This One Pound Meatloaf Recipe is so easy and comes together in minutes, then pop it into the oven to bake. It's the ultimate comfort food and the perfect size for a family of four. It's juicy with that classic tangy ketchup glaze we all know and love. Ready in under an hour!
This 1 lb meatloaf is so yummy. It's a classic version, but just smaller in size and I love it because it takes less time to bake.
This recipe only uses ground beef for meat compared to some recipes that use beef, pork and lamb. This keeps the price lower, and it's still just as juicy and delish.
Pair this recipe with my Garlic Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Red Skinned Mashed Potatoes or Mushroom Couscous.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Easy to Make. Simple step by step instructions with minimal chopping.
- A mini 1 lb loaf. The perfect size for a family of three or four.
- Total Comfort Food. This meal is so cozy on a Fall or Winter day!
- A Family Favorite. This is the classic recipe that everyone will love. High protein too with over 20 grams per serving!
For more Comfort Food Dinners, try these Boneless Beef Short Ribs, Dutch Oven Pork Chops, and Chicken Dumpling Soup.
Ingredients:
Ground Beef: Look for an 80/20 or 85/15 beef to fat ratio for the juiciest version. A 93/7 ground beef is going to end up being a bit more dry inside.
Bread: For the bread slice, you want a simple slice of white bread. I like the Nature's Own White Wheat or Pepperidge Farm Italian White. The texture of those two brands soak up the milk really well and turn into almost mush, which is what we want.
Onions and Garlic: It's important to really mince these two ingredients, so that they cook fully in the oven and don't leave us with a crunch at the end of baking.
*Full recipe ingredients and quantities can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations:
- If you want to mix ½ lb pork and ½ lb ground beef, that will give you great taste too.
- Ground chicken and ground turkey can also be used for meatloaf, but they are less fatty and won't be as moist.
- The distilled vinegar can be substituted with apple cider vinegar.
- Equipment substitute: If you don't have a bread pan, use a rimmed cookie sheet. The rim is a must to catch the grease from the meat.
For more ground beef recipes, try this Cheesy Beef Macaroni, Stuffed Bell Peppers without Rice, and Guinness Shepherds Pie.
How to Make One Pound Meatloaf:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 or 10 inch bread pan with parchment paper along the bottom and up over the sides of the pan (see photo in step 3). In a small bowl, tear apart the sandwich bread into pieces and pour the milk over the top. Make sure every piece is soaked in milk. Allow to sit for a few minutes.
Step 2: In a large bowl combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, garlic powder and the milk soaked bread. Mix together with your hands until fully combined.
Step 3: Form the meat into a loaf shape and transfer to the bread pan. Note: You can use a rimmed cookie sheet instead, but the bread pan really holds the grease in without making a mess in the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 150-155 degrees.
Step 4: Make the Glaze, while the meatloaf is baking. In a saucepan over low heat, combine ketchup, Worcestershire, brown sugar, vinegar and honey. Stir and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Once the internal temperature reaches 150-155 degrees, remove the meatloaf from the oven and brush on about ¾ of the sauce. Return to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
Step 6: Brush on remaining sauce or save for serving. Tent with foil and allow the meatloaf to cool for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and cut into 8 thick slices. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips:
- Mince the garlic and onion really well so it cooks through while baking. Larger diced onions may result in a crunchy texture at serving.
- Don't over mix. You just want the ingredients combined.
- Line the parchment paper over the sides of the bread pan for a really easy removal.
For more family friendly dinners, try these Air Fryer Chicken Bites, Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls, and Chicken Tater Tot Casserole.
Recipe FAQs:
The meatloaf needs to bake in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Insert your thermometer into the thickest middle point and go to the center of the meat for the reading.
If you add it in the beginning it really dries up when baking and it's my favorite part. By only baking it for a few minutes, it stays nice and thick when serving.
Store the remaining meatloaf in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place back into a bread pan and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until hot. Don't bake too long or it may dry out.
More Dinner Ideas to Try:
If you tried this Meatloaf Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Easy One Pound Meatloaf Recipe
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 1 lb meatloaf 1x
Description
This One Pound Meatloaf Recipe is so easy and comes together in minutes, then pop it in the oven to bake. It's the ultimate comfort food and the perfect size for a family of four. It's juicy with that classic tangy ketchup glaze we all know and love.
Ingredients
Meatloaf:
- 1 slice of white bread
- ¼ cup whole milk (or 2%)
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tablespoons minced yellow onion
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Optional: 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, minced for serving
Meatloaf Glaze:
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons white distilled vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 or 10 inch bread pan with parchment paper covering the bottom and over the sides of the pan (see photo in step by step photo #3 in post). In a small bowl, tear apart the sandwich bread into pieces and pour the milk over the top. Make sure every piece is soaked in milk. Allow to sit for a few minutes.
- In a large bowl combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, garlic powder and the milk soaked bread. Mix together with your hands until fully combined.
- Form the meat into a loaf shape and transfer to the bread pan. Note: You can use a rimmed cookie sheet instead, but the bread pan really holds the grease in without making a mess in the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 150-155 degrees.
- Make the glaze while the meatloaf is baking. In a saucepan over low heat, combine ketchup, Worcestershire, brown sugar, vinegar and honey. Stir and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
- Once the internal temperature reaches 150-155 degrees, remove the meatloaf from the oven and brush on about ¾ of the sauce. Return to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
- Brush on remaining sauce or save for serving. Tent with foil and allow the meatloaf to cool for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and cut into 8 thick slices. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Mince the garlic and onion really well so it cooks through while baking. Larger diced onions may result in a crunchy texture at serving.
- Don't over mix. You just want the ingredients combined.
- Line the parchment paper over the sides of the bread pan for a really easy removal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: dinner
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: American
Robert
So good and such a great comfort meal!
Tara Smithson
Yes! Paired with mashed potatoes is one of my favorite comfort foods!