Grandma's Estate Sale Beef Meatloaf

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A comforting, slow-baked meatloaf with a sweet tomato glaze, featuring pantry staples you'd find in a classic household auction. This american-inspired one pot ready in about 80 minutes pairs ground beef, bread crumbs, (minced) garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 60 min Serves 6 American cuisine 320 cal/serving
Plan a meal with the AI → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine 1.5 lbs ground beef, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 large egg, 3 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper; mix gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
  2. Step 2: Transfer mixture to a 9x5-inch loaf pan, pressing evenly into the pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.
  3. Step 3: Bake uncovered for 50 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160°F, then brush with 1/4 cup tomato sauce and bake 10 minutes more until sauce is bubbly and deep red.

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Bakeware & baking tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Frequently asked questions

How long does Grandma's Estate Sale Beef Meatloaf take to make?

Total time is about 80 minutes (20 min prep + 60 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Grandma's Estate Sale Beef Meatloaf?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ground beef from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Grandma's Estate Sale Beef Meatloaf?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Grandma's Estate Sale Beef Meatloaf for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Grandma's Estate Sale Beef Meatloaf?

American one pot like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

What others are saying

Related recipes