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Sunday, March 17, 2024

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Meat Loaf, a slow cooker recipe

Everyone needs a delicious, family-favorite meatloaf recipe, to turn to. Melt-in-Your-Mouth-Meat Loaf is easily the one meatloaf to serve the family, time, and time again! You will probably want to keep this recipe handy...



Meat loaf cooked in your slow cooker will always be moist and tender. 

For so many years I made meatloaf in the oven and while it was good, it was usually dry. The outside was crusty and often hard to cut, not just for dinner but thinly for sandwiches the next day. Then one day when I got home from work, this delicious meatloaf was waiting. To be honest, I would have not chosen this recipe, thinking that it might be bland, but I would have been wrong!

Before retirement, we both cooked and shared in the clean-up. And the wonderful thing about two cooks in a family is the variety of what looks and sounds good. Two cooks will double the looking and the decisions about what will be cooked for the next meal. 

To be honest, this meat loaf was made the first time, by my husband.

And I have to say everything my hubby cooked was excellent, including this meatloaf. This recipe for Melt-in-Your-Mouth Meat Loaf is proof...You see a second cook in the kitchen and an additional set of senses are very generous for variety. Which is always a bonus for everyone to enjoy! 

Two cooks also means that food is viewed from a different angle than just that of a long-term cook, who while she still enjoys cooking, might be just a little bit stuck in a cooking rut! And while that might have been me.......I have learned that the slow cooker is a cook's best friend! And I turn to it more and more!


For those still working outside the home, using a programmable slow cooker, this meatloaf can be timed to be ready when you get home. With only the sauce needing to be poured over, while you get the rest of the dinner completed. And by the way, help with the rest of the dinner is also a good idea, I am just saying! So I am offered a few suggestions below... 

Hmmm, what shall we serve with the meat loaf?

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Meat Loaf is a compact meatloaf, yet very tender and the sauce sets it off perfectly. Plus leftovers make great sandwiches! For families with two slow cookers, Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese is a great side dish. If you are looking for more vegetables on your plate, you may want to try Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Pecans.  or Oven Roasted Delicata Squash and Onions.

As written the recipe calls for 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef. But often ground beef comes in 2 pound packages, so we have included updated ingredient amounts for those times when you have two pounds of ground beef ready to go or simply want a larger meatloaf! We hope you enjoy this Melt-in-Your-Mouth-Meat Loaf as much as we do! 


Ingredients needed for this recipe:
  • eggs
  • ground beef
  • bread crumbs
  • dried minced onion
  • rubbed sage
  • catsup, you can make your own! The recipe is found here.
  • brown sugar, you can make your own!
  • yellow ballpark mustard
  • Worcestershire sauce
 You will also need the following:
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring cups
  • liquid measuring cup
  • large mixing bowl
  • 6-qt slow cooker
 Now we are ready to begin!




Melt-in-Your-Mouth Meat Loaf
adapted from:  Taste of Home, slow cookers, casseroles, and soups
UPDATED: 03.18.2024

2 eggs
3/4 c milk
2/3 c dried bread crumbs*
1 T dried minced onion
1 t salt
3/4 t rubbed sage
1 1/2 pound ground beef 

OR:

2 eggs
3/4 c milk
3/4 c dried bread crumbs*
1 (rounded) T dried minced onion
1 1/8 t salt
scant 1 t rubbed sage
2 pounds ground beef

2/3 c ketchup
2 T brown sugar
1 T ballpark yellow mustard
1 t Worcestershire sauce


In a large bowl, combine eggs through the ground beef.  Mix well, the mixture will be moist. Shape into a round ball and place in a 6-qt slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until a thermometer reads 160 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine ketchup through Worcestershire sauce. Mix well and spoon over meatloaf. Cook an additional 15 minutes.



Remove meatloaf from the cooker, allow to rest 5 minutes, slice, and enjoy. 



*tip, if you are out of dried bread crumbs, use one slice of fresh bread, crumbled, and 1/4 c oatmeal. 

Storage options for Melt in Your Mouth Meatloaf. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. For longer storage, store leftover meatloaf in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. 

UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Melt in Your Mouth Meatloaf has been included below.
 You may also enjoy:
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Featured recipe at: 
Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household is a featured blogger at Farm Fresh Tuesdays Blog Hop/Link up!
Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household featured at Farm Fresh Tuesdays!

Melt in Your Mouth Meat Loaf featured at Marilyn's Treats.
Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household featured at Over the Moon!


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Printable "copy and paste" version:


Melt-in-Your-Mouth Meat Loaf
adapted from:  Taste of Home, slow cookers, casseroles, and soups
UPDATED: 03.18.2024

2 eggs
3/4 c milk
2/3 c dried bread crumbs*
1 T dried minced onion
1 t salt
3/4 t rubbed sage
1 1/2 pound ground beef 

OR:

2 eggs
3/4 c milk
3/4 c dried bread crumbs*
1 (rounded) T dried minced onion
1 1/8 t salt
scant 1 t rubbed sage
2 pounds ground beef

2/3 c ketchup
2 T brown sugar
1 T ballpark yellow mustard
1 t Worcestershire sauce


In a large bowl, combine eggs through the ground beef.  Mix well, the mixture will be moist. Shape into a round ball and place in a 6-qt slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until a thermometer reads 160 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine ketchup through Worcestershire sauce. Mix well and spoon over meatloaf. Cook an additional 15 minutes.

Remove meatloaf from the cooker, allow to rest 5 minutes, slice, and enjoy. 

*tip, if you are out of dried bread crumbs, use one slice of fresh bread, crumbled, and 1/4 c oatmeal. 

Storage options for Melt in Your Mouth Meatloaf. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. For longer storage, store leftover meatloaf in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. 

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Would you like to comment?

  1. Meatloaf is something I have tried to make a couple of times but it can be a bit bland. The sauce on this one would definitely help!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am with you, and you are correct, the sauce makes it delicious!

      Delete
  2. My husband isn't a fan of meatloaf. I usually like it better the next day on a sandwich with ketchup. We never have it, but I grew up having it fairly often! It was probably pretty bland, though; my mother wasn't interested in cooking and didn't have a talent for it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am with you on sandwiches the next day, but I need a bit of mustard. I have also learned that slices of meatloaf freeze very well and are delicious sauteed in butter when served as a "planned over" dinner!

      Delete
  3. I haven't made meatloaf for years! What a great idea, cooking it in the slow cooker!
    I'll have to give it a go. Thank you!

    You're most welcome to join me in a cuppa at Tea With Jennifer,
    Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for sharing with us at Farm Fresh Tuesdays Blog Hop! Your fabulous meat loaf is one of my features this week! Stop by to see your feature and say hi!
    Melissa | little frugal homestead

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yummy, sounds tasty! Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 18, open until November 26. Shared.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The best things about meatloaf is the sandwiches the next day. This looks like perfect sandwich meatloaf!! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party!! Hope your week is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 42 for Crock Pot and Instant Pot Recipes, open until February 17. Shared again on social media.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, I appreciate it! Have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  8. This sounds yummy! I make my meatloaf in the oven but use almost all the same ingredients listed here (though I like BBQ in place of the ketchup). I have never thought of cooking it in my slow cooker but I really like that idea! Pinned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I like how moist the slow cooker keeps the meatloaf. My husband would love the change out of BBQ sauce for the catsup.

      Delete
  9. I love meatloaf, but never thought of making it in a slow cooker! I am so going to try this soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer, this is a favorite, always moist and great for sandwiches the next day. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

      Delete
  10. This looks so delicious! I've never made meatloaf in the slow cooker, but I have made it in the instant pot before. Meatloaf is one of my kid's favorites!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan this one is a winner, and it makes a very moist meatloaf!

      Delete
  11. I have always wondered what meat loaf tastes like - I have never tried it! It does look amazing though and is something I should try to cook myself! Thank you for the recipe! Sim x #SSPS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Touring Duo, meatloaf is a regular "go to" meal around here. This one is a favorite. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

      Delete

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