Slow-Cooked Beef Meatloaf with Tangy Tomato Glaze
Hearty ground beef meatloaf slow-cooked to tender perfection and topped with a sweet and tangy tomato glaze reminiscent of classic American comfort food. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 375 minutes, pairs ground beef, yellow onion, finely diced, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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 yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large bowl, soak 1/2 cup breadcrumbs in 1/4 cup whole milk for 5 minutes until moistened.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef, 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 large egg, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the breadcrumb mixture; mix gently until combined.
- Step 3: Shape the mixture into a loaf approximately 8x4 inches and place into a slow cooker.
- Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar to make the glaze.
- Step 5: Spread half of the glaze evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
- Step 6: Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours until the meatloaf is cooked through and tender.
- Step 7: Spread the remaining glaze over the meatloaf before slicing and serving.









