This hearty Hairy Bikers American Meatloaf recipe is made with flavourful ground beef, soft breadcrumbs, sautéed onions and garlic, and is finished with a classic sweet and tangy ketchup glaze. This recipe creates a tender, juicy, and incredibly flavourful meatloaf that is pure comfort food. The delicious glaze caramelizes in the oven, creating an irresistible sticky topping. Perfect for a satisfying family dinner any night of the week, this classic dish serves 6-8 people, and the leftovers make the best sandwiches you’ll ever eat.
Hairy Bikers American Meatloaf Ingredients
For the Meatloaf:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) good-quality lean ground beef
- 100g (about 2 cups) fresh breadcrumbs
- 150ml (2/3 cup) milk
- 2 large free-range eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Tangy Glaze:
- 150g (2/3 cup) tomato ketchup
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon English mustard
How To Make Hairy Bikers American Meatloaf
- Preheat oven and sauté aromatics: Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan / 350°F). Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, add the chopped onion and cook gently for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for one more minute. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Make the panade: While the onion cools, place the fresh breadcrumbs in a large bowl and pour the milk over them. Let them soak for a few minutes to absorb the liquid. This is the secret to a moist meatloaf.
- Combine the meatloaf mixture: To the bowl with the soaked breadcrumbs, add the ground beef, the cooled onion and garlic mixture, the beaten eggs, Worcestershire sauce, dried herbs, and a generous seasoning of salt and pepper.
- Mix and form the loaf: Using your hands, gently mix all the ingredients together until they are just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Tip the mixture onto a baking tray lined with foil or baking parchment and form it into a neat loaf shape, about 25cm (10 inches) long.
- Begin baking: Place the meatloaf in the preheated oven and bake for an initial 30 minutes.
- Make and apply the glaze: While the meatloaf is baking, whisk together all the glaze ingredients – ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, and mustard – in a small bowl. After 30 minutes, remove the meatloaf from the oven and carefully spoon about half of the glaze over the top and sides.
- Finish baking: Return the meatloaf to the oven and bake for another 25-30 minutes. For the last 10 minutes of cooking, spread the remaining glaze over the top. The meatloaf is cooked when it is firm and cooked through.
- Rest before serving: Let the meatloaf rest on the baking tray for at least 10 minutes before slicing. This crucial step allows the juices to settle, ensuring a moist and tender slice.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overmix the meat: This is the most important rule for a tender meatloaf. Use your hands to mix the ingredients only until they are just combined. Overworking the meat will result in a tough, dense texture.
- Use a panade for moisture: A
panadeis a mixture of a starch (like breadcrumbs) and a liquid (like milk). Soaking the breadcrumbs in milk before adding them to the meat is the secret to a juicy, tender meatloaf that doesn’t dry out. - Let it rest: Just like a good steak or a roast chicken, meatloaf needs to rest after coming out of the oven. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the loaf, so they don’t all run out when you slice into it.
- Glaze in stages: Applying the glaze in two separate stages is key. The first layer bakes into the meatloaf, adding flavour, while the final layer creates that perfect, sticky, and beautifully caramelized topping that American meatloaf is famous for.
What To Serve American Meatloaf
This American meatloaf is a true comfort food classic and pairs perfectly with other hearty dishes. It is traditionally served with a generous portion of creamy mashed potatoes, which are ideal for soaking up the delicious juices and extra glaze. A side of simple steamed green beans, buttered peas, or a corn cobbette completes the perfect family meal.
How To Store American Meatloaf Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Leftover meatloaf is one of life’s great pleasures! Store any leftovers tightly wrapped in foil or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It’s delicious served cold in sandwiches with a bit of mustard or reheated.
- Freeze: Cooked meatloaf freezes very well. You can freeze the whole loaf or individual slices. Wrap it securely in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Hairy Bikers American Meatloaf Recipe Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8th of loaf)
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Total Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
- Sodium: 450mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 18g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 12g
- Protein: 30g
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use a different type of ground meat? Yes. A classic butcher’s mix is half ground beef and half ground pork, which makes for a very flavourful and moist meatloaf. You could also use ground turkey for a leaner option, but you may want to add a little extra olive oil to the mixture to ensure it doesn’t dry out.
- Why did my meatloaf fall apart when I sliced it? This usually happens for two reasons: either the mixture didn’t have enough binder (the eggs and soaked breadcrumbs are key), or it wasn’t allowed to rest for at least 10 minutes after baking. That resting period is crucial for allowing the loaf to firm up and hold its shape.
- Can I bake this in a loaf tin? You can, but baking it free-form on a baking tray allows the heat to circulate all around the loaf, helping it to cook more evenly and develop a better crust. It also allows you to glaze the sides of the meatloaf as well as the top.
- What is the difference between American and British meatloaf? While recipes vary greatly, the most defining feature of a classic American meatloaf is the sweet and tangy ketchup-based glaze that is brushed on during the last part of baking.
Try More Recipes:
- Hairy Bikers Pilau Rice Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Chinese Chicken Curry Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Chicken Balti Recipe
Hairy Bikers American Meatloaf Recipe
Description
A hearty and flavour-packed American Meatloaf recipe inspired by the Hairy Bikers. This classic comfort food dish features a tender, juicy ground beef loaf finished with a delicious sweet and tangy ketchup glaze that caramelizes as it bakes.
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf:
For the Glaze:
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C Fan). Sauté onion and garlic until soft; let cool.
- Make panade: Soak breadcrumbs in milk in a large bowl.
- Combine mixture: Add the ground beef, cooled onion mixture, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Mix gently with your hands until just combined.
- Form and bake: Form into a loaf shape on a foil-lined baking tray. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Make glaze: Whisk ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and mustard together.
- Glaze and finish baking: After 30 minutes, spread half the glaze over the meatloaf. Return to the oven and bake for another 25-30 minutes, adding the remaining glaze for the last 10 minutes.
- Rest: Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
