Slow-Baked Smith Beef Meatloaf

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-22 · Updated 2026-04-22

A comforting, tender meatloaf with a savory glaze, featuring ground beef and aromatic vegetables baked to perfection. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, pairs ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 finely diced onion
• 1 grated carrot
• 3 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground beef, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1 finely diced onion, 1 grated carrot, 3 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Mix until just combined, avoiding overworking the meat.
2. Step 2: Press the mixture into a loaf pan lined with parchment paper. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake uncovered for 50 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160°F and the top is lightly browned.
3. Step 3: Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with extra ketchup on the side.