Description
This Slow Cooker Meatloaf recipe offers a hands-off approach to a classic comfort food, combining ground beef with veggies, spices, and a tangy homemade sauce. Perfect for an easy dinner, the slow cooker method ensures tender, flavorful meatloaf without the need to watch the oven.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup diced white onion
- 1 cup diced red or green bell pepper
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- 25 saltine crackers, crushed
- 2 lbs. 7% – 10% fat ground beef
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. mustard
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the Meatloaf Base: In a large bowl, combine the eggs, diced onion, diced bell pepper, ketchup, milk, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Crush the saltine crackers and add them to the mixture. Using clean hands, mix all ingredients together. Add the ground beef last and mix gently just until all ingredients are combined to avoid overworking the meat.
- Shape and Place in Slow Cooker: Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray. Shape the meat mixture into a loaf that fits the slow cooker base and place it inside. Ensure the loaf holds its shape; add more crushed crackers if the mixture feels too wet.
- Slow Cook the Meatloaf: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to maintain heat and moisture.
- Remove Fat: After cooking, carefully scoop out and discard any fat that has accumulated on top of the meatloaf.
- Prepare and Add Sauce: Mix together ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce to create the topping sauce. Spoon this evenly over the cooked meatloaf on the slow cooker.
- Finish Cooking with Sauce: Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes on LOW to heat and set the sauce, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Serve: Carefully remove the meatloaf from the slow cooker, slice, and serve hot with your favorite sides.
Notes
- If saltine crackers are unavailable, substitute with 1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers, oatmeal, or breadcrumbs.
- Ground turkey can be used instead of beef; however, you may need to add more crushed saltine crackers as turkey tends to be wetter.
- Topping variations include barbecue sauce, warm brown gravy (store-bought or homemade), plain ketchup, or zesty salsa.
- If the meatloaf appears pink inside after cooking, it is safe to eat as long as the internal temperature reaches 160°F; the pink color is due to myoglobin reacting with heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/6th of loaf)
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg
