Crockpot Meatloaf – Rachel Cooks®

There’s simply one thing about meatloaf. It’s not probably the most elegant dish to make certain, however whenever you look previous the ground-meat-shaped-into-a-loaf issue, you may’t assist however fall for that tender, juicy, umami-packed foremost dish.

And for those who’re like most individuals, I’d guess that meatloaf might be already a staple in your house, and also you’ve most likely acquired a favourite recipe or two. (I’m a fan of this basic meatloaf recipe myself.)

This crockpot meatloaf is one other recipe so as to add to your weeknight dinner arsenal for these busy days whenever you need dinner to be prepared when you find yourself. I’ve to confess, I used to be slightly skeptical about crockpot meatloaf however I used to be very pleasantly shocked how nicely it seems. In actual fact, it’s so good, this would possibly simply change into your new favourite meatloaf.

Crockpot Meatloaf – Good Each Time!

So flavorful and juicy. Making meatloaf in a gradual cooker is a wonderful method to make sure that it seems tender and juicy. The crockpot helps seal in all that moisture and it’s absolute perfection. I add greens, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce to offer this crockpot meatloaf a lot of depth and umami. It’s topped with a sweet-and-tangy glaze, a meatloaf must-have.

No-fuss cooking. With this crockpot meatloaf recipe, all it’s a must to do is combine collectively the components, form it right into a loaf and let the gradual cooker work its magic for just a few hours. When dinnertime rolls round, you simply have to slice and serve!

Good for meal prep. You’ll be able to prep the meatloaf forward of time and easily put it into the gradual cooker whenever you’re prepared. As well as, this meatloaf makes 8 servings, so you may possible get multiple meal out of it. Have meatloaf and Immediate Pot mashed potatoes the primary day, then do meatloaf sandwiches with caramelized onions for lunch the subsequent day. 

Countless customization choices. Whereas this recipe contains conventional components, you may change up the flavour by including totally different herbs and spices or utilizing your individual favourite meatloaf glaze.

Ingredient Notes

• Floor meat: I like to make use of a mix of meats. You should use beef, pork, veal, or turkey. Intention for a very good mix of fattier meats with lean meats. Our favourite alternative is lean beef (93/10) with floor pork which has extra fats. If I’m utilizing all beef, then I purchase beef with the next fats share, akin to 85/15. The thought is to have some fats so the meatloaf isn’t dry however not an excessive amount of fats which makes the meatloaf too greasy.
• Greens: Yellow onion, carrot, celery, and garlic infuse the meatloaf with taste (and sneak in just a few further veggies!). The greens are finely floor in a meals processor so nobody will spot them however they add a lot of taste.
• Eggs: A few giant eggs, together with panko, assist bind the meatloaf collectively.
• Panko bread crumbs: I like panko as a result of the crumbs are airier and coarser. Selfmade bread crumbs could be a superb possibility; they’ve an analogous texture to panko. Keep away from the sawdust-like store-bought bread crumbs.
• Milk: The key ingredient for tender meatloaf, a quarter-cup is all you want.
• Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire sauce is an absolute taste bomb, whereas ketchup provides slightly little bit of tanginess and tomato taste. These are key for a scrumptious crockpot meatloaf recipe.
• Kosher salt and floor black pepper: Freshly floor pepper is far more flavorful than jarred floor pepper.
• Ketchup: Generally used as the bottom of meatloaf glazes, the ketchup will get thick and sticky because the meatloaf cooks.
• Brown sugar: You should use both mild or darkish brown sugar; darkish brown sugar has a extra assertive molasses taste nevertheless it doesn’t make a lot of a distinction on this meatloaf glaze.
• Pink wine vinegar: A splash of vinegar ensures that the glaze can have a candy/tangy taste. Apple cider vinegar additionally works for those who don’t occur to have pink wine vinegar.
• Recent parsley: Non-obligatory, for garnish.

Methods to Make Crockpot Meatloaf

Put together. Coat your gradual cooker with nonstick spray; you should definitely coat the underside generously for straightforward clean-up.

Prep the greens. Clear and roughly reduce the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Put them into the bowl of a meals processor. I like to make use of a mini meals processor; for those who don’t have one, a big processor is okay. Pulse to cut finely. (When you don’t have a meals processor, finely mince the greens or grate them.) Scrape the greens out of the meals processor and measure. You need to have 1 cupful.

Mix meatloaf components. Whisk the eggs in a big mixing bowl. Be certain the yolk and egg white are damaged up in order that they combine evenly into the meatloaf. Add the minced greens to the bowl, then the bottom meat, panko, milk, ¼ cup ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Combine together with your palms. (When you’re squeamish, take into account getting disposable meals prep gloves. Nothing works higher than palms for mixing meatloaf!)

Type meatloaf. Gently type and pat the meatloaf combination right into a loaf form that can match into your gradual cooker. It doesn’t must be good. Place the meatloaf into your gradual cooker.

Cook dinner. Cowl and prepare dinner the meatloaf on low for six hours, or on excessive 3 hours. 

Glaze. Within the final hour of cooking time, whisk collectively the ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar in a small bowl. Unfold it evenly on the highest of the meatloaf.

