after discovering that our favorite diner put cheese in their meatloaf, and my family loves it. I use the salsa because it has a nice mild flavor AND tomatoes.

You can definitely change this recipe up a bit. Feel free to experiment ( that’s how I came up with my meatloaf!)

Add your favorite veggies to this delicious meatloaf recipe to make it a family favorite

I used a loaf pan to shape up my meatloaf. You can used your hands or whatever else. Also, feel free to make meatloaf meatballs with this recipe… They’re amazing!!!

Here’s the video tutorial

The Best Meatloaf Recipe EVER

Meatloaf is the perfect recipe to pack all your favorite veggies into one delicious dish! This is the only meatloaf recipe you'll ever need - it's a must-try!
Watch Video Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword Homestyle Meatloaf
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour
Total Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • 4-5 slices of bread
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup bell peppers any colors
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 2 tsp seasoning salt
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp parsley flakes
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese
  • 1/4 cup chunky salsa
  • 1/4 cup barbecue sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven on 350 F.
  • Place the ground beef into a large bowl.
  • Place the bread into a separate bowl, then pour the milk over the bread. Let it sit for two minutes, then crumble the bread.
  • Add the bread and milk mixture , and two eggs into the bowl with the ground beef.
  • Use your hands to combine the ingredients.
  • Dice/ Chop the celery, peppers, and onions, then saute them in a pan with 1 tbsp of olive oil. Cook the vegetables for about 3 minutes over medium heat, then let it cool off.
  • Once the veggies have cooled add them to the meat mixture.
  • Add Everything else to the bowl, EXCEPT the barbecue sauce.
  • Use your hands to combine the ingredients.
  • Mold the meat into your desire shape, then place it in a bake dish.
  • Pour the barbecue sauce on top of the meatloaf, and spread it all over.
  • Bake the meatloaf, uncovered, on 350 F for 50 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Remove the meatloaf from the oven, drain any fat that maybe in the bake dish,and let it sit for 10 minutes before digging in.
  • Enjoy!

Video

If you loved this recipe, leave me a review below. This helps future recipe makers and ensures continued high-quality recipes for years to come!
© 2025 I Heart Recipes
Recipe by: I Heart Recipes
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EXPLORE RECIPE CATEGORIESAll Posts, Dinner

MEET THE RECIPE AUTHOR

Rosie

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. chris rivetts says

    April 11, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    Looks so delicious, keep up the good work!!!!(way to go girl!!!)

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 12, 2015 at 2:43 pm

      Thank you! I appreciate it!

      Reply
      • Keaundra says

        October 15, 2017 at 1:44 pm

        5 stars
        I made this meatloaf for church today. It was wonderful!!! Thank you for this wonderful recipe. My go to from here on out.

        Reply
        • Rosie says

          October 15, 2017 at 5:39 pm

          Glad that you liked the recipe!

          Reply
    • Nancy Peacock says

      August 15, 2016 at 8:14 am

      5 stars
      Thanks Rosie for the great meatloaf recipe, I’m going to try it

      Reply
  2. Bobby Day says

    April 17, 2015 at 5:54 am

    Great recipe.
    FYI I noticed the printed recipe did not include the 2 eggs added to the meat.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 23, 2015 at 7:56 am

      Thank you for bringing that to my attention!

      Reply
  3. CeeCee says

    April 27, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    Made this today Rosie, delicious!!!! I made a couple of changes left out the celery & instead of bbq sauce, used tomato sauce (seasoning, honey, brown sugar). Thanks again for another awesome recipe.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 28, 2015 at 11:25 am

      Hi CeeCee. Thanks for trying my recipe 🙂

      Reply
  4. Chelsea says

    June 17, 2015 at 3:18 am

    Can I substitute the milk for water? I want to make this today.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      June 19, 2015 at 6:25 pm

      I would stick to the recipe for best results 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jay Reaser says

    September 7, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Going to definitely try this. It looks so “down Home” comfort food. Thats what I am into. Just go food and easy to make. Thank you for posting.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      September 10, 2015 at 4:24 pm

      Thanks for coming by Jay!

      Reply
  6. Jay Reaser says

    September 10, 2015 at 1:51 am

    Fantastic meatloaf.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      September 10, 2015 at 4:26 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Shannell says

    January 12, 2016 at 4:26 pm

    If I used regular store bought bread, do I have to toast it first or let it dry?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      January 13, 2016 at 7:04 am

      Either way would work.

      Reply
  8. Mary says

    April 12, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    This meatloaf looks so good…definitely trying this recipe. We LOVE meatloaf and leftover meatloaf sandwiches!!! Pinned. Thanks for another great recipe!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      April 12, 2016 at 6:57 pm

      It’s definitely my favorite meatloaf recipe. We have it several times a month. XOXO

      Reply
  9. Jackie says

    August 19, 2016 at 5:42 am

    Can you make this recipe in a crockpot?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      August 19, 2016 at 11:26 am

      Sure can.

