Crockpot meatloaf is the ultimate hands-off dinner made easy. It is slow-cooked to tender perfection and finished with a brown sugar ketchup glaze.
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Why Cook Meatloaf in the Crockpot?
- Why Make It: The slow cooker keeps the loaf moist and tender while freeing up the oven for side dishes.
- Flavor: Classic savory meatloaf with a sweet-tangy brown sugar ketchup glaze.
- Recommended Tools: You’ll just need a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Serving Suggestions: I love serving this with mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted carrots, or warm dinner rolls for a simple, comforting meal.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground Beef: Use ground beef with a bit of fat for the best flavor and moisture, as very lean beef can result in a firmer, drier loaf.
- Stuffing Mix: Stuffing mix is such an easy shortcut that brings seasoning, texture, and structure all in one step. Savory herb is especially flavorful, but chicken or traditional herb varieties work too.
- Milk: Milk helps soften the stuffing mix and keeps the meatloaf tender and moist. Two percent milk works just fine if that’s what you have on hand.
- Variations: Swapping part of the beef for ground pork creates a softer, richer loaf. If stuffing mix isn’t available, plain breadcrumbs with a pinch of poultry seasoning work well, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce adds deeper savory flavor.
How to Make Meatloaf in a Crockpot
- Make the glaze first. Mix the meatloaf ingredients.
- Shape the mixture into a loaf and place it in a slow cooker.
- Spread glaze over the top and cook on low.
- Add more glaze and broil (full recipe below). Slice and serve with extra glaze.
Save It for Later
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat in slices in the microwave, in a covered skillet with a splash of water, or in the oven covered with foil.
Leftovers are great in sandwiches, bowls, or crumbled in pasta sauce.
More Comfort Food Favorites
Did you enjoy this Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion finely minced, divided
- 1 (6 ounce) box stuffing mix
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons ketchup glaze see below
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Brown Sugar Ketchup Glaze
- 1½ cups ketchup
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons finely minced onion
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, to make the glaze mix ketchup, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons minced onion, apple cider vinegar, and pepper, stirring or whisking to combine well. Set aside.
- Tear off a large strip of aluminum foil (heavy duty works well), and press it into the bottom and up two of the sides of a 6 quart or larger slow cooker. Spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray, then set aside.
- Add ground beef, minced onion, stuffing mix, milk, eggs, 2 tablespoons glaze, salt and pepper. Use your hands to mix until just combined (being careful not to over mix).
- Shape into an oval-like shape and place into the foil lined crockpot. Top with ½ cup of the glaze, cover, and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
- When finished cooking, carefully lift out the meatloaf, using the foil overhang, and place on a baking sheet. Top with ⅔ cup of the glaze and broil until glaze is sticky and bubbly.
- Serve sliced, with remaining glaze sauce served on the side for drizzling.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
❣️❣️❣️this recipe!!
I wasn’t sure how good it would turn out with the stuffing mix, but, it was fantastic!! 10 stars!!
Thank you so much, Sandra! Glad you loved it
Amanda, I do not have stuffing cubes nor stuffing mix… can I use toasted croutons?
I love crockpot recipes- thank you!!
I have never tried using toasted croutons Sandra, so I can’t say for sure. If you do decide to try it, we would love to hear how it turns out for you!
This recipe sounds delicious, but could I substitute the ground beef with ground turkey but use the rest of the recipe as it is written?
I haven’t tried it with turkey, my only concern is that the turkey doesn’t have as much fat to absorb into the stuffing so it could dry out.
Thank you for your kind words Patrick, I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes!
Everything I have ever from this site been 5 stars. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words Patrick! I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes!
I made this tonight in the oven and holy cow!!! What a winner! I have never enjoyed meatloaf with ketchup on top until tonight. This will forever be my go-to meatloaf! Oh I didn’t have stuffing mix so I just used the equivalent of seasoned bread crumbs. Delicious!
Holly, I made your crockpot meat loaf today and my husband and I both loved it.
The sauce mixture on top really added to the taste. It was delicious. I am glad I saw this crockpot recipe as it was so easy.
