Description
This Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipe offers a comforting and hands-off way to prepare a classic dish. Made with ground beef, diced onions, bell peppers, and a flavorful mix of spices and condiments, it’s cooked low and slow to lock in moisture and flavor. A tangy ketchup-based sauce finishes it off perfectly, making for a hearty and satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare and great for busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup diced white onion
- 1 cup diced red or green bell pepper
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 25 saltine crackers, crushed
- 2 lbs ground beef (7% – 10% fat)
Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the eggs, diced onion, bell pepper, ketchup, milk, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add crushed saltine crackers and mix everything thoroughly using clean hands. Finally, add the ground beef and gently mix just until all ingredients come together to avoid overworking the meat.
- Shape and Prepare Slow Cooker: Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray. Shape the meat mixture into a loaf and place it on the bottom of the slow cooker. If the mixture is too wet to hold shape, add more crushed saltines until firm.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours. Avoid opening the lid during cooking to maintain consistent temperature and moisture.
- Remove Excess Fat: After cooking, carefully scoop out any accumulated fat and discard it to keep the meatloaf leaner.
- Prepare and Add Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon this sauce evenly over the cooked meatloaf in the slow cooker.
- Final Cooking: Cover and cook the meatloaf with the sauce on LOW for an additional 30 minutes to heat through and meld the flavors.
- Serve: Once finished, serve the meatloaf warm and enjoy your hearty, flavorful meal.
Notes
- If you don’t have saltine crackers, substitute with 1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers, oatmeal, or breadcrumbs.
- Ground turkey can replace beef; increase crushed saltines as turkey is wetter than beef.
- Topping variations include barbecue sauce, warm brown gravy, plain ketchup, or zesty salsa.
- The meatloaf may still appear pink due to myoglobin reacting to heat, but as long as the internal temperature reaches 160°F, it is safe to eat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/6 of loaf)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