      Reply
  10. Shanna says

    August 19, 2016 at 8:07 am

    I’m making meatloaf for 40-45 people, (homeless group downtown that some of us women cook for every Saturday). I want to use your recipe. I’ll be using 13-14 lbs of hamburger. Any suggestions on the recipe? Thanks so much. I’m sure they’re going to LOVE it.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      August 19, 2016 at 11:31 am

      Hi Shanna! I think that what you’re doing is great! You and the other ladies are wonderful for doing what you do. Try using this recipe x6 . There should be more than enough for everyone.

      Reply
  11. Diana Gutierrez says

    September 15, 2016 at 3:02 pm

    I want to make this over the weekend but I was wondering if I could use ketchup instead of bbq?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      September 15, 2016 at 6:58 pm

      If you like ketchup on your meatloaf, sure.

      Reply
  12. Sherri says

    September 15, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    Hi. I am going to try this the weekend. What kinds of shredded cheeses do you use in your recipe.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      September 17, 2016 at 10:37 pm

      I used cheddar cheese

      Reply
  13. Nikki Bennett says

    September 18, 2016 at 6:49 am

    Did you add onion soup mix? I identified all the seasonings you added in your video except for the blended seasoning mix.

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      September 18, 2016 at 10:43 am

      All the ingredients are listed.

      Reply
  14. Bill Powers says

    March 4, 2017 at 9:06 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Rosie ,
    This meatloaf recipe that you created is absolutely outstanding !! Be proud of yourself ! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Rhonda says

    March 8, 2017 at 4:09 pm

    Awesome Meatloaf! Very tasty and very moist! Thank you for sharing your recipe!

    Reply
  16. Kellie says

    March 19, 2017 at 10:47 am

    Hi Rosie

    Do you have a particular BBQ sauce you prefer using with the meatloaf recipe?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      March 19, 2017 at 8:00 pm

      Hi Kellie! I have several. Sweet Baby Rays, KC Masterpiece, Bullseye… I really like the hickory flavored ones these days 🙂

      Reply
      • Janice says

        March 5, 2019 at 11:08 pm

        I use KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce, I never thought of sauteing my onions and peppers but will the next time, I can’t use the cheese as it doesn’t agree with my husband but I do use Panko Bread Crumbs and eggs it is a big hit. Thanks Rosie we’re pretty close on recipes.

        Reply
  17. Kat says

    March 27, 2017 at 6:50 am

    Wonderful recipe! I don’t like meatloaf and I loved this!! Well done

    Reply
  18. Laura Harris says

    June 5, 2017 at 5:21 pm

    Hi Rosie, do I add the eggs after the bread and milk mixture with the ground beef? Planning on making this tomorrow. Thanks a ton!!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      June 6, 2017 at 6:19 pm

      Hi Laura! Please be sure to watch the video tutorial 🙂

      Reply
      • Laura Harris says

        June 8, 2017 at 4:01 pm

        ok, sure will. I def plan on watching the video 🙂

        Reply
  19. Laura Harris says

    June 5, 2017 at 5:25 pm

    Hi Rosie, forgot to add can I also use this recipe with turkey meat?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      June 6, 2017 at 6:21 pm

      You can try ground turkey 🙂

      Reply
      • Kelly Jel says

        January 17, 2018 at 4:58 am

        HI Rosie.. I also wanted to know about the ground turkey. Do you prefer this recipe subbing beef for turkey, or the recipe you have for the turkey meatloaf? I like the seasoning in the best ever recipe, but you would definitely know better. Thanks

        Reply
        • Rosie says

          January 18, 2018 at 8:13 pm

          Hi there! I actually like both recipes. I can’t choose 🙂

          Reply
  20. Laura Harris says

    June 16, 2017 at 5:59 pm

    Hi Rosie, can you tell me what spices I can possibly put on my ground turkey to season it just right? Seems like everytime I put seasonings on mine it’s either too much or not enough. I just want to make sure my meat is perfect tasting. Please advise!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      June 17, 2017 at 9:12 am

      Hi Laura! Try se all the seasonings listed, plus 1/2 tsp of ground cumin.

      Reply
  21. Laura Harris says

    June 17, 2017 at 11:45 am

    Oh, ok 🙂 I will def try that. Thank you so much. Finally I can get it right 🙂 I truly appreciate it Rosie 🙂 And please keep your recipes coming 🙂

    Reply
  22. Brittany says

    November 25, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for dinner and it came out perfect!

    Reply
  23. TANya says

    February 22, 2018 at 6:41 pm

    5 stars
    Wow this meatloaf was amazing!!! I am just learning how to cook and I use a lot of your recipes but this one has to be my favorite I’m almost scared to tell my husband this is another woman recipes lol

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      February 22, 2018 at 7:05 pm

      LMAO!! You don’t have to tell your husband who’s recipe it is! 🙂

      Reply
  24. Cary says

    May 14, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Rosie, I tried this tonight as I had most of the ingredients and it was the best meatloaf I’ve had, moist and juicy and the tip with adding cheese really made a difference so happy I came across your blog I will definitely be cooking this up again very soon xo 🙂

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      May 15, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      Thanks for trying Cary!

