Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe
I have a new favorite and easy way to make my classic meatloaf recipe. You can get everything ready the night before, refrigerate it until tomorrow morning then pop into your crockpot for an incredible home cooked main dish in just hours!
This simple recipe is delicious when served with my mashed potatoes, oven baked mac and cheese, or this easy-to-make buttered cabbage. If none of these sound like what you're looking for, you can check out my other side dish recipes here.
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💌Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make the night before and then put in the slow cooker in the early afternoon.
- Ingredients readily found in your pantry.
- Great for leftovers.
- Has an easy and delicious 2-ingredient glaze!
🥘Ingredients
- lean ground beef
- whole or 2% milk
salt
- black pepper
- egg
- bread crumbs or oatmeal
- small onion
- ketchup
- brown sugar
See recipe card for quantities.
📋Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full recipe and instructions as well as nutritional information can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Line slow cooker with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients with the exception of the topping.
Shape mixture into a loaf and place in the center of your slow cooker.
Combine ketchup and brown sugar and spread over the top of the meatloaf.
Cover and cook on low setting 3 to 4 hours until a meat thermometer or probe registers 160°F.
Remove meatloaf from slow cooker and place on a platter. Allow to set for 5 to 10 minutes. Slice and serve!
Hint: leave a useful hint here, like let the grill run for 4-5 minutes to burn off any remnants, then clean it. I like to use this bristle-free barbecue brush (affiliate link) for
Free Grocery List Printable
🍴Substitutions
- Oatmeal - quick or old fashioned oatmeal, uncooked, can be used in place of the bread crumbs.
- Salsa - instead of the ketchup and brown sugar glaze.
📖 Variations
- Ground turkey - you can use all ground turkey or a mixture of ground turkey and ground beef but if using ground turkey, cook until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
🍽 Equipment
A basic slow cooker is the only equipment needed to make this recipe. I have this one and have used it for over a decade.
🍱Storage
Store fully cooked and cooled meatloaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
💭Top tip
Slow cookers vary. The first time you make this recipe make a note on the recipe card of how long it took for your meatloaf to reach the desired internal temperature. That way, in the future, you'll know exactly how long to cook it to perfection!
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card below ⬇️ you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef lean
- 1 cup whole milk *can substitute 2% milk
- 1 egg
- ½ cup bread crumbs *can substitute oatmeal
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup onion chopped, approximately 1 small onion
Topping
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Line slow cooker with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients with the exception of the topping.1 ½ lbs ground beef, 1 cup whole milk, 1 egg, ½ cup bread crumbs, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ¼ cup onion
- Shape mixture into a loaf and place in the center of your slow cooker.
- Combine ketchup and brown sugar and spread over the top of the meatloaf.½ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Cover and cook on low setting 3 to 4 hours until a meat thermometer or probe registers 160°F.
- Remove meatloaf from slow cooker and place on a platter. Allow to set for 5 to 10 minutes. Slice and serve!
As with any of my recipes, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly depending on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish.
Nutrition
Food safety
We sometimes take for a granted that we have years (or decades) of
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 160 °F.
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
If I am using 6 lbs of hamburger how long should I cook it??
Hi Marie, I would cook it on the low setting for 6 hours until a meat thermometer or probe registers 160°F. You could probably start checking the internal temperature at the 5 hour mark but don't leave the lid off for too long.
Why the tin foil? Just curious.
I like to use it to give the outer portion of the meatloaf more of a crust-like texture but it's not necessary. 🙂