Air Fryer Meatloaf combines tangy seasonings and condiments with Panko breadcrumbs. This an amazing meatloaf the whole family will love! Cooking it in the air fryer means your meatloaf is super moist, tender, and cooked to perfection!
Easy Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe
Making meatloaf in the air fryer adds a uniqueness to the traditional way of preparing it, and the results are remarkable! The wonderful combo of flavors creates the “comfort food” you crave, and it’s even better than you remember it!
Meatloaf has been a dinnertime staple for generations. When made properly, it is juicy, full of flavor, and satisfyingly filling. This all-American dish takes many forms depending on which recipe you follow or what style your family prefers.
No One Will Whine, “Meatloaf Again?!” Once They’ve Tried This Amazing Air Fryer Version!
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My best meatloaf recipe is traditional with a twist. I’ve been making it for years, and now when I use the air fryer, the meatloaf is even more mouthwatering!
🥘 Air Fryer Meatloaf Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutions
The delicious blend of seasonings, sauces, and condiments creates a meatloaf that is moist, as I use relatively lean ground beef. Don't forget to check out my easy DIY meatloaf seasoning, which can be substituted for the seasoning in this recipe.
Air Fryer Meatloaf Ingredients
- Ground Beef – 2 pounds of ground beef. 85% lean ground beef is my go-to.
- Eggs – 2 large eggs. A binder for your formed meatloaf that adds richness too.
- White Onion – 1 small white or yellow onion, diced.
- Milk – ¼ cup of milk. Use whole milk for the best flavor and results.
- Panko Breadcrumbs – 1 cup of Panko breadcrumbs. I love the texture of this style of breadcrumbs over regular breadcrumbs. They have more body and bulk up the loaf. Learn how to make your own Panko breadcrumbs at home right here!
- Worcestershire Sauce – Savory and a bit sweet, 2 tablespoons of this sauce takes nearly any meat dish to the next level.
- Ketchup – 1 cup of ketchup divided into two ½-cup portions. The tasty tang gives your meatloaf that homemade taste.
- Garlic – 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Along with the onion, garlic adds aroma and fabulous flavor to every bite.
- Italian Seasoning – 1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning. I make my own Italian seasoning (and it's super simple)!
- Ground Mustard – 1 teaspoon of ground mustard with its sharp flavor adds a little surprise to your supper.
- Salt & Pepper – 1 teaspoon of each of these staple spices that make everything taste better.
- Smoked Paprika – ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika. Both regular paprika and sweet paprika also work well.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Meatloaf
In less than an hour, you’ll have an incredible meatloaf ready to slice and serve! As you collect your ingredients, be sure to have your measuring items, a mixing bowl, your air fryer, some aluminum foil, and cooking oil or spray ready too.
This recipe makes six hearty servings, so if you have more mouths to feed or an especially hungry bunch, you can double the recipe and make two loaves.
Prep
- Preheat. Start preheating your air fryer to 375°F (190°C/Gas Mark 5). It’s important that the air fryer is nice and hot so the cooking time is accurate.
- Coat the aluminum foil. Use a non-stick cooking spray. Lightly coat a sheet of aluminum foil that is slightly larger than your meatloaf so you can fold up the edges to make a “tray” for your meatloaf.
Make The Meatloaf
- Measure out ingredients. Add all ingredients into a large mixing bowl. (2 pounds (907.18 grams) of ground beef, 2 large eggs, 1 small diced onion, ¼ cup (59 milliliters) of milk, 1 cup (60 grams) of Panko, 2 tablespoons (29.5 milliliters) of Worcestershire sauce, ½ cup (117.5 grams) of ketchup, 1 tablespoon (8 grams) of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon (5 grams) of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon (2 grams) of ground mustard, 1 teaspoon (6 grams) each of salt & pepper, and ½ teaspoon (1 gram) of smoked paprika). *Reserve ½ cup of ketchup to apply to the top of the meatloaf during cooking. (Step 7).
- Mix the meatloaf ingredients. Combine the meatloaf mixture well. I use my clean hands to work through the meat.
- Form your meatloaf. Go for an even rectangular shape that is about 2-3 inches thick. Place the loaf on the sprayed aluminum foil with the edges turned up to create the pan-shaped tray for the meatloaf.
- Transfer and cook. Place the meatloaf in the air fryer. Cook at 375°F (190°C/Gas Mark 5) for 30 minutes.
- Top with the second portion of ketchup. Open the air fryer and apply ½ cup (117.5 grams) of ketchup. Spread over the entire top of the meatloaf carefully and evenly as possible.
- Finish cooking the meatloaf. Cook for another 10 minutes at 375°F (190°C/Gas Mark 5). The internal temperature of your meatloaf should reach 160-165°F (71-74°C).
If it’s not at this temperature yet, cover the meatloaf with a piece of aluminum foil and cook for a few minutes more until you’ve reached the right temperature. - Drain and serve. Remove the meatloaf from the air fryer. *I like to tip the air fryer basket and drain off any excess fat and liquid before trying to lift the meatloaf out.
Allow a few minutes for the loaf to rest and cool down slightly before transferring to a serving plate and slicing. Garnish your meatloaf with some fresh chopped parsley if desired, and serve.
🥗 What To Serve With Air Fryer Meatloaf
I have tons of ideas for what to serve with meatloaf.
Any meatloaf dinner is amazing when served with some tasty mashed potatoes, and I really enjoy my creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes with this particular meatloaf!
