We made homemade meatloaf for the first time—and we were pleasantly surprised by how good it turned out!
This recipe started as a little trial in the kitchen. We had never made meatloaf before, so we used flavors and ingredients we already enjoy and adjusted everything as we went. We added sautéed onions, peppers, celery, and garlic to the ground beef, along with a blend of savory seasonings, breadcrumbs softened in milk, and an egg to help hold everything together.
To finish it, we made a simple sweet and tangy glaze using ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar.
Although there are a few small things we may change the next time we make it, the meatloaf was flavorful, moist, and much better than we expected for our first try. We are already looking forward to making it again and putting a slightly different spin on the recipe!
Recipe Details
Prep time: Approximately 20 minutes
Initial cook time: Approximately 35–40 minutes
Additional cook time after adding the glaze: Approximately 10–15 minutes
Oven temperature: 350°F
Estimated servings: 4–6
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf
- Approximately 1 pound ground beef
- ½ bag frozen onion, green and red bell pepper, and celery blend
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1–2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 packet Lipton Beefy Onion Soup Mix
- Garlic powder, to taste
- Onion powder, to taste
- Dried thyme, to taste
- Italian seasoning, to taste
- Worcestershire sauce, to taste
- Salt, added lightly and adjusted to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- A light sprinkle of seasoned salt
- 1 large egg
- Approximately ½ cup breadcrumbs
- Milk, enough to moisten and soften the breadcrumbs
For the Sweet and Tangy Glaze
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1–2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
For Garnish
- Dried or fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Lightly grease a baking dish or line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
2. Soften the breadcrumbs
Place approximately ½ cup of breadcrumbs in a small bowl.
Add enough milk to moisten the breadcrumbs and stir until combined. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes so the breadcrumbs can soften and absorb the milk.
This mixture helps add moisture to the meatloaf.
3. Sauté the vegetables
Heat approximately 1 tablespoon of avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add about half a bag of the frozen onion, green and red bell pepper, and celery blend.
Cook until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add the minced garlic and continue cooking briefly until fragrant. Avoid cooking the garlic too long because it may become bitter.
Remove the vegetables from the heat and allow them to cool slightly before adding them to the ground beef.
4. Season the ground beef
Place approximately 1 pound of ground beef in a large mixing bowl.
Add the Beefy Onion Soup Mix, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and a light sprinkle of seasoned salt.
Because the soup mix, seasoned salt, and Worcestershire sauce all contain sodium, add regular salt lightly and adjust as needed.
5. Add the remaining ingredients
Add the sautéed vegetable and garlic mixture to the seasoned ground beef.
Add one egg and the softened breadcrumb-and-milk mixture.
Using clean hands, gently mix everything until the ingredients are evenly combined.
Avoid overmixing because working the meat too much may make the finished meatloaf dense or firm.
6. Shape the meatloaf
Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Gently form the mixture into an evenly shaped loaf. Try to keep the thickness consistent so the meatloaf cooks evenly.
7. Begin baking
Place the meatloaf in the preheated oven and bake at 350°F.
Because the glaze will need additional time in the oven, begin checking the meatloaf after approximately 30–35 minutes rather than waiting until it is completely finished.
8. Prepare the glaze
While the meatloaf is baking, combine the ketchup, yellow mustard, and brown sugar in a small bowl.
Stir until the brown sugar is incorporated and the glaze is smooth.
Taste and adjust based on your preference. Add a little more brown sugar for sweetness, mustard for tanginess, or ketchup for a milder flavor.
9. Add the glaze
Remove the meatloaf from the oven before it is completely finished cooking.
Spread the sweet and tangy glaze evenly over the top and sides of the meatloaf.
10. Finish baking
Return the glazed meatloaf to the oven at 350°F.
Continue baking for approximately 10–15 minutes, or until the glaze reaches your desired consistency and the center of the meatloaf is fully cooked.
Avoid turning the oven temperature too high because the glaze may darken or cook too quickly before the meatloaf is ready.
For food safety, ground beef should reach an internal temperature of 160°F in the center.
11. Rest and garnish
Remove the finished meatloaf from the oven and allow it to rest for approximately 5–10 minutes before slicing.
Resting helps the meatloaf hold together and retain its juices.
Lightly sprinkle parsley over the top for color and garnish, if desired.
Huston Sisters Tips
- This was our first time making meatloaf, so we treated it as a trial recipe and adjusted the flavors as we cooked.
- Sautéing the onions, peppers, celery, and garlic before adding them to the meat helps soften the vegetables and build more flavor.
- Allow the sautéed vegetables to cool slightly before mixing them into the ground beef.
- Soaking the breadcrumbs in milk adds moisture and may help keep the meatloaf tender.
- Mix gently and only until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can make meatloaf dense.
- Beefy Onion Soup Mix, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and regular salt all add sodium, so season lightly and adjust to taste.
- Add the glaze before the meatloaf is completely finished so it has time to cook without drying out the meat.
- Keep the oven at approximately 350°F after adding the glaze and watch it until the topping reaches your desired consistency.
- Allow the meatloaf to rest before slicing so it holds together better.
- We enjoyed this first version, but we are already thinking about small changes and new flavors to try next time!
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days.
Reheat individual slices in the microwave or cover and warm them in the oven until heated through.
Adding a small amount of extra glaze before reheating can help keep the meatloaf moist.
Cooking with the Huston Sisters
Food, Fun & Honest Reviews
Trying something for the first time does not mean it has to be perfect. We used ingredients and seasonings we enjoy, made adjustments along the way, and ended up with a meatloaf that was flavorful and delicious.
We cannot wait to make it again and switch up the recipe just a little!
If you try this recipe, let us know how it turns out. What is one ingredient you always add to your meatloaf?
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