Easy Meatloaf Recipe {with Rich Tomato Sauce}

Name: Easy Meatloaf {with Rich Tomato Sauce}
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 2 tsp Oil; 750 g Beef mince; 50 g Breadcrumbs; 2 tsp Garlic powder; 2 tsp Onion powder; 1 Egg; 1 tsp Salt; Pepper; 4 tbsp BBQ sauce; 2 tsp Onion powder; 2 tsp Garlic powder; 1 tsp Cumin; 2 tsp Smoked paprika; 800 g Tinned tomatoes (2x tins); 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar; Salt and pepper; 6 Rashers streaky bacon

This classic beef dish is SO tasty. It’s also easy and affordable. Try this American Classic comfort food and you will be instantly converted to it’s charms! Topped with bacon and surrounded by a rich tomato sauce this Easy Meatloaf Recipe might not look super glamorous, but it is a must try recipe.

We all love a mince recipe, right? A midweek saviour, that’s affordable, reliable and the whole family loves.

When you fancy a change from the old favourites of chilli con carne or bolognese, this Easy Meatloaf recipe is a brilliant way of using it to make something a little different.

Why you’ll love this recipe

⭐️ Make mince a centrepiece

⭐️ Perfect cold and hot

⭐️ All cooked in one pan

Finished meatloaf out of the oven in a rich sauce and topped with crispy bacon.

About Easy Meatloaf

It might not be the most glamorous dish of all time, but it’s totally delicious. Like a giant meatball with less rolling and faff!

The loaf has a delicious tomato sauce around it and is covered in bacon, which not only stops it from drying out but also gives it extra taste and texture. This recipe serves roughly six people for a meal, or it will go further if you’re making it to have in sandwiches or as part of a buffet meal.

It’s also ideal for making ahead as it tastes fantastic cold, and actually is far easier to slice up when it is. It’s also pretty healthy (depending on which mince you use).

What you’ll need

Ingredients for an easy meatloaf recipe laid out on a counter.

Beef mince – I find 10% fat works very well, and 5% is also fine but can be quite dry, so be sure to keep an eye on it if you go for this.
Breadcrumbs – From a packet is fine, I like Panko type
Garlic powder – Or Garlic granules
BBQ Sauce – I normally make my own but here this is a great store cupboard shortcut to lots of flavour.
Onion powder – Or Onion granules
Cumin – Ground, dried cumin
Smoked Paprika
Tinned tomatoes
Balsamic vinegar
Streaky bacon – Any bacon on top is OK instead. Prosciutto would also work really well and go really crispy.

How to make it

Raw ingredients in a bowl for an easy meatloaf recipe step 1.

1. Preheat the oven and mix meat ingredients (minus oil) in a clean bowl.

Raw ingredients in a bowl for an easy meatloaf recipe step 2.

2. Pat it into a loaf/log shape. Add the oil to a big pan and sit your meat loaf on top. Put in the oven (as per the recipe below).

How to make an easy meatloaf recipe step 3.

3. Make your sauce by mixing all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

How to make an easy meatloaf recipe step 4.

4. Remove meatloaf from the oven, pour the sauce around it and pop the bacon slices on top. Put back into the oven.

Hint: If you feel like it’s drying out as it’s cooking with the sauce, cover it with a lid or tin foil and allow it to continue cooking.

Substitutions

Mince – You could make this recipe turkey or chicken mince if you like but it won’t be quite as tender.
Proteins – You could bulk this up with a can of beans, lentils or cooked vegetables to the sauce.

Leftovers

In the fridge If you have leftovers, form a queue at the fridge as this is so tasty as a snack! You can add it to a sandwich, or wrap, or just eat it on its own. You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days.

In the freezer This is great to freeze. You could freeze it before or after cooking. Just defrost it in the fridge overnight and then cook as instructed from raw, or heat through for 25-30 minutes if it’s already cooked. Check it’s piping hot.

Top tips

Serving suggestions:

This will go with loads of different side dishes for a main meal. I love it with wedges, mashed potatoes, homemade oven chips or corn on the cob.Ho

Slicing:

Ideally, you’d leave this to cool for 10 minutes before slicing it. But, if you don’t have time, don’t worry. It might be a little more crumbly if you slice it while it’s warm, but it won’t affect the flavour.

Loaf tin:

You can use if you have one to act as a ‘mould’ to shape the meatloaf. Press the meat in firmly and then turn the tin over and tip it out (a sharp bang and it should come out in one piece!)

FAQ

Can I freeze meatloaf?

Yes! This is a great one to make ahead of time and freeze for later. You have the option of preparing it and freezing it raw, or you could cook it and then freeze it once it’s cooled. It will need defrosting in the fridge overnight, and if you’re cooking from raw, follow the recipe, or if it’s pre-cooked, heat it through for 25-30 minutes. It will need to be piping hot before serving.

Help! My meatloaf is drying out in the oven.

Don’t worry! If you feel like it’s drying out as it’s cooking with the sauce, cover it with a lid or tin foil and allow it to continue cooking.

How do I know when my meatloaf is cooked?

It’s really hard to tell if the meat is cooked through as you won’t be looking at the inside (!), so for this recipe I would recommend checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. I find this one to be a good option. There are cheaper ones out there but this one tends to be really reliable.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).