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If you're looking for the perfect "set it and done" recipe to start the week strong, there's no better place to start than my Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe! All it takes is about ten minutes of prep and you're all done. The slow cooker will handle the rest!
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Slow Cooker Meatloaf
When I'm planning out meals for the week, it doesn't take long for my mind to drift to meatloaf. It's one of those meals that can do anything! It's hearty and comforting fresh out of the oven, but you can also use the leftovers for delicious meatloaf sandwiches for the rest of the week.
The best part is, it's so quick and easy to prepare. You can make meatloaf in practically any appliance you can think of, but one of my new favorites is old fashioned meatloaf in the crock pot. Just assemble the loaf, set it to cook, and it's ready by dinner time!
What makes this the best meatloaf recipe ever is that the slow cooker does everything for you. Don't worry about sides; they cook right alongside the loaf! With just a few minutes of prep, the crock pot does all the rest.
Meatloaf Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Italian bread crumbs
- Eggs
- Onion
- Garlic powder
- Dry mustard
- Salt and pepper
- Parsley
- A1 Sauce
- Carrots
- Red potatoes
- Beef broth
- Meatloaf Seasoning
Meatloaf Sauce
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar
- Worcestershire
- Yellow mustard
You can also use my simple meatloaf glaze for less sugar.
How to Make Meatloaf in the Slow Cooker
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the beef, bread crumbs, eggs, onion, garlic powder, dry mustard, parsley, salt, pepper, and A1 sauce. Mix well until evenly combined, but don't over-work.
- Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape, then place it in the middle of the slow cooker. Make sure there's enough space around the sides for potatoes and carrots. Pour the beef broth around the loaf.
- Slice the carrots into large disks or sticks, then place the potatoes and carrots all around the edges of the loaf, and sprinkle meatloaf seasoning over everything. Cover, and set to Low for 7-8 hours or High for 3-3½ hours.
- Once done, combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and brush over the meatloaf, then serve!
Meatloaf in Crockpot Tips
- Make sure to only mix the meat mixture until it's just combined. Over-working the meat can make it too dense and tough.
- Carrots and potatoes are a classic, but I also love adding in sliced onions, rutabaga, and squash.
- If you've got the time, drying out a few pieces of bread in the oven and placing them in the blender with Italian seasoning makes incredible breadcrumbs that will make your meatloaf ultra moist and delicious.
- Let the meatloaf rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing to make sure it soaks up all the juices!
Crock-Pot Meatloaf FAQ
You can absolutely safely cook raw ground beef in a slow cooker, so long as it cooks for long enough that all of the ground beef reaches an internal temperature of at least 160°F. This recipe cooks for 8 hours, more than enough time for the center of the loaf to fully cook.
Moist meatloaf relies on several key steps: specifically, not overworking the meat, and making sure enough moist ingredients are used. A great trick for ensuring moist meatloaf is making your own breadcrumbs with toasted or stale bread and herbs; they'll be much more soft and moist than store bought.
Meatloaf needs a binder to keep it from falling apart. The classic answer to this is to use eggs, which cook as the meatloaf does, perfectly binding the meat together.
Meatloaf can absolutely be cooked in a crockpot, and does well in it! While it may not form a crust, the crock pot is a great option as it retains a ton of moisture, ensuring a very soft and tender meatloaf! If you want a crust on your meatloaf, you can glaze it again after cooking and place it under the oven broiler for about 2-3 minutes to caramelize the glaze. Don't walk away or it will burn!
Classic Meatloaf Recipes
- Keto Meatloaf
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Stuffed Italian Meatloaf
- My favorite Meatloaf Seasoning
- Meatloaf Glaze
For temps, check my Meatloaf Temps guide!
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📋 Recipe
Crockpot Meatloaf
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Ground beef
- ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 2 Eggs
- ¼ cup Yellow onion diced
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon Dry mustard
- ¼ cup Parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 3 Tablespoons A1 Sauce
- 2 cups Carrots
- 3 cups Red potatoes
- ¼ cup Beef broth
- 2 Tablespoons Meatloaf seasoning
Meatloaf sauce:
- ⅓ cup Ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons Brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Yellow mustard
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the beef, bread crumbs, eggs, onion, garlic powder, dry mustard, salt, pepper, parsley, and A1 sauce. Mix well until evenly combined, but don't over-work.2 lbs Ground beef, ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs, 2 Eggs, ¼ cup Yellow onion, 1 teaspoon Garlic powder, 1 Tablespoon Dry mustard, ¼ cup Parsley, 1 teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Pepper, 3 Tablespoons A1 Sauce
- Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape, then place it in the middle of the slow cooker, ensuring there's enough space around the sides for potatoes and carrots. Pour the beef broth around the loaf.¼ cup Beef broth
- Slice the carrots into large disks or sticks, then place the potatoes and carrots all around the edges of the loaf, and sprinkle meatloaf seasoning over everything. Cover, and set to LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 3-3½ hours.2 cups Carrots, 3 cups Red potatoes, 2 Tablespoons Meatloaf seasoning
- Once done, combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and brush over the meatloaf, then serve!⅓ cup Ketchup, 2 Tablespoons Brown sugar, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tablespoon Yellow mustard
Notes
- Make sure to only mix the meat mixture until it's just combined. Over-working the meat can make it too dense and tough.
- Carrots and potatoes are a classic, but I also love adding in sliced onions, rutabaga, and squash.
- If you've got the time, drying out a few pieces of bread in the oven and placing them in the blender with Italian seasoning makes incredible breadcrumbs that will make your meatloaf ultra moist and delicious.
- Let the meatloaf rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing to make sure it soaks up all the juices!
Nutrition
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