Do you have a go-to dinner recipe? My family LOVES my baked mac and cheese, but sometimes I need something that isn’t pasta. That’s when I turn to a classic meatloaf recipe! This is one of my favorite Crockpot Meatloaf recipes because it is amazingly flavorful and easy, thanks to using dried stuffing mix in place of breadcrumbs. It may seem odd, but all the great seasonings are already in the stuffing mix, so it’s several steps in one! The glaze on top of the meatloaf is lip-smackingly good; made with ketchup, minced onion, brown sugar and vinegar for a little tang.
My favorite part about this meatloaf is how it’s always tender and moist!
Why Cook Meatloaf in the Crockpot?
I love making this slow cooker meatloaf recipe in the crockpot for two main reasons. First, a meatloaf cooked in the crockpot is much harder to “mess up” and be dry or tough. The process of cooking in the crockpot lends to a much more tender and moist dish. Secondly, it’s ready when you get home, meaning far less stress! Traditional meatloaf takes an hour or more to bake, so if you wait until you get home to bake it, you’ll be having a later dinner. This way, dinner is mostly finished! Plus, I can generally fit more beef into my crockpot than I can in my meatloaf pan.
How to Make Meatloaf in a Crockpot
Making meatloaf in a slow cooker is truly so easy! The use of foil not only makes for easy cleanup, it makes it easy to get the meatloaf out of the crockpot and to broil the top at the end.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Meatloaf in the Crockpot?
It depends on how big of a loaf you’re making, but for this 2 pound meatloaf, it’ll take about 6 hours on LOW, or 3 hours on HIGH. If you have an instant read meat thermometer, check for doneness by cooking until meatloaf is at 160 F degrees. Can this meatloaf be made in the oven instead? Absolutely! I’ve included oven directions following the recipe at the bottom of this post.
So the next time you get a craving for classic comfort food, give this easy Crockpot Meatloaf recipe a try! Crockpot meatloaf and potatoes really are a perfect pairing! Our favorite things to have alongside meatloaf are my incredibly easy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, Southwest Cilantro Lime Corn Salad, and Cheesy Roasted Broccoli!
More Meatloaf Sides!
Roasted Root Vegetables – easy set it and forget it! Creamed Spinach – such a classic! How to Steam Broccoli – perfect broccoli Sauteed Brussel Sprouts – LOVE sprouts with meatloaf! Classic Wedge Salad – speaks for itself Easy Kale Salad with Fresh Lemon Dressing – healthy and fresh
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