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Southern meatloaf recipe is simple and made with ground beef, bell peppers, cheddar cheese, creole seasoning and the best meatloaf glaze with brown sugar! This juicy old fashioned southern meatloaf is comfort food at its best! Serve it with buttery crackers, green beans or mashed potatoes!
If you like homemade meatloaf, make sure to check my Best Meatloaf recipe, Turkey Meatloaf, Spinach Stuffed meatloaf, Meatloaf with Ritz crackers, gluten free Meatloaf with Oatmeal.
Southern Meatloaf
Not everyone’s a fan of meatloaf—and honestly, I get it. If you’ve had a dry or bland one before, it’s easy to write it off. But trust me, not all meatloaf is created equal. The ingredients and their ratios make a huge difference in texture and flavor.
Most recipes call for baking it in a loaf pan, but I’m not a fan. It’s hard to get a nice look, and even harder to get it out cleanly—even if you grease it well.
I usually use a grill skillet, but this time I baked it on a wire rack over a parchment-lined roasting tray. Total game-changer! The rack keeps the meatloaf elevated so it cooks evenly, and cleanup was a breeze since the drippings went straight onto the lined tray. I was seriously thrilled with how it turned out!
Southern meatloaf recipe with tomato sauce
There is nothing worse than a dry meatloaf. To keep meatloaf moist and juicy, you will need to add some liquid. Many recipes call for milk. But I use tomato sauce (passata) for this southern meatloaf recipe. It adds falvor and makes the meatloaf juicy and tender. You can use homemade passata or store-bought tomato sauce.
Can you make this meatloaf without eggs and breadcrumbs? Yes, you can substitute bread crumbs for ritz crackers or oatmeal for gluten free meatloaf. If you don’t want to add eggs, make sure to add more bread crumbs. But it’ll be denser and meatier than the meatloaf made with eggs.
How to make southern meatloaf
- Preheat you oven to 350 F (175 C). Line a roasting tray with parchment paper and place the wire rack.
- Sauté the veggies until tender in a skillet with butter or ghee. Sautéed veggies give more moisture.
- Combine all the ingredients. Don’t overwork the meat. This can result in dense and tough meatloaf.
- Form a meatloaf using 7 x 9-inch loaf, then turn it out onto the prepared roasting tray with rack.
- Bake for 50 minutes at 350 F (175 C).Higher temps will dry it out.
- Remove from the oven and spread the meatloaf glaze over it. Bake further for 15-10 minutes. Allow to rest before slicing for 10 minutes.
Meatloaf glaze with brown sugar
This meatloaf glaze is made with ketchup, brown sugar and yellow mustard. It is perfectly sweet and tangy. A delicious and irresistible sauce! Simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Bake meatloaf for 50 minutes, remove from the oven, spread the glaze over it and bake for additional 15-20 minutes. The glaze will caramelize and will be fantastic!
Can you freeze meatloaf?
Absolutely! You can freeze both uncooked and cooked meatloaf.
- Uncooked meatloaf: prepare meatloaf per instructions. Place on the cutting board and freeze for 1-2 hours. Wrap the semi-frozen meatloaf with plastic and foil and freeze for up to 4-5 months. You can cook the frozen meatloaf in a slow cooker. Simply place the frozen meatloaf in a slow cooker, glaze with the sauce and cook on LOW for 8 hours. Alternatively defrost meatloaf in the refrigerator for 12 hours. Proceed with the baking instructions below.
- Cooked meatloaf: allow to cool completely. Wrap the whole meatloaf or individual slices with plastic wrap. Place in a freezer-safe container, write the date and freeze for 4-5 months.
How to reheat meatloaf without drying it out?
Meatloaf feeds a crowd, so leftovers are likely—and perfect for next-day sandwiches! To keep it juicy when reheating, use the oven. Cover with foil to retain moisture or leave it uncovered for crispy edges.
How long to reheat meatloaf in the oven?
- Simply preheat your oven to 250 F (120 C).
- Place meatloaf on the wire rack and add 2-3 tablespoons of water on the tray. Cover with foil and heat for 30 minutes or until it is hot through. Alternatively you can use a baking dish instead of a roasting pan.
How long to reheat meatloaf in microwave?
Another option is to use microwave.
