Air Fryer Meatloaf

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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 wonโ€™t want to go back to the oven method!

picture of a slice of meatloaf on a white plate on a table next to a fork

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Easy Air Fried Meatloaf

When I first got my air fryer I made everything in it. Itโ€™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.

hand touching plate with meatloaf, potatoes, and green beans

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 donโ€™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 donโ€™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 youโ€™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.ย 

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.ย 

cooked meatloaf in air fryer

FAQโ€™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. 

fork in meatloaf with green beans

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, ย air fryer piri piri chicken,ย  one pan beef stroganoff, and slow cooker Mississippi roast.ย 

For more of our recent favorite side dishes, check out some of the following:

For more delicious air fryer recipes click here!

meatloaf on a plate with potatoes and green beans

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5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer Meatloaf

By: Courtney O’Dell
Servings: 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
meatloaf on a white plate with mashed potatoes and green beans
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 wonโ€™t want to go back to the oven method!

Ingredients 

  • ยผ cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ยผ cup minced onion
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • ยฝ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork, optional โ€“ or swap for beef
  • ยฝ cup ketchup
  • ยผ cup BBQ sauce

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, egg, and milk.ย 
  • Next add the onion, parsley, garlic, worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, black pepper, and italian seasoning. Mix to combine.ย 
  • Add the ground beef and pork. Very gently mix to incorporate the seasonings into the meat. You donโ€™t want to compact the meat or it will result in a tough meatloaf.ย 
  • Shape the mixture into a log (about 8โ€ long, 2โ€ tall, and 3โ€ thick) and carefully place it in the air fryer.ย 
  • Cook at 375F for 20 minutes.ย 
  • In a small bowl, mix together the ketchup and bbq sauce. Spread the mixture over the meatloaf.ย 
  • 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 (1โ€) slices and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 32gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 127mgSodium: 521mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Air Fryer
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcsdesigns or tag #sweetcsdesigns!

About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style. Courtney writes the popular creative lifestyle blog Sweet Cโ€™s Designs- a site devoted to delicious everyday recipes, home decor, crafts, DIY inspiration, and photography tips to help make your every day extraordinary.

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1 Comment

  1. Ivory says:

    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.