11 Meatloaf Recipes That Will Help You Win at Family Dinners (2024)

11 Meatloaf Recipes That Will Help You Win at Family Dinners (1)

As the weather gets colder, there's nothing better than a warm, comforting meal to enjoy at the end of a long day. A family-friendly batch of meatloaf will hit the spot any night of the week. A good meatloaf should be moist, flavorful, and plenty hearty; our meatloaf recipes are sure to hit the spot.

There's a basic formula for making classic meatloaf. First, choose the ground meat—here, we're featuring meatloaf made from a classic blend of beef, pork, and veal; turkey meatloaf; and chicken meatloaf. Next, add chopped vegetables such as onions, celery, and carrots (also known as mirepoix), which add texture. What would a good meatloaf be without breadcrumbs? They add texture and body to hold the loaf together (feel free to use gluten-free breadcrumbs if necessary). Finally, to achieve that picture perfect loaf, brush on a glaze made from ketchup and brown sugar. It adds sweetness and shine for an appetizing bite. For heat, add in chipotle chile peppers, as we've done with the Chipotle-Glazed Meatloaf shown here.

A tried-and-true way to serve meatloaf is with creamy mashed potatoes and a crunchy vegetable on the side, such as broccoli rabe or glazed carrots. While this is delicious and guaranteed to please, try switching it up a bit. Slices of meatloaf are the perfect base for a lunch sandwich (your co-workers will be jealous!). You can also serve it alongside crisp hearts of romaine lettuce, fresh herbs, and other chopped vegetables for a makeshift salad like in our recipe for Turkey Meatloaf with Hoisin Glaze.

These meatloaf recipes are sure to upgrade your winter dinner.

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Classic Meatloaf

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Our traditional beef, pork, and veal meatloaf is accented with chopped onions, celery, and carrots. The sweet-and-sour glaze adds a delicious tang to this tender and moist mealtime favorite.

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Bacon-Cheeseburger Meatloaf

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Inspired by the indulgent burger, this meatloaf can serve the entire family all in one. Don't think we forgot the best part of any burger—one and a half cups of grated cheddar cheese gets folded into the mix for an even better, more decadent slice.

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Jennifer's Meatloaf Sandwiches

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A 50/50 ratio of ground beef and pork are the base for this handheld version of meatloaf. Make one big loaf on the weekend, then slice it up throughout the week to make family-friendly lunch sandwiches.

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Chicken-and-Broccoli Meatloaf

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All of the familiar meatloaf ingredients are here—breadcrumbs, carrots, onions, celery, and that sweet ketchup-brown sugar glaze—but with two delightful substitutions. Instead of the traditional beef and pork combination, this version is made with lean ground chicken and sliced broccoli florets.

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Mrs. Kostyra's Meatloaf

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This delicious beef meatloaf was a specialty of Martha's mother, Mrs. Kostyra. It's a family-pleasing recipe that tastes juicy and tender. An ample amount of breadcrumbs gives the meatloaf its distinctive texture without becoming too dense.

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Meatloaf with Saltine Crackers

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Saltine cracker crumbs replace the usual breadcrumbs in this crowd-pleasing meatloaf with a sweet glaze. They add even more crunch and a little bit of extra saltiness to this otherwise basic preparation.

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Turkey Meatloaf with Hoisin Glaze

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Create a leaner version of the all-American meatloaf dinner using ground turkey, plus special add-ins like ginger and soy sauce to complement the flavor of the poultry. Hoisin glaze is a welcome departure from the traditional ketchup and brown sugar topping.

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Meatloaf and Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

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Here's a truly timeless, all-American dinner. On a snowy day or when you're in the mood for good ole comfort food, there's nothing better than this combination of all-beef meatloaf, creamy potatoes, and crunchy green beans.

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Test Kitchen's Favorite All-Beef Meatloaf

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Our best-ever meatloaf is freeform. It's not made in a loaf pan; rather, it's cooked on a sheet pan, which creates browned, caramelized edges on all sides. Using lean ground beef keeps the texture of each slice light, moist, and super flavorful.

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Chipotle-Glazed Turkey Meatloaf Sandwiches

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Comfort food can be both indulgent and good for you. This meal proves that. It's a flavorful, spicy meatloaf made with ground dark turkey meat (feel free to use a blend of white and dark meat if you prefer). Served with nutritious sweet potatoes, dinner has never tasted and felt so good.

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