Slow Cooker Meatloaf
This Slow Cooker Meatloaf is tender, juicy, and topped with a sweet and tangy ketchup glaze. An easy, no-fuss dinner that lets your slow cooker do all the work.
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Meatloaf is perfect for busy weeknights or for an easy Sunday supper. It's is like Pot Roast, it's a classic main dish that goes well with so many sides. Pair it with your favorite Roasted Garlic Red Mashed Potatoes, big salad, Roasted Butternut Squash, or other vegetables. Options are endless when making a Meatloaf in the Slow Cooker!
Why You'll Love Crock Pot Meatloaf
You get that same tender texture and rich flavor you love from traditional meatloaf, without actually turning on the oven for hours.
Any time the Crock Pot can do the work for you, it means you can get more done during the day, while dinner is still cooking away! It's a great way to make a family-friendly, affordable meal. This Slow Cooker recipe is picky-eater-approved!
Let's Gather The Ingredients
- Brown sugar: Either dark or light.
- Condiments: Ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.
- Ground beef: I used 80/20, I like using the 80/20 beef because little fat keeps the meatloaf juicy and flavorful. If you use lean beef (90/10 or higher), add a tablespoon of olive oil or a bit more milk for moisture.
- Onion: White or yellow onion.
- Garlic cloves: Freshly minced is always recommended.
- Stuffing mix: I use stovetop stuffing, any flavor will work.
- Milk: Whole milk or 2%.
- Eggs: Large
How To Make Slow Cooker Meatloaf
- Step 1: Start by making the glaze. Add ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and hot sauce to a small bowl. Stir to combine.
- Step 2: In a separate large mixing bowl, add ground beef, diced onion, garlic, stuffing mix, milk, Worcestershire sauce, eggs, salt, pepper, and some of the ketchup glaze. Stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Step 3: Lay out two pieces of aluminum foil so they overlap each other. Dump the eatloaf mixture onto foil from the large bowl. Use hands to shape the mixture into an oval shape.
- Step 4: Transfer the meatloaf and foil into the Slow Cooker.
- Step 5: Add some glaze and spread over the top of the meatloaf.
- Step 6: Once the meatloaf has cooked, lift the foil with the meatloaf out of the cooker and place on a baking sheet. Foil may be hot; do this carefully. Add more glaze on top of the meatloaf. Broil in the oven until the top has caramelized, if desired. Let meatloaf rest before slicing and serving.
Recipe Tips
- Overworking the mixture can make the meatloaf dense.
- Lining the slow cooker with foil makes lifting easy and cleanup simple. If you don't have foil, you could try nonstick cooking spray to help make removing the loaf easier later, but it will be messy.
- Always use a meat thermometer to make sure it's done. The center should reach 160°F internally.
- You can switch the glaze. Try BBQ sauce instead of ketchup for a smoky option.
- You can make this on the grill instead. Try my Grilled Meatloaf recipe.
Recipe Faq's
Yes. Combine mixture, shape, and place the meatloaf in a 9x13- inch baking dish or on a sheet pan. Bake at 350°F for 60-70 minutes.
It’s optional, but recommended! Broiling caramelizes the glaze, giving it that classic sticky finish.
Shape the meatloaf, cover it with foil, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before cooking. You can also freeze the uncooked loaf for up to 2 months.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
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Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Equipment
Ingredients
Ketchup Glaze
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
For The Meatloaf
- 2 pounds ground beef 80/20
- 1 large onion finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (6 ounce) box stuffing mix I used savory herbs
- 1 1/3 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons ketchup glaze
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix the ketchup, brown sugar mustard and hot sauce until combined.
- In a large bowl, add the ground beef, diced onion, garlic, stuffing mix, milk, Worcestershire sauce, eggs, salt, pepper, ketchup glaze and mix until combined. Careful not to overmix.
- Place two large pieces of aluminum foil that slightly overlaps each other and place the meat mixture into the center and mold it into on oval shape.
- Place the meatloaf with the foil into the slow cooker.
- Spread 1/3 of the glaze over the top. Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low.
- Carefully lift the foil with the meatloaf out of the slow cooker and place it on a baking sheet. Add some more glaze over the top.
- Turn your oven on broil for 3-5 minutes until the top is caramelized.
- Let the meatloaf rest 10-15 minutes then slice.
Woohoo Gloria, So glad everybody enjoyed it, we love that one too 🙂
I made it with Pork Stove Top Dressing and only 1/2 tsp hot sauce in the sauce other than that no changes. Baked it in my oven.
All who ate it said "This is the best meatloaf I have EVER eaten or this is REALLY good"!
Thank you for my new go to meatloaf recipe. Now I can have the confidence that it will be great as opposed to "hoping" it will be "good" and often times ending up with yucky!🥳