Get ready for the best meatloaf of your life! Seriously. This tender and flavorful Meatloaf with Brown Sugar Glaze will become a new family favorite.
This meatloaf with Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar always makes an impressive dinner! Our easy-to-follow recipe guarantees a juicy, flavorful meatloaf every time, with a sweet and savory glaze that adds extra deliciousness. Whether it’s for a family dinner or a special occasion, this easy brown sugar meatloaf recipe comes out perfectly each time, making it a go-to favorite for many!
Why We Love Meatloaf with Brown Sugar Glaze
- Tender, juicy meatloaf. No dry loaves here! With the help of a decadent-tasting brown sugar glaze, this meatloaf is over-the-top tender.
- Easy enough for a weeknight, impressive for a dinner party. A thick slice of this meatloaf goes well with everything from mac & cheese to a caesar salad.
- Leftovers are the best. If you even have them, leftovers are full of flavor and make an epic meatloaf sandwich.
Pro Tip!
Don’t skip the meatloaf sauce. Really, truly. It’s the key to a tender, flavorful meatloaf. Plus the sweet sauce with the savory meatloaf is perfection!
What is the Secret to a Really Great Meatloaf?
So glad you asked! There are a few key factors to an epic meatloaf:
- use higher-fat meat, 80/20 works best
- be sure milk is in the mix (our recipe has ¾ cup)
- bake meatloaf in a large pan so the steam can escape & the edges can caramelize
- add a glaze—this seals in the moisture
Ingredients for Meatloaf Recipe with Worcestershire Sauce and Brown Sugar
- onion
- eggs
- milk
- Italian breadcrumbs
- ground beef
- ketchup
- Worcestershire sauce
- dijon mustard
- Italian seasoning
- parsley
Meatloaf Glaze with Worcestershire (Topping)
- ketchup
- BBQ sauce
- garlic
- Worcestershire sauce
- dijon mustard
- brown sugar
- steak sauce
Pro Tip!
This recipe calls for 2 pounds of ground beef, however, beef usually comes 2.4 or 2.5 lbs packs—these are fine as well. No worries over getting the exact amount.
So how will I know when it’s done?? The meatloaf will cook for 50-60 minutes, but your best bet is to check the internal temperature. If the meatloaf is done baking, the center will register 160 degrees on a meat thermometer.
How To Make Meatloaf with Brown Sugar and Ketchup
- Cook onion in butter. Sauté until translucent.
- Meanwhile, combine eggs, milk, and breadcrumbs in a bowl. Allow the ingredients to sit while you finish cooking the onions.
- Add remaining meatloaf ingredients to the bowl. Mixing with hands works best. If the meat is cold, try periodically running warm water over your hands to keep things more comfortable.
- Form ingredients into a meatloaf on a large pan and bake. While meatloaf is baking, stir up the sauce.
- Spread sauce over the meatloaf. Bake for 10 minutes and then broil for best results.
- Allow meatloaf to rest. Whisk up the super-simple au jus to serve alongside.
Pro Tip!
If you wish to make the au jus after baking the meatloaf, do not put aluminum foil in the pan. Simply place the meatloaf directly in the baking pan. After baking, you’ll mix the drippings into a yummy au jus for serving—it’s particularly delicious on a side of steamed veggies!
How to Store and Reheat Easy Brown Sugar Meatloaf
In the fridge: this meatloaf with brown sugar glaze lasts 3-4 days.
In the freezer: up to 6 months. Follow these steps: allow meatloaf to cool completely, wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and seal into freezer-safe bag.
Reheat: (Defrost in fridge overnight if needed) Then place slices on a baking dish and pour about a Tablespoon of beef broth over each. Cover dish with aluminum foil and heat at 250 degrees for 20 minutes. This warms the meatloaf without drying it out.
Serving Suggestions
To make this meal super easy, as the meatloaf is baking toss together an easy greens salad or roast veggies in the air fryer (this is our kitchen bestie).
We also love to serve this meatloaf to guests with sides of 2 Ingredient Herbed Mashed Potatoes, Puff Pastry-Wrapped Asparagus, and Caprese Salad with Prosciutto.
Meatloaf With Brown Sugar Glaze
Get ready for the best meatloaf of your life! Seriously. This tender and flavorful Meatloaf with Brown Sugar Glaze will become a new family favorite.
Ingredients
- Meatloaf:
- ½ medium onion diced
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup milk
- ¾ cup Italian breadcrumbs or seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 pounds ground beef*
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 Tbsps fresh parsley chopped, or 2 tsps dried
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Brown Sugar Glaze:
- ½ cup ketchup
- â…“ cup BBQ sauce (we recommend Sweet Baby Ray's)
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon dijon mustard
- â…” cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon steak sauce
- pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Cook onions in butter over medium low heat until tender. Remove from skillet and allow them to cool.
3. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, and breadcrumbs.
4. Add the ground beef, cooked onions, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, parsley, and salt & pepper to the bowl. Mix with hands until thoroughly combined.
5. Form a 8"x4" loaf on the baking pan** and bake for 50-60 minutes.
6. While the meatloaf is cooking, whisk together the meatloaf sauce.
7. Spread mixture over the meatloaf and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until cooked through and the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
8. Broil for 2-4 minutes for extra flavor. Be sure to watch meatloaf so that it doesn't burn.
9. Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
10. To make simple au jus: scoop about ½ cup (or as much as you'd like) of the oil and drippings around the meatloaf and place into a small bowl. Use a whisk or handheld mixer to blend it into a smooth sauce. Serve au just alongside meatloaf. The au jus is also delicious on steamed veggies.
Notes
*2 lbs meat packs can range from 2 lbs to 2.5 lbs. If you wish to use the whole container of ground beef for this meatloaf, it's best to rely on a meat thermometer to determine doneness. Meatloaf will cook for 50-60 and be cook throughout when it has an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
**If you wish to make the au jus after baking the meatloaf, do not put aluminum foil in the pan. Simply place the meatloaf directly in the baking pan. After baking, you'll mix the drippings into a yummy au jus for serving.
How to Store and Reheat
In the fridge: this meatloaf with brown sugar glaze lasts 3-4 days.
In the freezer: up to 6 months. Follow these steps: allow meatloaf to cool completely, wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and seal into freezer-safe bag.
Reheat: (Defrost in fridge overnight if needed) Then place slices on a baking dish and pour about a Tablespoon of beef broth over each. Cover dish with aluminum foil and heat at 250 degrees for 20 minutes. This warms the meatloaf without drying it out.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 549Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 151mgSodium: 1185mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 2gSugar: 26gProtein: 37g
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