Easy Southern Meatloaf Recipe Prepped In 10 Minutes

This southern meatloaf recipe combines seasoned ground beef with bread crumbs, fixings, and of course, ketchup. The result is a rich, flavorful meatloaf that's so tender and juicy. Honestly, this is one of the easiest and most delicious meatloaf recipes you can make! 

The Best Southern Meatloaf Recipe

I can confidently say this southern meatloaf recipe is one of the best meatloaf recipes you'll ever make. There's just something about the blend of spices and seasonings that gives this southern style meatloaf a one-of-a-kind flavor you just can't get in any other recipe.

This southern meatloaf is not just delicious though, it's also a breeze to put together. 10 minutes of hands on prepping is all you need to make it. The rest of the time is passive baking in the oven. 

By the way, while the meatloaf is cooking, you'll have plenty of time to whip up some equally delicious sides to complete your meal. Some of my favorite sides to make with this southern meatloaf are this stick of butter rice, these twice baked potatoes, Martha White cornbread, crack green beans, and my favorite, these grit cakes.

With that said though, you don't even have to make anything to go with this meatloaf recipe. It's incredible all by itself.

Ingredients

So, this southern meatloaf is actually made with many of the same ingredients as classic meatloaf. We'll just be adding a few special ones to give it an elevated flavor. 

Anyway, here's everything you'll need to make this southern meatloaf recipe:

• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 lb. Ground Beef
• ½ cup Bread crumbs
• ½ Onion, chopped
• ½ Green Bell Pepper, chopped
• 2 Eggs, beaten
• 1 Garlic Clove, minced
• 1 tbsp. Oregano
• 1 tsp. Dried Basil
• ¼ tsp. Black Pepper
• ½ tsp. Salt
• ⅓ cup Ketchup
• Parsley to serve

Pretty common stuff, right?

I actually use many of the same ones to make this Texas chili, meatloaf with stuffing, and ham loaf recipe. They're two more of my favorite meatloaf recipes, so you'll definitely want to give those a try next!

Now, just so you know, you can use whatever ground beef you want for this recipe. I personally prefer 80% lean ground beef for more flavor, but you can use leaner ground beef if you'd like to make it lower in calories. Honestly, you can even swap the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork if you'd like.

How To Make Southern Meatloaf

As I mentioned, this southern meatloaf recipe is as easy as homemade meatloaf gets! A little mixing is the only work you'll have to do. And, again, it should only take you 10 minutes - or less - to do.

Then, after that, the oven will take care of all of the heavy lifting. So you can sit back and relax, or work on those tasty sides I mentioned earlier. 

Anyway, let's stop wasting time, and I'll show you how to make southern meatloaf!

Step 1: Prep Work

First things first preheat the oven to 350°F (180ºC).

Then, take out a large bowl and add all of the meatloaf ingredients (except ketchup) to it, and mix everything together until fully combined.

Step 2: Shape The Meatloaf

Now it's time to shape the meatloaf. To do this, either line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or grease a loaf pan.

Then, use your hands to shape the mixture into a meatloaf shape and place it on the baking sheet.

However, if you're using a loaf pan, you'll just want to carefully form the meat mixture in the pan.

Step 3: Add The Ketchup

Next, you're going to add the classic part of meatloaf that makes it so juicy and rich in flavor - the ketchup!

So, at this point, you'll want to evenly cover the top of the meatloaf with the ketchup.

By the way, if you want an even sweeter - more caramelized - meatloaf, you can mix a little brown sugar with the ketchup to make that happen. It's really delicious and it's something we like to do from time to time at our house when we make it.

Step 4: Bake The Meatloaf

Now that the loaf is all prepped it's time to get it in the oven and bake it. And this southern meatloaf will take about 50-60 minutes for it too cook completely. The main thing you're looking for is that the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Then, once your meatloaf has finished cooking, you can slice it and serve it warm with a garnish of fresh parsley on top.

How To Store Southern Meatloaf

This recipe for southern meatloaf will make about 4 servings - the perfect amount for a hearty family dinner.

And, as good as it is fresh out of the oven, I honestly think it's even better leftover. In fact, it's so good, I like to make a double batch of this meatloaf recipe so I can serve it for dinner later in the week as well.

Now, as far as storing it goes, you can store the leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. But, if you want to keep it for even longer, you can freeze it for up to 4 months.

How To reheat meatloaf

The best way to reheat this meatloaf is to put it back in the oven. To do that, preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C) and place the meatloaf in a baking dish. Cover it with aluminum foil and heat for about 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.

Now, if you're reheating just a slice or two, the best way is to heat it in the air fryer. First, preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Then heat for about 4-5 minutes or until warm. 

FAQs about this southern meatloaf recipe

What is the secret to moist meatloaf?

The secret to moist meatloaf is two-fold. The first is using ingredients that add moisture to the meat. The eggs and Worcestershire sauce provide the perfect amount of moisture and fat to help guarantee your meatloaf comes out moist and tender. The other secret is to make sure you cook the meatloaf until just done - you don't want to leave it in the oven any longer, so make sure you check it with a meat thermometer. Pulling the meatloaf out of the oven at 155°F and letting it rest up to 160°F is almost guaranteed to keep it moist.

What does milk do to meatloaf?

In addition to the eggs and Worcestshire sauce, milk can be added to the meatloaf to keep it moist. Milk is not necessary for this recipe, but it is used in other meatloaf recipes.

What is Elvis Presley meatloaf?

Elvis Presley's meatloaf is made similarly to a standard meatloaf recipe, with the secret ingredient of wheat germ added. The wheat germ acts as a filler that adds texture and fiber to a classic southern style meatloaf recipe.

Wrapping It Up

This classic southern meatloaf recipe is hands down one of the easiest weeknight dinner recipes you can make. Almost the entire time it takes to make is baking. Plus, it's not just super easy to make, it's super delicious too. Everyone you make it for is bound to love it.

Seriously, even if you have some picky eaters that don't typically like meatloaf, they'll love this one.

As always, if you give this recipe a try, leave a comment below and let us know how it went.

Also, don't forget to follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok. We post new recipes on them every single day.

More Dinner Recipes

If you're looking for some more easy dinner recipes that are just as delicious as this one, we have a ton on the blog that you're going to love.

Here out some of our most popular recipes:

• Applebee's quesadilla burger
• Alice springs chicken
• Ham balls
• Crack chicken casserole
• Chicken divan
• Salmon pasta
• Boiled chicken and rice
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