      Reply
  25. Sherry Wright says

    May 28, 2018 at 12:30 pm

    Hi Rosie, I made this receipe and it came out great. My family loved this meatloaf. It was juicy and moist. Thank you, Rosie keep on posting your receipes. . Sherry

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      May 30, 2018 at 10:37 pm

      Thanks for trying!

      Reply
  26. Andrea C Hargrett says

    July 8, 2018 at 2:33 pm

    I just tried this recipe and it’s delicious! Very moist and flavorful! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  27. Brittany says

    July 18, 2018 at 7:14 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for the recipe! I’ve tried so many meatloaf recipes and this is my favorite!

    Reply
  28. Alyssa says

    October 8, 2018 at 6:48 am

    Can I use wheat bread or would that taste funny ?

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      October 8, 2018 at 8:05 am

      You can use wheat bread .

      Reply
  29. Cristal says

    October 22, 2018 at 5:30 am

    5 stars
    Even though the reviews are positive, I was skeptical about this recipe that had ingredients like cheese and BBQ sauce that I wouldn’t dream to put in a meatloaf but when I tell you this meatloaf was soooo darn good! My family gobbled it down and said it was best meatloaf I had ever made and I have to agree with them. Thanks for another outstanding recipe Rosie, I don’t know why I ever doubted you!

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      October 22, 2018 at 3:34 pm

      Hey Cristal! I appreciate you trying my recipe!!

      Reply
  30. Tomeka Dykes says

    November 11, 2018 at 2:28 pm

    5 stars
    Omg!!! I followed your recipe to the T and it turned out awesome!!! As all your recipes that I have tried. Thank you so much for blessing us with your gift!!!

    Reply
  31. Latony Ward says

    March 20, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this recipe! I made it tonight for dinner and it was a hit. My boyfriend said it’s the best meatloaf ever. Again thank you.

    Reply
  32. Asiah says

    June 9, 2019 at 3:33 pm

    Is there a particular salsa that you use ? I love all of your recipes and this is my go-to page for when I’m looking for something ! I do have a favorite salsa but I would like to see what you use .

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      June 9, 2019 at 6:10 pm

      Hi Asiah! I actually use whatever is on sale. I’m not married to a brand at this time 🙂

      Reply
  33. Akea Daley says

    February 16, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    5 stars
    I have used this recipe over the years to both meatloaf and meatballs. This recipe is a family and guests favorite. I even made this recipe for a church and everyone loved it.
    Side note: I use Italian breadcrumbs rather than bread. It’s delicious!

    Reply
  34. Nikki Jones says

    March 31, 2020 at 4:30 pm

    Just made this for my family Wednesday night dinner. Love it. It’s a keeper

    Reply
  35. Sonja says

    August 7, 2020 at 9:18 am

    I loved the recipe Rosie. It was delicious! Your recipes are always great! Thanks!

    Reply
  36. Jessica Campbell says

    November 13, 2021 at 5:39 pm

    This meatloaf was the recipe that really hooked me to Rosie. My friend and I would alternate Sunday nights at our homes and cooking for each other/ hosting to watch the tv show. Power. Anywho, she made meatloaf and my boyfriend wouldn’t stop talking about it. I had not a clue what to do because I really don’t like meatloaf. I looked this recipe and it said “the best meatloaf ever” so I said I’m going to roll with Rosie. I made this meatloaf with my own sauce & when I tasted it myself I knew I had accomplished what I needed. He agreed and this became a weekly or bi weekly meal in our house. Thank you Rosie !!!

    Reply
  37. Stephanie Whindleton says

    August 7, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    5 stars
    Hello Cousin,
    Tonight, we used your fabulous recipe to make mini meatloaf’s to place on the grill. They smoked for an hour and half and cooked to perfection. I was a little skeptical about the salsa but used it and did not make any changes or substitutions. This was delicious and will make again, a keeper!!! Thank you, your Cousin from Virginia

    Reply
    • Rosie says

      August 17, 2022 at 11:01 am

      Thanks so much for trying my recipe cuz!! XOXO

      Reply
  38. Linda L Castile says

    April 12, 2023 at 2:47 pm

    5 stars
    I tried your meatloaf recipe. Family love it.

    Reply
  39. Connie says

    October 9, 2023 at 7:07 am

    I love meatloaf…. it’s a comfort food from yesterday. But I like to tweek recipes, too. But I never pass up the chance to check out new recipes ideas. I’ve learned that if I use a grater/ food processor, I can actually sneak carrots, spinach and other goodies into the meatloaf and no one will notice. If you omit the tomato-y sauce on top, you can sautee mushrooms and make a thin gravy to pour over each serving as desired.

    Reply
  40. Tanya says

    February 3, 2024 at 8:01 pm

    5 stars
    Cooking it!
    Thanks!

    Reply

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Hey cousins, it’s Rosie!

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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