If you prefer to reheat it in the microwave, you might end with dry meatloaf. To avoid this, make sure reheat it separately from your meal.
- Place the slices in a microwave safe dish, cover with paper towel and heat for 2 minutes. It can take more or less time, depends on the size of your meatloaf slices and power of your microwave.
- Remove the dish from the microwave and turn the meatloaf slices over. Microwave further for 1 minute or until hot through.
How to reheat meatloaf in a skillet?
It is another great method to reheat meatloaf slices. Melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet, put the slices in one layer and cook over medium-high heat until heated through and crispy. It will be crispy, buttery and not dry at all. You can also add a few tablespoons of beef broth and cook until it evaporates.
- Melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet.
- Arrange the meatloaf slices in one layer and cook for 3 minutes over medium-high heat.
- Flip slices and cook further for 3 minutes or until heated all the way through.
Sides to serve with meatloaf
- Roasted cauliflower
- Healthy broccoli mashed potatoes
- Sauteed mushrooms
- Instant pot mashed cauliflower
- Basmati rice instant pot
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Southern Meatloaf Recipe
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf:
- Ground beef, 80 % lean- 2 lbs (1 kg)
- Butter/ghee- 2 tablespoons
- Onion, finely chopped-1
- Garlic cloves, minced-1 tablespoon
- Bell pepper, finely diced- 3/4 cup
- Bread crumbs- 3/4 cup
- Cheddar cheese, grated-1 cup
- Eggs, lightly beaten- 2
- Tomato passata- 1/2 cup
- Worcestershire sauce-2 tablespoons
- Creole seasoning- 1-2 tablespoons, depends on your taste
- Parsley, finely chopped-2 tablespoons
- Salt – to taste
For the Glaze:
- Ketchup-1/2 cup
- Brown sugar-2 tablespoons
- Yellow mustard-1 tablespoon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 F (175 C). Line a roasting tray (with rack) with parchment paper.
- Melt butter in a skillet or pan. Add the onion, bell pepper and garlic. Saute about 4-5 minutes or until tender. They will be more tender and will give more moisture to the meatloaf. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
- In large bowl combine bread crumbs, cheddar cheese, eggs, tomato passata and sauteed veggies.
- Add the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, creole seasoning, parsley and salt. Mix just until combined. Don’t over work otherwise it will be dense!
- Transfer the meat mixture into a loaf pan and form a 7 x 9-inch loaf, then turn it out onto the prepared roasting tray with rack. Bake for 50 minutes.
- In a medium bowl combine ketchup, brown sugar and yellow mustard.
- Remove meatloaf from the oven and spread the glaze over it. Bake further for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 F (71 C). Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This was the first time I tried a meatloaf recipe and this was so delicious, my whole family enjoyed it! The flavors were great and the meat was so tender. Definitely a classic for a reason!
Thank you for sharing your experience! I am glad you like this meatloaf recipe like we do.
The whole meal came out perfect. My husband went back for seconds so I know it is a keeper! This is the only recipe I’m going to use from now on!
I am happy to hear that Ardelle! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! Tatiana 🙂
I followed the recipe as written. This was my first attempt which turned out perfect and so delicious. My husband and I enjoyed it though we are usually a little picky about meatloaf. Thank you for this recipe!
Thank you, Hailee! -Tatiana 🙂
This recipe is hands down the absolute best meatloaf ever! It comes out perfect every time and is perfect the way it’s written!
Hey Jaci! Thank you so much for your kind words an review, I really appreciate it! Tatiana 🙂
I’ve used this recipe over months and it comes out perfect every time. The texture and flavor are perfect and the recipe is easy to follow.
Hey Abish! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! Tatiana 🙂
My daughter and I loved this meatloaf! I paired this dish with some mashed sweet potatoes and a salad. Definitely would make again!
Hey Kendal! Thank you for your feedback! I am glad you liked it!
I have tried several meatloaf recipes, and this is by far the best. My picky son loved it! Thanks for the great recipe!
It’s great to hear that this meatloaf recipe was a hit with your family, especially your picky son! Thank you for sharing your experience.
I made it tonight for my family and they love it! On top of that, I love that it is so easy to make! It is now in our family favorites recipe book!
Hi Selene! Thank you for sharing your positive experience!