We love meatloaf recipes around here. So I’ve gathered up my favorites that will make for an easy and flavorful dinner! This list has a type of meatloaf for everyone! Including old-school classic meatloaf recipes, a few copycat restaurant favorites, plus many other different variations!
Different Meatloaf Recipes
There’s nothing that screams home-cooking like meatloaf. Everyone grew up with at least one family member making their famous signature meatloaf.
Such a common dish it's just a classic! Meatloaf is usually made from ground beef. Sometimes from pork sausage, veal, or practically any other type of meat.
Meatloaf recipes have been tweaked and twisted over the years, and as a result, there are a TON of different ways to make a meatloaf for dinner!
My favorite meatloaf recipes for an easy and flavorful dinner!
Jump to:
- Different Meatloaf Recipes
- 1. Traditional Meatloaf with Oatmeal
- 2. Taco Meatloaf
- 3. Lipton Onion Soup Meatloaf
- 4. Smoked Meatloaf
- 5. Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
- 6. Stove Top Meatloaf
- 7. Air Fryer Meatloaf
- 8. Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- 9. Boston Market Meatloaf
- 10. BBQ Meatloaf
- 11. Sweet and Sour Meatloaf
- 12. Ham Loaf
- 13. Marinara and Mozzarella Topped Italian Meatloaf
- 📋 Recipe
- Best Meatloaf Recipes You Need To Try!
- Ingredients US CustomaryMetric
- Instructions
- Equipment You May Need
- Notes
- 💬 Comments
From old-school, traditional methods to new takes on an old favorite, meatloaf is one of the most versatile dishes there is. Sometimes you may just want to try different types of meatloaf. Something unique perhaps?
Below are a few of my absolute favorite meatloaf recipes if you’re searching for inspiration!
1. Traditional Meatloaf with Oatmeal
This is an old-school meatloaf recipe, but it’s still totally delicious! Made with quick oats, this meatloaf is delightfully tender and moist.
Top it with a classic ketchup glaze and revel in all your childhood memories of eating meatloaf at dinnertime. This meatloaf is familiar and comforting, a true classic.
2. Taco Meatloaf
This meatloaf is made with a delicious mixture of ground beef, taco seasoning, crushed tortilla chips, and pepper jack cheese. This is a great recipe for when you want to switch it up from the norm.
Rather than ketchup, taco meatloaf is topped with none other than taco sauce! It’s zesty, it’s cheesy, and it’s a meatloaf you have to try!
3. Lipton Onion Soup Meatloaf
This Lipton onion soup meatloaf is super easy to make and full of beefy onion flavor! This recipe is also very hands-off, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
I love a ketchup glaze, and that is an option here as well, but you can omit it if you are not a ketchup fan. Serve it up with some red skin mashed potatoes andbroccolini salad for a well-rounded meal.
4. Smoked Meatloaf
If you have a smoker, why not use it to make some delicious meatloaf! It may not be your first thought when you’re firing up your smoker but trust me- this meatloaf is savory and full of smoky flavor!
When cooked in a smoker, the meatloaf retains a lot of its moisture, keeping it tender and juicy! A BBQ glaze pairs perfectly with the smoky flavor.
5. Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
This copycat of Cracker Barrel’s beloved meatloaf is spot-on. The addition of green bell pepper and shredded cheddar keeps the meat tender and moist.
The real secret to this meatloaf is using buttery Ritz crackers instead of breadcrumbs! This recipe is a crowd-pleaser and a kid favorite.
6. Stove Top Meatloaf
Stove Top meatloaf didn’t earn its name from cooking it on the stovetop, it’s because it’s made with easy Stove Top stuffing!
This is a hearty meatloaf that’s full of herbaceous flavor. Plus, it’s super easy to make and it will taste good with any type of glaze.
7. Air Fryer Meatloaf
Some of the other recipes may be “easy”, but it does not come close to meatloaf made in the air fryer! The air fryer cooks the meat perfectly while keeping it juicy and tender.
With this recipe, cleanup is easy! It is sure to become a weeknight favorite.
I make this meatloaf topped with ketchup, but you can try another sauce or leave it off completely!
8. Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
Bacon makes everything better. Nothing like a meatloaf wrapped in more meat!
