This easy Crock Pot Meatloaf always cooks up super tender and moist with a delicious tomato-based three-ingredient glaze. The smell alone will send you over the top and leave you longing for more. It is always a welcome sight on the dinner table and one of my family’s favorites.
I love to serve this classic comfort food with twice baked potatoes and southern green beans. Or simply enjoy the leftovers in something as delightfully tasty as a Grilled Meatloaf Sandwich with chipotle ketchup.
Why cook meatloaf in a slow cooker?
It cooks slowly and easily making the most tender meatloaf. The delectable smell emanating from the slow cooker is reason enough to make it. Be sure not to overcook it though. Cook the meatloaf until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
How to cook a meatloaf in the crock pot
Start by stirring together the ketchup, barbecue sauce, and honey. Then set that aside for a bit. Using your hands gently mix together the ground beef, onion, garlic, bread crumbs, milk, eggs, parsley, crushed red pepper, marjoram, dried thyme, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Place a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil in the bottom of your crock pot. Then add the meatloaf mixture and shape it into a loaf. Now brush on a layer of the glaze and cover the crock pot and turn to low.
Cook on low for about 6 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Baste it several times with the sauce. When done carefully lift the meatloaf out of the crock pot using the aluminum foil. Place it on a baking sheet and very carefully using the foil drain off the excess moisture and fat. Then if desired place under the broiler for a few minutes to seal the glaze and lightly brown the top.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Store the glaze covered in the refrigerator when not in use.
- Avoid tasting the glaze after brushing on the meatloaf to avoid any cross-contamination with raw meat.
- Do not use lean ground beef for meatloaf. I always use 80/20 which is 80% lean and 20% fat. Fat gives it flavor and makes it tender and moist.
- You can substitute ground turkey or ground pork for the ground beef.
- Always mix and form meatloaf with a gentle hand.
- I recommend using the low setting on your crock pot for a more tender slow cooked loaf.
- Use a meat thermometer to read when the meatloaf has reached 160 degrees. Do not overcook.
- Broilers are very unpredictable, especially in older ovens. Stay close by and monitor the progress.
- Let the meatloaf cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting it into slices.
- Store leftover meatloaf in a zipper seal bag or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave in short intervals at reduced power until warm.
Other ways to cook this meatloaf recipe
- Baked – preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Bake for about 1 hour and 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
- Smoked – omit the milk and substitute 1/2 cup ketchup in the meatloaf mix. Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees for indirect smoking. Place meatloaf on an aluminum foil-covered baking sheet. Cover the loaf with half the glaze and place it in the smoker. Brush with the remaining glaze after about 2 hours of smoking. Smoke until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.
- Muffin Tin – omit the milk and substitute 1/2 cup ketchup in the meatloaf mix. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add mixture to ungreased muffin tins and brush with half the glaze. Bake for 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Brush with the remaining glaze halfway through the baking time.
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Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe
Ingredients
Glaze
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
Meatloaf
- 2 lbs. ground beef
- 1 sweet onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ⅔ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon marjoram or oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Stir together the ketchup, barbecue sauce, and honey; set aside.
- Using your hands gently mix together the ground beef, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, parsley, crushed red pepper, marjoram, dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Place a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil in the bottom of your crock pot. Add the meatloaf mixture and shape it into a loaf. Brush on a layer of the glaze. Cover the crock pot and turn to low.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Baste it several times with the sauce. Once fully cooked carefully lift the meatloaf out of the crock pot using the aluminum foil. Place it on a baking sheet and very carefully using the foil drain off the excess moisture and fat.
- If desired place under the broiler for a few minutes to seal the glaze and lightly brown the top.
Notes
- Store the glaze covered in the refrigerator when not in use.
- Avoid tasting the glaze after brushing on the meatloaf to avoid any cross-contamination with raw meat.
- Do not use lean ground beef for meatloaf. I always use 80/20 which is 80% lean and 20% fat. Fat gives it flavor and makes it tender and moist.
- You can substitute ground turkey or ground pork for the ground beef.
- Always mix and form meatloaf with a gentle hand.
- I recommend using the low setting on your crock pot for a more tender slow cooked loaf.
- Use a meat thermometer to read when the meatloaf has reached 160 degrees. Do not overcook.
- Broilers are very unpredictable, especially in older ovens. Stay close by and monitor the progress.
- Let the meatloaf cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting it into slices.
- Store leftover meatloaf in a zipper seal bag or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave in short intervals at reduced power until warm.
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Karen T
Omg, this smells amazing. .it is 90+ degrees here so the perfect thing on this hot day. I have been craving a cold meatloaf 🥪
Can’t wait until it is finished!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Karen! Enjoy!
Laurie
Hi, could o put the meatloaf on a trivet or rack so that the oil is beneath it or does it have to be on the bottom for maximum heat to cook propu
Beth Pierce
Yes you can put a rack or trivet in there.
Joan
For a 6 qt crock pot would I need to double this recipe? I want to make it for our church potluck. Would I cook it for the same time?
Beth Pierce
I have never doubled the recipe because it is large meatloaf. I think you would be better off doing two meatloaves.
Ashley Thompson
Meatloaf is one of our family favorites! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Ashley! Enjoy!!
Karla Weber
Meatloaf turned out great! I cooked in a 9 x 13 crock with 2 potatoes cut up. Yum!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Karla! So glad that you liked it.
Everything Enchanting
This Crock Pot Meatloaf looks so delicious 😍 I’ll have to give this recipe a try soon!
Sol
Wow, I’m so amazed! I have never tried making our own meatloaf but seeing your recipe makes me inspired to try this soon!
Marysa
This sounds like a nice go-to recipe for a busy weeknight. Also a nice recipe for wintertime! I haven’t used my crock pot in ages.
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
I’ve never made a meatloaf before. It’s great that it seems to be super easy to make and tasty too. I’d love to try this!
brianne
This is perfect to serve with baked or mashed potatoes. I cannot wait to make these
Terri
I love the idea of making meatloaf in the crockpot. We like meatloaf but don’t like to watch it for an hour after we get home.
Tara
I like making meals in the slow cooker. This is something that my husband would love for dinner.
Tasheena
I love crock pot recipes, looking forward to giving this a try.
Amber Myers
I need to try this for sure. I love when I can use my crock pot and we love meatloaf here!
Samantha
What a great recipe! Going to have to save this. My husband loves meatloaf!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Samantha! Enjoy!!
Kim
This was simply incredible! My neighbor stopped by for something and I thought she was going to break her neck leaning further into the door to smell it. 😆 The picky boyfriend and the equally finicky teenager loved it! The only downside was they ate it all and I didn’t have any leftovers to take for lunch haha
Thanks for such a delicious recipe, it’ll definitely be one I put into our regular rotation!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Kim so glad that you, your boyfriend, and your son liked it. That was funny about the neighbor!
Jacq
Prepared this for my parents and they adored it! Was really easy to stick it all together. They left happy with the link to the recipe. Thanks!