Easy Southern Meatloaf Recipe

Easy Southern Meatloaf Recipe is classic comfort food with a southern-style twist. It’s simply made with ground beef, ground pork, white bread, ketchup based sauce, and more. It’s tender, juicy, and loaded with so much delicious taste that the whole family is sure to love. 

Try pairing this southern-style meatloaf with some Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Garlic Green Beans for a comforting and delicious meal. 

Tonight I decided to make a classic meatloaf for my little crew and pair it with what else but some creamy mashed potatoes and broccoli. Sounds yummy right?

Meatloaf is one of those food items that may not have the best reputation and that is probably due to it being referred to as a meatloaf. But the name has never stopped me from enjoying this comfort food classic. Plus it’s delicious and very filling not to mention great for a leftover meatloaf sandwich.

My top tip is to use sliced bread soaked in milk instead of breadcrumbs for the most flavorful meatloaf that you've ever had. 

Let’s get started!

Ingredients You’ll Need

1. Ground Beef - The main ingredient in any meatloaf recipe. Use any that you prefer, but I love to use lean ground beef or ground chuck. 
2. Ground Pork - Use plain ground pork to add another meat and additional flavor to the meatloaf. 
3. Bread - Any sliced white sandwich bread works great to serve as the binder to hold the meatloaf together and give it structure. I prefer to use bread instead of bread crumbs or crackers because it doesn’t dry out the meatloaf and helps to make it chunky and juicy. 
4. Milk - Whole milk is combined with the bread to create the binder to give the meatloaf structure and moisture. 
5. Parmesan Cheese - Grated parmesan cheese adds another layer of flavor and saltiness to the meat. Opt to use freshly grated parmesan or the pre-grated that can be easily located in the speciality cheese section of your local grocery store. 
6. Green Bell Pepper - A staple ingredient in any good meatloaf. Dice up the green peppers into small similar-sized pieces to add crisp and slightly sweet flavor to the meat. 
7. Onion - Use white or any yellow onion in this meatloaf recipe. You will dice it into smaller pieces to provide aromatic flavor to the recipe. 
8. Seasoned Salt - A spice blend that gives a well-rounded salty flavor to the loaf. 
9. Salt & Ground Black Pepper - Provides spice and brings out the flavors of the rest of the ingredients. 
10. Italian Parsley - Chopped fresh Italian parsley adds a fresh, peppery, and slight citrus flavor to the mixture. 
11. Eggs - Be sure to lightly beat the eggs before adding them to the meat mixture to help bind the meatloaf and hold it together. 
12. Ketchup - Creates the base of the sauce that is used to top the meatloaf. Makes it thick, tangy, and slightly sweet. 
13. Brown Sugar - Adds a small amount of sweetness to the sauce. May use light or dark brown sugar whichever you prefer. 
14. Mustard - Prepared yellow mustard or dry mustard powder may be used in the same unit of measure to balance the sweetness in the sauce with a bit of tangy flavor. 
15. Hot Sauce - Adds a small amount of heat to the sauce to balance the sweet flavors. May use any hot sauce that you prefer or sriracha.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

How to Make My Southern Meatloaf Recipe 

Begin the recipe by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a large mixing bowl add the slices of bread and milk. Allow time for the milk to soak into the bread about 2 to 3 minutes.

To the same bowl, add the ground beef, ground pork, Parmesan cheese, chopped onion, diced green bell pepper, chopped Italian parsley, seasoned salt, salt, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine. 

Lightly beat the eggs and add them to the bowl along with the other ingredients. Using clean or gloved hands, mix the ingredients until well combined. The meat mixture should be able to form into a loaf. 

Remove the meatloaf mixture from the bowl and add it to a baking pan, broiler pan, or sheet pan (lined with aluminum foil). Use your hands to form the mixture into a loaf shape. Set aside. 

Using a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and hot sauce until combined. Spread about ⅓ of the sauce evenly on top of the uncooked meatloaf. Place into the preheated oven to bake for 45 minutes. 

Carefully remove the meatloaf from the oven and evenly spread another layer, about half of the sauce that is left, over the top of the cooked meatloaf. Place the meatloaf back into the oven and continue baking for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. 

Carefully remove the fully cooked meatloaf from the oven and serve warm with the remaining sauce. Try pairing it with mashed potatoes for a complete and comforting family dinner. Enjoy!

Best Meatloaf Recipe Tips & Tricks 

• Allow the meatloaf time to rest for about 10 to 15 minutes before slicing to serve for the juiciest meatloaf. 
• Be sure to use a meat thermometer (instant-read thermometer) to check the internal temperature of the meatloaf before removing it from the oven to serve. The internal temperature should reach 160-165 degrees F. 
• After cooking the meatloaf for 45 minutes, carefully drain off the fat before adding the second layer of sauce. I prefer to use a second pan and simply transfer the meatloaf to the clean pan before topping it with the sauce. 
• Cook the meatloaf in a 9x13-inch baking dish (casserole pan), a large sheet pan (baking sheet) lined with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, a loaf pan, or a broiler pan with a rack to easily allow the fat to drain away from the meatloaf while cooking. 
• Do not cover the meatloaf with aluminum foil while baking in the oven. This will steam the meatloaf instead of it browning and caramelizing.  

Storage

Storage. If you have any leftover homemade meatloaf, allow it to cool to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container and storing it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This meatloaf is great to enjoy the next day by warming and placing a slice or two between two slices of bread to make a meatloaf sandwich. 

Reheating. When ready to serve again, cover with a single layer of aluminum foil and reheat in the oven at 300 degrees F. until warm. It may also be reheated in the microwave oven as well.

Freezing. The cooked meatloaf can be stored in the freezer for up to 30 days. Place it in a freezer-safe container/dish or cover it tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminim foil.

When ready to cook, transfer from the freezer to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight before baking as instructed. If you’re in a hurry, it can also be reheated from frozen as well, just keep in mind the cooking time may need to be adjusted to longer than the instructions suggest. 

Want More Comforting Recipes? Try These: 

• Mashed Potatoes 
• Spaghetti and Meatballs 
• Meatball Casserole 
• Southern Mac and Cheese 
• Sweet and Sour Cabbage 
• Garlic Green Beans 
• Oven Roasted Broccoli 

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to enjoy this Classic Southern Meatloaf Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Original post date 05/20/2015. Updated 10/18/2023.