Want an easy, hearty, comforting dinner without breaking a sweat? This easy Crockpot Meatloaf is truly the set it and forget it family meal you’re going to want every single night of the week. Tender, juicy meatloaf with a sweet, tangy glaze is waiting for you at dinner time. Minimal hands on time…..and minimal clean up!

Meatloaf with two slices on a white platter.


Crockpot Meatloaf

I am planning to have some easier dinners on the menu for the rest of the week. Dinners that, basically, cook all by themselves with an easy to clean mess they may have left behind. Dinners like this Easy Crock pot Meatloaf recipe are perfect for busy weeknights.

One of my favorite comfort foods, homemade meatloaf, is easier than ever to get on the dinner table with the help of your slow cooker or crockpot! Tender ground beef and sausage are the perfect combination of flavors that make the best meatloaf recipe ever and classic comfort food.

Ingredients

The ingredients used in this slow cooker meatloaf recipe are, basically, kitchen staples. I like to keep it simple so I can whip this recipe up on a moments notice. To keep things from drying out while the meatloaf is in the crockpot I add ingredients that will help keep things moist and juicy just as I do in our favorite meatloaf recipe for the Best Meatloaf!

  • Ground Beef – Use a lean ground beef, 80/20 is best for a juicy meatloaf. You can substitute the ground beef for ground turkey, if you prefer.
  • Sausage – Italian sausage adds great flavor and ensures a tender meatloaf.
  • Onion – Use a sweet onion like a vidalia onion or a yellow onion for a milder flavor.
  • Garlic – Whole garlic cloves minced are best.
  • Egg – The binding agent for this meatloaf is egg, be sure to use a large egg at room temperature.
  • Bread Crumbs – I like to use panko breadcrumbs for a less dense meatloaf. They’re lighter and airy.
  • Tomato Paste – The secret ingredient, I use tomato paste for added depth of flavor.
  • Seasoning – Italian seasoning, kosher salt and black pepper are my go-to spices but you can add garlic powder, onion powder and paprika, too.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – Worcestershire sauce enhances the ground beef, it can be substituted with soy sauce, fish sauce or coconut aminos.

For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.

Two slices of crockpot meatloaf on a white plate with mashed potatoes.

How to Make Crockpot Meatloaf

Making meatloaf in the slow cooker is nothing new in this house and it’s actually my favorite way to cook a classic meatloaf recipe instead of fussing with a loaf pan.

  1. Blend together the round beef, sausage, onion, garlic, egg, panko, Worcestershire, tomato paste and seasoning in a large bowl until well combined.
  2. Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar and mustard in a small bowl until smooth.
  3. Line the inside of your crockpot or slow cooker with aluminum foil creating a little handle at the top of the foil so you have some leverage when it’s time to remove the meatloaf from the appliance.
  4. Form the meat mixture into an oval shape using clean hands and place the formed loaf in the bottom of the slow cooker. Spoon the glaze over the meatloaf to coat.
  5. Cook the meatloaf in the slow cooker on high for a cooking time of 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours. Check for doneness with an instant read thermometer, the internal temperature of the meatloaf should register 160˚F.
  6. Carefully lift the meatloaf out of the crockpot with the foil and place on a baking sheet.
  7. Place the meatloaf under the broiler on high for 3-4 minutes until the glaze begins to bubble and caramelize.
  8. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
  9. Slice and serve immediately with any additional glaze.

When you blend all the ingredients together and form into a loaf being careful not to over mix the beef. Overmixing can cause the meatloaf to toughen and dry out while cooking.

You can, literally, have this meatloaf formed and in the slow cooker within five minutes!

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Crockpot with a meatloaf in foil inside the crockpot.

How to Make Meatloaf Sauce

This easy Meatloaf sauce recipe is the very same one my mom made when I was little. I made it a little more swanky with the addition of balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard.

Sometimes I use apple cider vinegar, sometimes, Champagne vinegar…..it really depends on my mood and what I have in the pantry at the moment. But the balsamic vinegar adds a bit of rich sweetness that I really, really love.

Classic meatloaf recipes are almost always served up with a big, fluffy pile of mashed potatoes and that is no different in my house. But we also like to have a little something green, too. It’s like a tradition.

Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar and mustard….that’s it. Meatloaf sauce!

Crock pot meatloaf sliced on a plate with mashed potatoes.

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover meatloaf is our favorite thing the next day. Transfer any leftover meatloaf to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. We love making these Grilled Meatloaf Sandwiches for lunch.

You can freeze leftover meatloaf in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for up to 2 months.

Crockpot meatloaf on a platter with two plates with meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

The Best Sides for Meatloaf

More Easy Family Recipes

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Meatloaf with two slices on a white platter.

Get the Recipe: Easy Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
10 minutes
Total Time: 7 hours 40 minutes
Tender and juicy, this easy Crockpot Meatloaf is dinnertime goals. So simple to make and the most amazingly flavorful meatloaf ever made.
5 from 4 votes
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
  • 1/2 lb italian sausage, casing removed
  • 1 cup diced sweet onion
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp ground pepper

Meatloaf Sauce

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard

Instructions 

  • Line the slow cooker with aluminum foil and set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, sausage, onion, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until well blended. DO NOT OVER MIX.
  • Place the meatloaf mixture in the slow cooker and shape into an oval loaf shape (or round if your crockpot is round). 
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar and mustard.
  • Spoon half the glaze over the meatloaf to coat. 
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low. Check for doneness with an instant read thermometer. The meatloaf is done when it registers 160 degrees F.
  • Using the foil, lift the meatloaf out of the slow cooker and place on a baking sheet. 
  • Transfer the meatloaf to the oven and broil on high for 3-4 minutes until the glaze begins to caramelize.
  • Remove the meatloaf from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
  • Serve the meatloaf with the remaining glaze.

Video

YouTube video
Calories: 412kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 94mg, Sodium: 973mg, Potassium: 617mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 36g, Vitamin A: 255IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 77mg, Iron: 3.8mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American