Smith's Classic Meatloaf
A comforting American classic featuring a savory blend of beef and pork with a sweet-tangy glaze, baked to golden perfection for a family dinner centerpiece. This american-inspired beef ready in about 80 minutes pairs Ground beef, Ground pork, finely diced Onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 600 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 lb Ground pork
- 1/2 cup, finely diced Onion
- 2 cloves, minced Garlic
- 1 large Egg
- 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Ketchup
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dried thyme
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, diced onion, minced garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until evenly incorporated—do not overmix to keep the texture tender.
- Step 2: Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x5-inch loaf pan and press down firmly with a spatula to form a compact loaf. Smooth the top surface with the back of a spoon.
- Step 3: Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) and the top is deeply golden with caramelized edges.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Smith's Classic 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 Smith's Classic 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 Smith's Classic 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 Smith's Classic 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 Smith's Classic Meatloaf?
American beef 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
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
