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

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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 Crockpot Meatloaf recipe.

One of my favorite comfort foods, homemade meatloaf, is easier than ever to get on the 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.

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 traditional meatloaf recipe.

  1. Blend together the round beef, sausage, onion, garlic, egg, panko, Worcestershire, tomato paste and seasoning until well combined.
  2. Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar and mustard until smooth.
  3. Line the inside of your crockpot or slow cooker with 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 meatloaf into an oval shape and place in the slow cooker. Spoon the glaze over the meatloaf to coat.
  5. Cook the meatloaf in the slow cooker on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours. Check for doneness with an instant read thermometer.
  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.

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

We love this programmable slow cooker with auto warm setting by CrockPot! It’s a great way to make dinners easy and keep them warm until you’re ready to eat. We pull this one out at least once a week and the price can’t be beat!

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Crockpot with a meatloaf in foil inside the crockpot.

Ingredients You Need for Crockpot Meatloaf

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 recipe for the Best Meatloaf!

Here’s what you’ll need for the best crockpot meatloaf:

  • lean ground beef (I like to use 80/20)
  • italian sausage – This is where you get some added moisture from the fat. Use hot sausage to add some spice!
  • eggs
  • panko bread crumbs – Lighter Panko Bread Crumbs keep the meatloaf from becoming dense.
  • diced onion – Sweet onions add a nice flavor to the savory meatloaf.
  • italian seasoning
  • garlic
  • tomato paste
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • parsley
  • salt and pepper

Just 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.

Crock pot meatloaf sliced on a plate with mashed potatoes.

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!

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

Here are my favorite side dishes to serve with easy Crockpot Meatloaf:

Mashed Potatoes in a blue and white bowl topped with chives and a pat of butter.

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 2 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