Crispy bacon really elevates this traditional meatloaf. The tangy glaze and bacon are a flavor combination that is out-of-this-world delicious!
The bacon grease drips into the meatloaf as it cooks, and the meatloaf absorbs all the bacon flavor!
9. Boston Market Meatloaf
This copycat Boston Market meatloaf is incredibly easy to throw together. It requires very simple ingredients while having no shortage of flavor.
This is a great choice if you have picky eaters that don’t like “all the extra stuff”. This meatloaf is simple and nostalgic!
10. BBQ Meatloaf
If you are a BBQ lover, this meatloaf is for you. With a tangy BBQ sauce and Liquid Smoke glaze, it’s an explosion of savory BBQ flavor!
If you like heat, pick a BBQ sauce for the glaze that has a little kick, if not use a sweeter sauce!
11. Sweet and Sour Meatloaf
You’ve heard of sweet and sour chicken, how about sweet and sour meatloaf? This tasty twist on a traditional meatloaf is full of the familiar flavor of sweet and sour sauce!
The sweet and tangy sauce is just perfect with the savory ground chuck, it makes for a perfect glaze! This recipe is always a favorite of kids and adults alike.
12. Ham Loaf
Ham loaf is making a comeback! If you've never had ham loaf, it is a delicious retro-inspired twist on meatloaf!
Rather than ground beef, this loaf is made up of diced ham and ground pork! Best of all, this ham loaf includes a tangy-sweet brown sugar Dijon glaze that is totally the opposite of what’s on traditional meatloaf.
This recipe is perfect for using up holiday ham leftovers.
13. Marinara and Mozzarella Topped Italian Meatloaf
This meatloaf is full of all your favorite Italian flavors. In place of ketchup, it is topped with marinara sauce and a hefty portion of mozzarella cheese!
This meatloaf is one of our favorites (because it’s the only one covered in gooey, melty cheese). It’s full of flavor, and pairs well with some delicious Italian sides like lemon asparagus orzo.
Be sure to check out my post on what to serve with meatloaf for a little inspiration when choosing your side dishes!
If you give any of these awesome meatloaf recipes a try, let us know how it turned out by leaving us a comment below! Better yet, if there’s a meatloaf recipe we didn’t mention, let us know what we’re missing!
📋 Recipe
Best Meatloaf Recipes You Need To Try!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef (ground chuck is preferred, or use a ground beef/ground pork combo)
- 1 ½ cups quick oats (or plain breadcrumbs)
- ½ cup white onion (or yellow onion, finely diced)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon meatloaf seasoning (see recipe, or use 1 packet store-bought seasoning mix)
- ⅓ cup ketchup (plus more for topping the meatloaf if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x5 loaf pan or line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef, quick oats, diced onion, eggs, meatloaf seasoning, and ketchup. Mix until just combined, do not over-mix.2 lbs ground beef, 1 ½ cups quick oats, ½ cup white onion, 3 large eggs, 1 tablespoon meatloaf seasoning, ⅓ cup ketchup
- Transfer the meatloaf mixture into your prepared loaf pan then shape so that the loaf is mounded at the top. Or transfer the loaf mixture to your baking sheet and form it into a loaf approximately the same size as a loaf pan (9x5-inch).
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 50 minutes, remove from the oven and coat with an additional ⅓ cup of ketchup or BBQ sauce if desired. Return to the oven and finish cooking for an additional 10-20 minutes. Your meatloaf is done when it has an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
- Remove from the oven when done, drain off the excess grease, and then allow your meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- A splash of Worcestershire sauce is pretty much a go-to, must-have ingredient in my meatloaf recipes. If you love Worcestershire, balsamic vinegar, or soy sauce feel free to add a bit for flavor!
- If you don't have meatloaf seasoning packets on hand and/or don't have all of the spices for my homemade meatloaf seasoning, you can use these measurements as a base: 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon paprika (or smoked paprika), ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon onion powder.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
William says
Fabulous meatloaf recipes, I can't wait to try them all!
Agathe says
J'adore votre site,premiere visited et non pas la derniere.
"I love your site, first visit and not the last."
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Merci beaucoup! Nous espérons que vous apprécierez les recettes !
Thank you very much! We hope you enjoy the recipes!