Looking for a delicious and easy homemade meatloaf recipe? This lighter recipe has that classic meatloaf taste with a few substitutions to keep it on the healthier side.

Any information in the post is for general information purposes only and is NOT medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for individual medical and nutrition advice.

Meatloaf tends to have a bad reputation, but it shouldn’t! When prepared the right way, meatloaf is a classic and mouth-watering comfort food, perfect for a sit-down family dinner. This easy homemade meatloaf recipe is a favorite in my house with a delectable blend of savory seasonings and just enough liquid to keep the loaf moist. My family requests this over and over again, and I’m guessing yours will too!

The most important part of a delicious meatloaf is the texture. Keeping the loaf moist is essential to enjoying this easy homemade meatloaf recipe, though too much moisture and you end up with more of a paste than a loaf. The milk, egg, and Worcestershire sauce in this recipe combine for the perfect amount of liquid to make an enticing dinner. Another way to avoid a dried-out product? Avoid overcooking. While the timing in this recipe is tailored to my oven, your oven may differ. I recommend using a food thermometer to ensure that your meatloaf is cooked thoroughly without being overcooked.

But don’t you need to use ground beef with a higher fat content to avoid dry meatloaf? No! While a higher fat content is often thought to be necessary for a delicious meatloaf, this easy homemade meatloaf recipe specifies 93% lean ground beef for a reason. There is still enough fat in this 93% lean meat to avoid a dried-out dinner, and the liquid ingredients are measured precisely for this type of beef. It did, after all, take me several attempts to finally perfect not only the flavor but the consistency of this recipe! Changing the fat content or liquid content in this recipe will alter the texture of the final product, and likely not in a desirable way!

You may be wondering, where’s the salt? As a dietitian, I rarely use salt in my cooking, and this easy homemade meatloaf recipe is no exception. There is so much flavor from not only the beef and ketchup, but the garlic, paprika and Worcestershire that I simply do not see the need for salt to be added. While you can certainly add salt to your own recipe at home, I would very much encourage you to try this meatloaf without first. You may be surprised how good it tastes!

As rich and delicious as this meatloaf is, it definitely needs some yummy sides to make a full meal. Naturally, any type of potato will go well with this easy homemade meatloaf recipe. Mashed potatoes are a classic side dish, but other types of potatoes work great, too, like these easy roasted potatoes. Of course, potatoes aren’t the only side dish that works. My kids’ favorite side dish for meatloaf? Fresh baked bread with dipping oil or butter. And don’t forget a vegetable! Any type of roasted vegetable goes great with this classic dinner, although carrots are my go-to vegetable here as they add some color to the plate.

This classic and easy homemade meatloaf recipe is a smaller recipe tailored for smaller appetites or families of 3-4, like mine. However, it can easily be doubled for larger families, or if you like to have leftovers. After all, leftover meatloaf sandwiches are fantastic! To double or even triple the recipe, I highly recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure proper cooking.

Easy Homemade Meatloaf Recipe

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes Cook Time: 55-65 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound Lean Ground Beef (93% lean)
• 1 Large Egg
• 2 Tablespoons Milk
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Bread Crumbs
• 1 Tablespoon Dried Onion
• 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Paprika
• Black Pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup Ketchup

Directions

1. In a medium mixing bowl, add the egg, Worcestershire sauce, and milk and beat with a fork until blended.
2. Add the dry ingredients (bread crumbs, dried onion, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper) and mix well with the fork.
3. Add the ground beef to the bowl, and mix the liquid mixture into the beef with your hands until well blended.
4. Place the mixture onto a shallow baking pan and form into a loaf shape.
5. Top the loaf with ketchup, and spread evenly over the top and sides of the loaf using a spatula or butter knife.
6. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350^oF for 55-65 minutes.

Time Saving Tip: Lightly grease the baking dish with cooking spray for faster cleanup.

*Nutrition Information (per serving, 4 servings per recipe)

• 225 Calories
• 9 g Total Fat
• 4 g Saturated Fat
• 25 g Protein
• 311 mg Sodium
• 8 g Total Carbohydrate
• 0 g Fiber

*Nutrition information is approximate and based on the products that I buy in my home. Information will vary based on the products purchased in your home.