Joy of Cooking Meatloaf Recipe
Nothing beats the smell of classic Joy of Cooking Meatloaf Recipe baking in your oven.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef 80/20 fat ratio
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup ketchup plus more for glaze
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
Instructions
Soak Breadcrumbs First
- Pour milk over breadcrumbs in large bowl. Let sit 5 minutes to soften completely.
Sauté Onions Gently
- Cook chopped onion in 1 Tbsp oil over medium heat until soft and translucent.
Add Garlic Quickly
- Stir in minced garlic. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat immediately.
Mix Wet Ingredients
- Whisk egg, 1/4 cup ketchup, Worcestershire, and mustard together in small bowl.
Prepare Ground Beef
- Add beef to large mixing bowl. Break apart gently with clean hands or fork.
Season Meat Evenly
- Sprinkle salt, pepper, and thyme evenly over the ground beef mixture.
Combine Everything
- Add soaked breadcrumbs, cooked onions, and wet ingredients to beef bowl.
Mix Gently Don't Overwork
- Use hands to combine until just blended. Overmixing makes tough meatloaf.
Shape in Loaf Pan
- Pack mixture evenly into greased 9x5 loaf pan. Smooth top gently.
Prepare Perfect Glaze
- Whisk ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar until smooth and glossy.
Apply First Glaze Layer
- Spread half the glaze evenly over meatloaf top and sides.
Bake Low and Slow
- Bake at 350°F for 60-70 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Final Glaze and Rest
- Brush remaining glaze last 10 minutes. Rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Always use 80/20 beef for perfect moisture balance that stays juicy.
- Milk-soaked breadcrumbs create tender texture everyone expects from classics.
- Sauté onions first—raw onions make dense, tough meatloaf every time.
- Ground turkey substitution works beautifully with same seasonings perfectly.
- Add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese for delicious Italian flavor twist.
- Replace ketchup with BBQ sauce for smoky Southern-style variation easily.
- Make mini meatloaves in muffin tin for cute kid-friendly dinner portions.