A huge assortment of veggies is also excellent with meatloaf, but my air fryer carrots are always a HUGE HIT! Of course, your air fryer is already in use, so try my microwave carrots instead.
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Mix the ingredients into the ground meat thoroughly. Take your time to incorporate everything so each bite is the same. You don’t want a clump of minced garlic in the middle, for instance.
- When forming your meatloaf, keep the shape as evenly as possible so it cooks uniformly. If one side is much flatter than the other, you may burn it.
- Cook your meatloaf towards medium-well-done, or you could wind up with a runny middle or slices that don’t hold their shape.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
You can keep your meatloaf fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. However, it is best used within 1-2 days. Allow your meatloaf to cool completely before storing it in a shallow, airtight container or wrapping it securely with aluminum foil or plastic cling film.
Freezing Air Fryer Meatloaf
To keep your cooked meatloaf fresh for a longer period of time, you can store leftovers in the freezer for up to 3-4 months. Store cooled meatloaf in a freezer storage container or wrap it securely in heavy-duty aluminum foil and place it into a freezer storage bag.
I recommend slicing it first and wrapping each slice separately in plastic wrap. *This makes for super easy thawing and reheating!
You can also mix and shape your meatloaf, then wrap it as directed above and freeze the raw loaf. With either raw or cooked meatloaf, fully defrost the meat in your refrigerator before cooking or reheating.
Reheating Air Fryer Meatloaf
You can reheat meatloaf in the microwave, air fryer, or in the oven. The best method is to reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350°F (175°C). The timing will vary depending on the portion of meatloaf being reheated.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
You can, but your meatloaf may turn out dry. I recommend 85% lean ground beef for this recipe. If you are trying to cut down on meat, you can experiment with ½ ground turkey or chicken in the recipe, with ½ the amount of beef.
It's best to freeze your meatloaf raw for cooking later if at all possible. Meatloaf is always better when only cooked once! This retains the texture and moisture of a great meatloaf, which is part of the appeal of this classic Americana dinner.
You don't need to flip your meatloaf. Air fryers are amazing because the hot air circulates evenly around the food, which means your meatloaf should turn out perfect without any readjusting!
😋 More Tasty Meatloaf Recipes
- Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Stove Top Stuffing Meatloaf
- Cracker Barrel Copycat Meatloaf
- Lipton Onion Soup Meatloaf
- Smoked Meatloaf
- Italian Meatloaf
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📖 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef (85% lean ground beef)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 small white onion (or yellow onion)
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup ketchup (divided into 2 ½ cup portions)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Use a non stick spray or cooking oil and coat a sheet of aluminum foil. (You will need a slightly larger piece than your meatloaf will be as it will sit in the foil with the edges folded up to cradle the meatloaf.)
- In a large mixing bowl add all the ingredients be sure to reserve ½ the ketchup to put on the top of the meatloaf later.
- Mix the meatloaf mixture thoroughly.
- Form your meatloaf mixture into a rectangular shape about 2-3 inches thick and place on the aluminum foil folding the edges up to make a pan shape to hold the meatloaf.
- Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes.
- Open the air fryer and carefully apply the remaining ketchup on the top of the meatloaf.
- Cook for an additional 10 minutes at 375°F (190°C). The internal temperature should be at 160-165°F (71-74°C). If not, cover with a small bit of foil and continue cooking until the temperature is brought up.
- Remove from air fryer and allow to rest and cool slightly, carefully transfer to a serving plate or cutting board, slice, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Mix the ingredients into the ground meat thoroughly. Take your time to incorporate everything so each bite is the same. You don’t want a clump of minced garlic in the middle, for instance.
- When forming your meatloaf, keep the shape as evenly as possible so it cooks uniformly. If one side is much flatter than the other, you may burn it.
- Cook your meatloaf towards medium-well-done, or you could wind up with a runny middle or slices that don’t hold their shape.
- Storing: You can keep your meatloaf fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: To keep your cooked meatloaf fresh for a longer period of time, you can store leftovers in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.
- Reheating: Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350°F (175°C).
Rina Beaulieu says
J'ai fait ce pain de viande pour le souper de ce soir et nous avons beaucoup aimé, c'est certain que c'est à refaire....un gros MERCI
"I made this meatloaf for dinner this evening and we really liked it, we'll definitely have to make it again....a big THANK YOU"
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Fantastique! Je suis ravie que la recette vous plaise.
"Fantastic! So glad you like the recipe."
Yolande says
Pour le souper ,j’ai fais cette recette mais en boulettes dans ma friteuse à air. C’était excellent. Je l’ai servi avec une sauce brune.À refaire.Merci pour cette recette.
"For dinner, I made this recipe but in meatballs in my air fryer. It was excellent. I served it with a brown sauce. To be redone. Thank you for this recipe."
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Fantastique, ravie que la recette vous ait plu !
"Fantastic, so glad you enjoyed the recipe!"
Anonymous says
Pain de viande excellent
"Excellent meatloaf"
Mary says
This is way to great to keep the kitchen cool in this humid summer heat and still have great meatloaf. Whoever invented the beloved Air Fryer need a big pat on the back.
France Hudon says
Je ne trouve pas les quantité des ingrédients pour la recette du pain de viande a friteuse a air? Merci
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Vous pouvez le trouver dans la fiche de recette ici : https://bakeitwithlove.com/air-fryer-meatloaf/#recipe
Rick says
Made it today. Easy and great Taste. Thank you.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Thanks Rick! Glad you enjoyed it!