Easy Crockpot meatloaf recipe with glaze is an easy meal. Make as a slow cooker turkey meatloaf or as a ground beef loaf with a barbecue sauce on top. We love this for dinner. If you are looking for easy Crockpot recipes to add to your meal planning this is a cheap one pot meal.
This is How Long to Cook Meatloaf if you have a busy day ahead but a bit to prepare this in the morning. You could even prep everything the day before. A high protein meal that is family friendly and inexpensive to make. (post may contain affiliate links present)
Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipe
We make a lot of dishes with ground beef in our Crock. If I want it cooked in a solid loaf to slice I make this. If I am all about comfort food and a cheesy meal I will make our Crockpot Hamburger Casserole that is like absolutely to die for, but not quite as healthy as this one here. ๐
I am sure you have made this the old fashioned way, in a loaf pan baked in the oven. Of course that is delish but it is time to think outside of the box yโall! We have cooked it in a muffin tin and even made Bundt Pan Meatloaf one time which was surprisingly a hit with lots of crispy edges all the way around.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground beef is the base of all meatloaf ingredients
- 1 c bread crumbs, Italian style we like
- Milk or dairy free alternative
- 2 eggs added at room temperature
- 1/2 c onions diced
- Bell pepper diced
- Celery diced we like
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/4 c ketchup
- Worchestershire sauce
- 1 tsp thyme and oregano
- Salt and pepper for basic seasonings
Variations
For the meat you can use a mix of spicy ground sausage and beef, ground turkey or you can even make our Ground Venison Meatloaf and cook it this way too.
Glaze
This is a must in our household. We donโt skip it but you could if you wanted lower calories or didnโt have these items on hand. This also serves as a great spread if you are making meatloaf sandwiches after you store leftovers and reheat next day. You need; 1 tbsp dijon mustard, ketchup and brown sugar.
Crockpot Turkey Meatloaf
If you wanted a lower fat version like our Instant Pot Turkey Meatloaf you could use other meats. I will say that less fat means it wonโt bind together as well, and the flavor isnโt as rich. Adding a sauce on top will help the taste for sure but beef is by far our favorite.
If you wanted to make this a 2 Pound Spicy Meatloaf you would just want to add some red pepper flakes to the sauce on top. You could add some into the meatloaf mixture too if you wanted a lot of heat but I think the topping is enough. In the event you only wanted to use 1 pound of meat the timing would need to be cut.
How to Slow Cook Meatloaf in Crockpot
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ingredients
- Shape into a loaf shape
- Line with aluminum foil for easier removal later.
- Lay inside (can be put directly inside too)
- In a small bowl, create the glaze. Spread the glaze evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
- Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 4-6 hours.
- It should reach at least 160ยฐF inside before serving with mashed potatoes or veggies.
Cooking Tips
Be careful not to over-mix meat mixture, as this can make it tough. If you donโt like barbecue sauce you can opt to cover the top with Brown Gravy for Meatloaf instead.
How to crisp
If you wanted to throw it under the broiler on a baking sheet at the end to get a bit of a crisp on top then I would cook to 155 degrees since it will get more heat later on. The thickness will vary between you and I making it which will tweak it slightly but about 5 hours is usually about right.
If you needed to make a Meatloaf Without Breadcrumbs you would follow these directions instead. It wouldnโt really change the cook time but it uses rolled oats as the binder instead if you prefer that method.
In the event that you love differentโฆโฆour Stove Top Stuffing Meatloaf will fit that bill. Yes you use that boxed mix that has a ton of flavor as your binder and itโs out of this world.
You always want it to cool to room temperature first. Only slice what you are serving initially for best results. Wrap with plastic wrap to keep nice and moist, then insert into a freezer bag. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Slice and reheat within that time to enjoy the next day for lunch or on a traditional meatloaf sandwich.
What to make with leftovers
Many times I will dice up what is left and make ground beef casserole with potatoes that is great for a brunch item or dinner. You can chop up and make chili with it too which is super easy.
Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground beef, or ground turkey, or mix of ground sausage and beef together
- 1 c breadcrumbs
- 1/2 c milk
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 c onions, diced
- 1/2 c bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 c celery, diced
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/4 c ketchup
- 1 tbsp worchestershire sauce
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Meatloaf Glaze
- 1/2 c ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, chopped onion, bell pepper, celery, minced garlic, 1/4 cup ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Use your hands or a spoon to mix everything thoroughly. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can make the meatloaf tough.
- Shape the mixture into a loaf shape that will fit comfortably in your slow cooker. You can either place it directly in the slow cooker or line the slow cooker with aluminum foil for easier removal later.
- In a small bowl, mix together the 1/2 cup of ketchup, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard to create the glaze. Spread the glaze evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on the LOW setting for 4-6 hours. The exact cooking time may vary depending on your slow cooker, so it's best to check the internal temperature of the meatloaf. It should reach at least 160ยฐF inside before serving.
- Once the meatloaf is cooked through, carefully remove it from the slow cooker using the foil (if used) and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