I also made your Crockpot Smothered Pork Chops with Gravy last week. Ass he is Cajun my husband always loves anything with rice & gravy.
Thanks for sharing your recipes!
I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes Peg!
Please tell me what percentage of fat to ground beef you recommend.
I generally use an 80/20 mix.
i HAVE BEEN A WIDDOWER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND i AM ALWYS LOOKING FOR A GOOD EASY CROCK POT MEATLOAF IN MY SMALL KITCHEN CROCK POT, i WILL HAVE TO GIVE IT A GO AT SOMETIME AND i THANK YOU FOR THE IDEA. IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE TO CUT THE RECIPIE DOWN TO FIT IN MY SMALL POT BUT CHALLENGES ARE MADE TO TO MAKE INTERESTING DAYS.
So happy you are enjoying it, Carl! We hope it turns out delicious for you.
Maybe you could mix up the meatloaf and divide it into two, and freeze one for later (either before or after cooking). I know how difficult it is cooking for one person! You could also just half the amounts. I saw another recipe online for a smaller recipe, using 1/2 lb of meat and it still said to cook 5 and 1/2 hours, so I’d think the time would be about the same if you just halved this recipe and used 1 lb of meat. (Four sevings isn’t so much to contend with and then you could freeze some of those leftovers in serving sizes.)
Hi, I was wondering if we do 2 meat loafs (separating the recipes) in the crockpot, how long should we cook it? Thanks for your delicious recipes!!
Hi Myriam, we have never tried separating this recipe into two smaller loaves but we would love to hear of any adjustments you needed to make. I would check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer towards the end of the cooking time to see if it is cooked. It should reach 160°F before serving.
We LOVED this recipe !!! we cut the amounts in half..cooked in oven 350 for 70 minutes Best I’ve had in a really long time!!
I love hearing when people LOVE a recipe Tammy! You made my day!
I don’t know if I did something wrong but this was waaaaaay too bready! Disappointed
Oh Julie, I’m sorry to hear that. Were your bread crumbs packages 6 ounces each?
The recipes are super. Thank you !!
why do people put milk in the meatloaf
Milk is added for moisture.
I made this tonight using the oven method because I procrastinated too long getting dinner ready. I ended up using 3 pounds of ground beef (there are a lot of us eating dinner) and only one box of stuffing mix. Two boxes just seemed like too much. I baked it for 45 minutes @ 375 without the glaze and drained off about half a cup of liquid. I use 93/7% lean beef. I can see where the extra stuffing would come in handy if it were cooking in the crockpot 6+ hours. I added the glaze for the last 20 minutes. I’m glad I tried it but I don’t think it will become our regular meatloaf recipe. It wasn’t bad, just not our personal tastes.
I am thinking about trying this recipe for dinner this weekend, but have you tried doing ground turkey in the crockpot? I saw you did have another recipe with turkey, but I’m very interested in doing in crockpot. I’m 30 weeks pregnant and have a 11-month-old, lol.
I haven’t tried it with turkey, my only concern is that the turkey doesn’t have as much fat to absorb into the stuffing so it could dry out.
This was honestly the worst meatloaf I’ve ever had. After my mouth watering as it cooked for SIX hours, I was starving! When we took it out of the crockpot, it was a pail colored blob with some glaze on top. We put it under the broiler as instructed. We served it up. The stuffing mix absorbed all liquid and grease, leaving a very dry wad of meat. It was way too sweet with the glaze.
This made making meatloaf way more complicated than it should be! I’ll stick with my regular way of just throwing everything in a bowl, mixing and topping with ketchup and bacon bits.
I have loved all of your other recipes, just not this one.
I”m sorry this didn’t work out for you Lisa, thank you for trying it.
this has been a hit when i make it in my house! Makes a lot so there is plenty leftovers . Would it turn out the same if i used a slow cooker liner instead of foil?
I’ve only used foil, but think the liners would work Jessica. Let us know if you try the meatloaf using the liners!
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Made it and the whole family loved it! Have you ever tried with ground bison instead?
We have not, April! But let us know how it turns out if you do :)