Proceed cooking. Re-cover the gradual cooker and proceed to prepare dinner the meatloaf till it reaches 165ºF on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle, about 1 hour.

Serve. Use two sturdy spatulas to elevate the meatloaf from the crockpot and switch it to a serving platter. When you’re discovering it tough to get the meatloaf out in a single piece, it’s okay to chop it in half earlier than eradicating it from the crockpot. Garnish with parsley, if desired, then slice it into 8 even slices, and serve. 

Ideas and Variations

• Don’t over-mix. When you over-work the meat combination for meatloaf, it would find yourself robust. Simply combine till the whole lot is mixed. You’ll be able to often inform when it begins holding collectively after which it’s good.
• Use an instant-read thermometer. It’s the one certain technique to know when the meatloaf reaches a protected temperature to eat. Some other methodology and also you’re simply guessing, which may imply over- or under-cooked meatloaf.
• Make it tacky. Tuck mozzarella or cheddar into the center of the meatloaf if you would like a melty, tacky shock inside. (Cheese is the perfect sort of shock for those who ask me.)
• Add herbs and spices. As written, that is your basic all-American meatloaf however you may add Italian seasoning, thyme, dried basil, or another seasonings you want for a unique taste profile. Generally I add southwestern flavors, like cumin and chili powder for a change of tempo, and prime the meatloaf with taco sauce.
• Strive one other glaze. This selfmade BBQ sauce recipe is nice as a meatloaf glaze!
• Use one other cooking methodology. This meatloaf recipe may be cooked in different methods, for those who desire. Strive oven-baked meatloaf or air fryer meatloaf.

Serving Concepts

Potatoes. Serve mashed pink potatoes alongside this meatloaf for a basic pairing or attempt smashed potatoes.

Greens. Throughout the previous few minutes of cooking time for the crockpot meatloaf, make air fryer inexperienced beans or sautéed zucchini.

Salad. For a lighter pairing, serve meatloaf with this home salad.

Bread. One thing about meatloaf makes me crave a facet of Parker Home rolls.

Use leftover crockpot meatloaf to make sandwiches or crumble it up right into a consolation meals meal bowl with steamed inexperienced beans and mashed potatoes.

Refrigerate/Freeze: Retailer leftover meatloaf wrapped in foil or in an hermetic container for 3 to 4 days within the fridge. You’ll be able to freeze this crockpot meatloaf for as much as 3 months; thaw it within the fridge earlier than reheating. That is essential; with out thawing utterly first, the meatloaf received’t reheat evenly.

Reheat: Reheat the meatloaf lined in a 350ºF oven till it’s warmed by means of or warmth up particular person slices within the microwave.

Cook dinner ModeForestall your display from going darkish

• Spray a 6-quart gradual cooker with nonstick spray.

• Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic to a meals processor (a mini one works nicely when you have it). Pulse till finely chopped. It ought to be about 1 cup of vegetable combination after chopping.

  1 medium yellow onion, reduce into quarters, 1 medium carrot, peeled and trimmed, reduce into giant chunks, 1 stalk celery, reduce into giant chunks, 1 clove garlic, peeled

• In a big bowl, whisk the eggs till blended. Add the chopped greens, meat, bread crumbs, milk, ¼ cup ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Combine collectively till nicely mixed, however don’t overmix. (Fingers are actually the perfect device for this half!)

  2 giant eggs, 2 kilos floor meat, 1 cup panko bread crumbs, ¼ cup milk, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon coarsely floor black pepper

• Type right into a loaf and place within the gradual cooker.

• Cook dinner for six hours on low or 3 hours on excessive. Within the final 60 minutes of cooking time, combine glaze components in a small bowl and brush over the meatloaf, and proceed cooking till inside temperature of meatloaf is no less than 165ºF when checked in heart of the meatloaf.

  ¼ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar, 1 tablespoon pink wine vinegar

• Fastidiously take away meatloaf from gradual cooker (we use two sturdy spatulas to do that however you may reduce it in half first for those who’re having troubles) and place on a serving platter. Garnish with contemporary parsley, slice into 8 slices, and serve.

  chopped contemporary parsley for garnishing, elective

• What sort of meat to make use of: Meatloaf may be made with any mixture of floor meat, or only one sort of floor meat. We desire this recipe with a mix of 1 pound lean floor beef (92/8) and 1 pound floor pork. Different mixtures of meat can be utilized however will have an effect on the ultimate consequence. When you select to make use of all beef, we advocate floor beef that’s much less lean akin to 85/15 or 80/20. 
• Vitamin data is calculated utilizing 1 pound lean floor beef (90/10) and 1 pound floor pork.
• No meals processor? Finely mince or grate the greens as an alternative. 
• Extra cooking strategies: This meatloaf recipe may be baked or air fried, too.

Serving: 1slice, Energy: 339kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 24g, Fats: 20g, Saturated Fats: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 8g, Trans Fats: 0.4g, Ldl cholesterol: 125mg, Sodium: 606mg, Potassium: 500mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 1438IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 59mg, Iron: 3mg

Vitamin data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

Share a remark and ranking beneath! I really like listening to what you suppose!