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A baked old-fashioned meatloaf recipe, sliced and ready to serve on a white plate.

Old-Fashioned Meatloaf Recipe (Grandma's Secret)

This classic meatloaf recipe, often dubbed 'Grandma's Secret,' features a tender, flavorful meatloaf with a sweet and tangy glaze. Perfect for a comforting family meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatloaf Mixture
  • 1 ½ lbs ground beef 80/20 lean
  • ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • ½ cup finely diced onion
  • ¼ cup finely diced green bell pepper optional
  • 2 garlic minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup ketchup for mixture
Glaze
  • ¼ cup ketchup for glaze
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar for glaze
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar for glaze

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Loaf pan
  • Large bowl
  • Wire rack
  • Baking sheet
  • Small bowl
  • Instant-read thermometer

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a loaf pan or a wire rack on a baking sheet.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
  3. Stir in breadcrumbs, diced onion, minced garlic, and bell pepper; let it sit for about 5 minutes to absorb liquid.
  4. Add the ground beef and ¼ cup of ketchup to the bowl and gently mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
  5. Press the mixture into the prepared loaf pan or shape it into a free-form loaf on the wire rack.
Baking
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ¼ cup ketchup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar for the glaze.
  2. Spread half of the glaze over the meatloaf and bake for 45 minutes.
  3. Remove from the oven, apply the remaining glaze, and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
Resting
  1. Once cooked, remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Notes

For best results, avoid overmixing the meatloaf mixture to ensure a tender texture.