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Meatloaf Seasoning enhances any meatloaf recipe it’s used with! Whether you’re making your loaf with pork, beef, or turkey, this simple combination of bold spices will make it downright delicious. And yes, it’s so much better than any of those preservative-packed store-bought options out there.
Make this meatloaf seasoning in 2 minutes with pantry spices. Yield: 12 Tbsp (¾ cup), enough for 8 pounds of meatloaf. I tested this blend across beef, turkey, and air-fryer meatloaf to perfect balance of the 1½ Tablespoons per 1pound for savory, balanced flavor.
Why You’ll Love It
- Works for beef, pork, turkey, and meatballs
- Clean ingredients, budget-friendly mix
- Double batch for gifting or meal prep
I’m back at it with another seasoning blend recipe! This time it’s my famous Meatloaf Seasoning. Making your own spice blends at home just makes all of your recipes taste so much better. This is one of those simple kitchen tricks that once you start, you’ll never stop. I’ve been making it for years to elevate just about all of my every day recipes, like meatloaf!
Whether it’s a new meatloaf recipe, a generational family favorite or one you’re just playing around with and concocting yourself, it’ll benefit greatly from this seasoning mix. It has a touch of sweetness from brown sugar that’s balanced ideally with bolder spices like smoked paprika and dried mustard, among several others. The flavor here is great and it’s so complimentary to all your meatloaf recipes.
The best part? I always have all of the ingredients I need already sitting in my pantry. And if you don’t, no worries, because your shopping list is still pretty short. You’re going to love the bold, yet subtle flavor this seasoning gives your meatloaf!
Simple Pantry Ingredients
This simple blend of pantry staples is inexpensive and oh so mouthwatering! Let’s take a look at what you’ll need:
- Brown sugar – Did you know you can make your own brown sugar? All you need to do is mix 1 cup of white granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of molasses. Adjust for more or less as needed. You can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar.
- Salt – I always recommend using kosher salt over iodized salt, if you can. Also, you can feel free to omit the salt entirely if you’re on a low-sodium diet.
- Smoked paprika – You can swap this with regular paprika if you’d like. However, the slight smokey flavor of smoked paprika adds a really nice touch!
- Garlic powder – Always be careful not to add too much garlic powder. It has a tendency to overpower other spices!
- Celery seed – This brings a pretty wonderful earthy, warm element to the spice mix.
- Dried mustard – It has an aromatic quality and very sharp flavor that really enhances the overall seasoning.
- Thyme – Dried thyme can substituted with dried oregano if you’d like a slightly more Italian flavor.
- Black pepper – Freshly cracked black pepper will yield the most noticeable flavor.
Meatloaf Seasoning Variations
- Smoky: Add 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, in place of sweet paprika.
- Herby: Add ½ teaspoon dried thyme or basil.
- Savory: Add ¼–½ teaspoon celery seed, lightly crushed.
How to Make My Meatloaf Seasoning
Whisk and enjoy. Yes, really, that’s it! Scroll to the bottom of this post to read more detailed instructions for this easy recipe.
- Whisk. Measure all of the ingredients and place them in a small mixing bowl. Whisk until fully combined.
- Store. You now have the very beat meatloaf seasoning, and it only took you a minute (or less) to whisk together. Feel free to use it right away or store it for later.
How To Use Meatloaf Seasoning
It’s so easy to incorporate this seasoning mix into your favorite recipe! Here’s the rule of thumb – add 1 1/2 tablespoons of meatloaf seasoning per pound of meat. Feel free to add more or less as you see fit.
It works well with Juicy Air Fryer Meatloaf, easy Crockpot meatloaf, turkey meatloaf, and so much more. (If you haven’t made this Bacon wrapped meatloaf yet, are you even living your best life?)
How to Store Leftovers
Store airtight in a cool, dark spot. Best within 3 months for peak aroma; use up to 6 months if spices were fresh and jar stays tightly sealed.
Label idea: “Meatloaf Seasoning – Made [MM/DD] • Best by [MM/DD].”
Usage ideas Beyond Meatloaf
- Roasted potatoes or Roasted Vegetables (about 1 teaspoon per lb, then salt to taste)
- Meatballs (same measurement as meatloaf per lb)
- Burger patties (1 teaspoon per ½ lb)
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Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe
Equipment
- 1 bowl
- storage jar
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tablespoon Celery Seed
- 1/2 tablespoon Dried Mustard
- 1/2 tablespoon Thyme
- 1/4 tablespoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl.
- Whisk to combine.
- Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
Notes
- Use: 1½ Tbsp per 1 lb ground meat (3 Tbsp per 2 lb).
- For turkey or extra-lean blends, you can add ½ tsp kosher salt and ½ tsp smoked paprika for richness.
- Taste & adjust: Meat blends vary — make a mini test patty (microwave/quick skillet) and adjust salt to preference.
- Label the jar with made and best-by dates (see storage guidance above).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Use 1½ Tbsp per 1 lb ground meat (3 Tbsp per 2 lb). For turkey or very lean blends, you may want to add a pinch more salt.
Best flavor within 3 months; still good up to 6 months when stored airtight away from heat and light. If aroma’s faint, potency has dropped.
Yes, use less salt or omit salt in the mix and season the meatloaf to taste at the end of mixing by making a small test patty in a skillet or the microwave.
Absolutely. The 1½ Tbsp per lb rule holds. For turkey, the Smoky variation adds welcome depth.
Yes, this scales perfectly. Keep the same ratios and note the new yield on your jar label.
