26 Meat Loaf Recipes That Are Anything but Boring

Read Time: 15 mins

26 Meat Loaf Recipes That Are Anything but Boring1/26 Mom’s Meat Loaf 216 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Mom made the best meat loaf, and now I do too. When I first met my husband, he wasn’t a meat loaf guy, but this recipe won him over. —Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas Learning how to make meat loaf comes down to using the right meat and adding a few binding ingredients. This crowd-pleasing recipe does just that and

This air-fryer meat loaf cooks quickly

wins every time—whether it’s served with mashed potatoes and buttery homemade rolls or sandwiched between two pieces of bread for lunch. 2/26 Air-Fryer Meat Loaf 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Air-Fryer Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 2 mini meat loaves Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you’re looking for a hearty meal perfect for two, then look no further. This air-fryer meat loaf cooks quickly. Plus, it’s easy to double for sandwiches the next day. —Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas There’s nothing our trusty air fryer can’t handle, including making a

killer meat loaf

killer meat loaf. Juicy and well-seasoned, it cooks in about half the time as an oven-baked loaf and employs a gorgeous glaze to boot. 3/26 Moist & Savory Meat Loaf 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 35 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Stop searching for a go-to meat loaf recipe. This is it! Your family will be delighted with this mixture of beef, pork and sauteed onion, with a sweet- and-tangy sauce baked onto the top. Cheese crackers are the secret ingredient in this one. —Simple & Delicious Test Kitchen This

My husband and three children count

savory meat loaf checks all the delicious boxes for a dinner the whole fam will love. With a sweet, tangy sauce baked onto the top and crushed-up cheese crackers studded throughout, everyone will be reaching for seconds. 4/26 Li’l Cheddar Meat Loaves 210 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Li’l Cheddar Meat Loaves Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I got this recipe from my aunt when I was a teen and have made these miniature loaves many times since. My husband and three children count

this main dish among their favorites

this main dish among their favorites. —Kathy Bowron, Cocolalla, Idaho Everything is better in mini form, including meat loaf. Whether you’re whipping up a batch for the kiddos or trying to serve smaller portions to the adults, these tiny cheddar loaves are sure to hit the spot and are ready in under an hour. Pair them with these mini pies and tarts for an equally cute dessert. 5/26 Copycat Cracker Barrel Meat Loaf 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Copycat Cracker Barrel Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 12 servings Go to

Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you’ve never been a fan of meat loaf, we’re pretty sure this version is about to change your mind. While some homemade meat loaves tend to be dry and not-so-tasty, this copycat entree is packed with flavor and melt-in-your-mouth goodness. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen IYKYK when it comes to Cracker Barrel’s legendary meat loaf, and this copycat version is a tried-and-true dupe that, dare we say, might even beat the original. Packed with melty cheese, chopped veggies and buttery Ritz crackers, there’s a reason this is one of our most-clicked recipes. 6/26 Meat

I’m often asked for the recipe

Loaf from the Slow Cooker 16 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Josh Rink for Taste of Home Total Time 3 hours 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This simple, easy-to-make meat loaf is one of my personal favorites. I’m often asked for the recipe. —Laura Burgess, Mount Vernon, South Dakota Making a meat loaf from scratch may seem daunting, but not when you have a set-it-and-forget-it appliance like a slow cooker to do all the work. This hands-off dish cooks in the background, and cleanup is effortless—no wonder it’s one of our favorite ground beef

slow-cooker recipes

slow-cooker recipes. 7/26 Home-Style Glazed Meat Loaf 23 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Home-Style Glazed Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Grated carrots and cheese add a hint of color to this down-home classic. If there are leftovers, we use them in meat loaf sandwiches the next day! —Sandy Etelamaki, Ishpeming, Michigan You’ll never have to worry about dry meat loaf again once you taste this glazed beauty. It’s perfectly moist in the center and smothered in a silky sauce on top. Instead

Shape the meat into loaves and bake them on a grill

of topping the loaf with ketchup alone, we simmer ketchup, brown sugar and Dijon mustard together, then coat it for an unforgettable sweet and tangy flavor. 8/26 Grilled Meat Loaf 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 2 loaves (4 servings each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Grilled Meat Loaf is the perfect summertime twist on a comforting family favorite. Shape the meat into loaves and bake them on a grill. Ketchup brushed over the meat lends a little sweetness to each slice. —Catherine Carpenter, Barnesville, Ohio Grilled meat loaf is the

perfect summertime twist on a comforting family favorite and only requires 10 minutes of prep time. A bit of ketchup brushed over the smoky meat lends a sweet note to each slice and oats sneak in an extra dose of protein. Be sure to use quick-cooking versus old-fashioned oats since they’re precooked and will soften with the moisture of the meat loaf. 9/26 Ham Loaf 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Ham Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I COPIED this ham loaf recipe

exactly the way Grandma has written it in her worn cookbook

exactly the way Grandma has written it in her worn cookbook. The only difference today is that I can’t get home-smoked ham like those Grandpa used to cure in his old-fashioned smokehouse. But that never matters to hungry folks at the table—Grandma’s recipe is a winner every time! —Esther Mishler, Hollsopple, Pennsylvania Never heard of ham loaf? This retro recipe is said to have originated in Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch communities when butchers turned leftover ham into loaves that families could purchase to glaze and bake at home. You could even add pineapple to the mix for extra sweetness or

hot pepper jelly for a kick

hot pepper jelly for a kick. If you like the sound of this ham loaf recipe, don’t miss our favorite vintage recipes from the ’50s. 10/26 Cheeseburger Meat Loaf 23 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Cheeseburger Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I created this cheeseburger meat loaf one day when I wanted to make cheeseburgers—my husband’s favorite—but it was too chilly to grill outside. I’ve served it numerous times since then, and it never fails to get rave reviews. Even

your most finicky eater will enjoy this oven-baked main dish

your most finicky eater will enjoy this oven-baked main dish. —Paula Sullivan, Barker, New York We love comfort food mashups, and cheeseburger meat loaf definitely falls into that category. Take your favorite part of a burger (ahem, the cheese!), roll it into the meat and top the roll with it. Just add a side of homemade french fries to round out the meal. Nancy Mock for Taste of Home, Getty Images Ina Garten’s Meat LoafGo to Recipe What’s more comforting than a classic, family-favorite meat loaf? The Barefoot Contessa‘s unfussy recipe recruits ground chuck, onions, breadcrumbs and fresh thyme to

craft a simple loaf, with ketchup spread over the top

craft a simple loaf, with ketchup spread over the top. 11/26 12/26 Instant Pot Meat Loaf 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Instant Pot Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I used to make this recipe a lot when my kids were growing up and I was working. It’s easy to make and a family favorite. Several loaves can be made ahead and frozen for busy weeks. Thaw a loaf in the refrigerator overnight, and then it’s ready to cook. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California Instant

This lentil loaf is so flavorful, you won’t miss the meat

Pot meat loaf captures all the flavor of a traditional meat loaf, yet it’s so easy to make, thanks to a fast cooking method that seals in moisture. Although cooking time may vary depending on your appliance, you’ll know the loaf is ready to glaze once the internal temperature reaches 160°F. 13/26 Lentil Loaf 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This lentil loaf is so flavorful, you won’t miss the meat. And it’s packed with fiber and nutrients. —Tracy Fleming, Phoenix, Arizona You won’t even

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