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This air fryer meatloaf is moist and juicy, packed with garlic and herbs, and topped with a delicious ketchup topping. Once you make meatloaf in the air fryer, you won’t want to go back to the oven method!
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Easy Air Fried Meatloaf
When I first got my air fryer I made everything in it. It’s such an amazing kitchen appliance and turns out, it makes an epic meatloaf. After playing around with it a bit I was able to figure out how to make it come out perfectly moist and delicious every time. Don’t forget to check out the tips and tricks below for helpful hints with this delicious dish.
Meatloaf has been around since at least medieval times in Europe. Of course that was before meat could be grinded as finely as it can be today which made for a chewier slice but still one packed with spices, flavor, and protein. This recipe is a modern air fryer twist on an ancient classic.
How to Make Air Fryer Meatloaf
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
- Plain breadcrumbs – use any plain breadcrumbs for this recipe. You can make your own by putting day-old stale bread into a food processor and pulsing till its all crumbs.
- Egg – egg is essential here to bring the meatloaf together and help it hold its shape.
- Milk – I use the milk to soak the bread crumbs and soften them so you don’t get a bite of dry breadcrumbs. Use whole milk.
- Minced onion – Onion adds an earthy bite to the meatloaf. I like to mince the onion so I don’t end up with big chunks of onion that can overpower the meatloaf. I use yellow onion but white onion would work well too.
- Parsley – I use fresh parsley for an aromatic fresh flavor in your meatloaf.
- Minced garlic – use fresh minced garlic for a fresh intense bite. If you don’t have fresh garlic, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder will work too.
- Worcestershire sauce – Worcestershire sauce enhances the rich meaty flavor of the meatloaf.
- Kosher salt – I use a fine grain kosher salt here to season the meat well.
- Cracked black pepper – pepper gives a little heat to this meatloaf, you can add more if you want your meatloaf a little spicy.
- Dried Italian seasoning – Italian seasoning is basically a mix of equal parts thyme, rosemary, oregano, and basil. If you don’t have any pre-mixed on hand just make your own.
- Ground beef – this is a meatloaf so we need beef. I like using beef because it is so rich in flavor and has a good amount of fat that will make the meatloaf moist.
- Ground pork – pork has an even higher fat content than beef so I like to add some to make a juicier meatloaf. If you don’t want to use pork you can use more beef in an equal amount.
- Ketchup – ketchup is the perfect flavor base to help bring the meatloaf together and to make the sauce that will slather the top.
- BBQ sauce – BBQ sauce adds a bit of tanginess and sweetness to the topping. You can use any bbq sauce you want.
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:
- Step 1 – Mix the breadcrumbs, milk, and egg in a large mixing bowl. Let it soak for a minute then add the onion, parsley, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix until well combined.
- Step 2 – Add the ground beef and pork gently mix to incorporate the seasonings into the meat well. I usually use my hands for this. Shape the meat into a log that’s about 8 inches long and 3 inches thick and place in the air fryer.
- Step 3 – Cook the meatloaf in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. While it’s cooking, in a small bowl mix the ketchup and bbq sauce together.
- Step 4 – After 20 minutes, spread the mixture over the meatloaf and cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165?.
- Step 5 – Remove the meatloaf from the air fryer and slice to serve, enjoy!
Tips and Tricks to Perfect Air Fried Meatloaf:
Check out these tips and tricks for a killer air fryer meatloaf.
Wrap it in Bacon. Everything tastes better with bacon. You can wrap your air fryer meatloaf in bacon before cooking for some extra protein and to make it extra delicious.
Make sure the air fryer is preheated. To use an air fryer effectively you need to be sure to preheat it before putting the meatloaf in. Be careful setting it in there too since the tray will be hot.
FAQ’s:
Can I substitute turkey for beef? – Turkey has a lot less fat than beef. If you substitute ground turkey for the ground beef I would definitely include some ground pork for added fat, moisture, and richness. It will also cook for a few minutes less.
What’s the best way to keep leftovers? Store any leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Meatloaf
I love air fryer meatloaf with the classics like instant pot mashed potatoes, crispy roasted potatoes, roast butter carrots, or green beans.
If you enjoyed this meatloaf check out, air fryer pork chops, air fryer piri piri chicken, one pan beef stroganoff, and slow cooker Mississippi roast.
For more of our recent favorite side dishes, check out some of the following:
For more delicious air fryer recipes click here!
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Air Fryer Meatloaf
Equipment
- Ninja DZ550 Foodi 10 Quart 6-in-1 DualZone Smart XL Air Fryer with 2 Independent Baskets, Smart Cook Thermometer for Perfect Doneness, Match Cook & Smart Finish to Roast, Dehydrate & More, Grey
Ingredients
- ¼ cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ cup minced onion
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork optional – or swap for beef
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, egg, and milk.
- Next add the onion, parsley, garlic, worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, black pepper, and italian seasoning. Mix to combine.
- Add the ground beef and pork. Very gently mix to incorporate the seasonings into the meat. You don’t want to compact the meat or it will result in a tough meatloaf.
- Shape the mixture into a log (about 8” long, 2” tall, and 3” thick) and carefully place it in the air fryer.
- Cook at 375F for 20 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix together the ketchup and bbq sauce. Spread the mixture over the meatloaf.
- Cook the meatloaf for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F on an instant read thermometer.
- Remove the meatloaf from the air fryer and slice it into thick (1”) slices and enjoy!
Wow, I did not know you could cook such meals in an air fryer. I love the way this look. Yum! Gotta give this a try, because I use my air fryer often, but not for everything, because I thought it was only certain things one could cook in them. Thanks to you, I know better now.