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Sliced meatloaf with ketchup glaze served with roasted sweet potatoes on a white plate; more meatloaf and potatoes on a red baking dish in the background.
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Slow Cooker Meatloaf

Your oven has enough to do. Let the slow cooker handle dinner tonight.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 15 minutes
Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 310kcal
Author: Laura

Ingredients

Meatloaf

  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped, about 1/2 cup
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4 cup bread crumbs or cracker crumbs
  • 1 large egg

Glaze

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • Dash sriracha optional

Instructions

  • Plug in the slow cooker and begin preheating on low
  • Mix the garlic powder, salt, and pepper together and set aside
  • Crumble the ground beef into a mixing bowl
  • Sprinkle the chopped onion and Worcestershire sauce over the meat and lightly mix together
    A glass bowl filled with finely chopped onions and pickles sits on a light wooden surface.
  • Sprinkle with the seasoning mixture and lightly mix again
    Raw ground beef mixed with seasonings, including visible black pepper and salt, in a white bowl.
  • Add the egg and bread crumbs or cracker crumbs
    A close-up of uncooked ground meat covered with a layer of breadcrumbs in a white mixing bowl.
  • Mix just until combined, being careful not to overmix
    A close-up of ground meat topped with breadcrumbs, a cracked egg, and minced garlic in a white mixing bowl.
  • Shape the mixture into a loaf
    A close-up of a mound of raw ground meat mixed with herbs and spices in a bowl.
  • Fold a sheet of foil into a sling and place it in the bottom of the slow cooker
    A sheet of crumpled aluminum foil partially covering the inside of a round, dark-colored pan.
  • Place the meatloaf on the foil sling
    Raw meatloaf mixture shaped into a loaf on a sheet of aluminum foil, ready to be cooked.
  • Mix the brown sugar and ketchup together
    A glass bowl containing ketchup and packed brown sugar on a wooden surface.
  • Reserve 1-2 tbsp glaze for broiling, if desired
    A metal spoon mixing red and beige sauce in a glass bowl.
  • Brush the remaining glaze over the meatloaf
    Raw meatloaf mixture in a foil-lined pan topped with a layer of tomato sauce or ketchup.
  • Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or until the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 160°F
    A meatloaf covered with a layer of red sauce sits on aluminum foil.
  • The meatloaf is ready to serve at this point
  • For a more caramelized glaze, carefully lift the meatloaf from the slow cooker using the foil sling and place it on a baking sheet
  • Brush with the reserved glaze
    A cooked meatloaf covered in red sauce sits on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
  • Broil briefly, watching carefully, until the glaze is caramelized
    A glazed meatloaf sliced on a red tray, surrounded by roasted cubes of sweet potatoes; red and white checkered towels are nearby.

Video

Notes

  • You can also cook this on low for 6-8 hours
  • Mix the meatloaf lightly and avoid overworking the meat for the best texture.
  • The meatloaf is fully cooked when the center reaches 160°F.
  • For a more caramelized glaze, broil the cooked meatloaf briefly before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 770mg | Potassium: 507mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 4mg