Air fryer meatloaf is a family friendly meal that is sure to become a regular on your weekly menu. Amazing crust on the outside and perfectly moist on the inside. All topped with a sauce that is crave worthy.
If you are interested in more ground beef recipes, be sure to try cheesy ground beef and rice casserole, ground beef ramen and beef noodle bake.
If you think you enjoy cooking with your air fryer now, wait until you taste this meatloaf! It has seriously become one of our favorite things to make using this handy kitchen appliance. It’s a wonderful comfort food meal that is super satisfying.
Not familiar with cooking with an air fryer? Be sure to download this free printable cooking times and temperatures cheat sheet.
AIR FRYER COOKING TIMES CHEAT SHEET
Why it works
- Perfect crust on the outside and deliciously moist on the inside.
- 2-lb meatloaf cooks up in about 45 minutes.
- Easy clean-up.
- Save any leftovers for meal prep for the week.
Ingredients needed
Ground beef – You can also use ground turkey. The higher the fat content, the more grease. I typically use leaner beef.
Panko bread crumbs – You could replace with regular bread crumbs, Italian bread crumbs, gluten-free bread crumbs or quick cooking oats.
Eggs – This helps bind the meatloaf together.
Milk – Adds moisture.
Parsley – Adds freshness and a little green.
Worcestershire, Garlic Salt and Italian Seasoning
Sauce – Ketchup, brown sugar, ground mustard
How to cook meatloaf in the air fryer
Scroll to the bottom for full printable recipe, ingredients and video.
- Mix: Place Panko crumbs, milk and eggs in a large bowl and stir. Add in ground beef, diced onion, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, garlic salt and Italian seasoning. Mix until combined.
- Form: Place parchment paper in a loaf pan. Put mixture on top of parchment and form into a loaf.
- Air Fry: Lift the parchment with meatloaf out of the pan and place in air fryer basket. Cook at 370 degrees for 30 minutes.
- ***Check meatloaf after cooking for 10-15 minutes. If the top is getting dark, place a small piece of foil over meatloaf and continue cooking. It will vary depending on brand of air fryer.
- Sauce: In a small bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, and dry mustard. After 30 minutes, spread half of the sauce over meatloaf. Continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Do you preheat?
I do like to preheat for about 5 minutes. My machine has a preheat button, if yours doesn’t, set the temperature to 350 degrees for 5 minutes before cooking.
Recipe tips
- You can make these into mini loaves, just dived mixture into 2 or 3 smaller loaves and same temperature just a little less time.
- You can use ground turkey for this recipe.
- You can use regular bread crumbs or Italian bread crumbs in place of Panko.
- Make sure that the internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F.
- I like using the reserved sauce to serve alongside meatloaf.
How to slice
Make sure to let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. Use a serrated knife for best results.
How to store
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, place back in air fryer on 350 degrees for about 5 minutes or in the oven.
What to serve
There are many wonderful side dishes that are perfect with this main dish. Here are a few of our favorite:
What air fryer to use?
I have been using and enjoying THIS model. You can see my full review and video HERE.
More tasty air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts – Easy method for cooking chicken breasts.
- Air Fryer Pork Chops – Cooked with a honey mustard sauce.
- Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken – You can easily make at home. Great to use for meal prep.
- Air Fryer Hamburgers – These burgers are juicy and delicious. Serve with your favorite toppings.
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs – Lean turkey meatballs can be used for many dishes and meal prep.
- Air Fryer Shrimp and Sausage – Just like a shrimp boil, filled with veggies, shrimp and sausage.
*** If you made this recipe, please feel free to leave a comment and rating below.
Watch how air fryer meatloaf is made in the video below.
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/4 cup milk
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground mustard
Instructions
- Place eggs, Panko and milk in a large bowl and stir. Mix in ground beef, onion, parsley, Worcestershire, garlic salt and Italian seasoning.
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper or foil. Place meat mixture in the prepared pan and form a loaf.
- Carefully lift up loaf with the parchment and place in the air fryer basket. Set temperature for 370 degrees for 15 minutes. Check top of meatloaf, if starting to turn brown and crust, place a small piece of foil over meatloaf. Continue cooking at 370 degrees F for another 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, stir together ketchup, brown sugar and ground mustard to make sauce. After the meatloaf has been cooking 30 minutes, spread half of the sauce over top the meatloaf.
- Continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- Let meatloaf rest about 10 minutes before slicing. Add extra sauce if needed.
Sue Clements
I made this meatloaf recipe. I put the sauce on half of it cause my husband doesn’t like sauces. This meatloaf is so juicy and favorable. We both loved it. This is my new go-to meatloaf recipe. Very yummy! 😋
Mary P Redgraves
This recipe if the best.
I followed the recipe as written and it turned out great.
I get a delicious pre-made meatloaf from our farmers market and used it, but made the recipe sauce.
It turned out great.
Robin
Ty cuz this turned out so so good and I’m always hesitant to try new recipes myself…..I’m just a chicken! Cuz I’m afraid to go through all the work and money and dislike it! But I don’t know anyone with a Ninja Foodi or a AirFryer yet and I just got mine Xmas. So if I want to use it I better get to trying some recipes and every recipe that I have tried on Pinterest so far has been excellent!!
Thanks 😊
MKelly
Tried this tonight in my air fryer. Came out delicious! Best meat loaf I’ve had!
Tara
Hello. Making this for my first time. Do I have to use ground mustard in the liquid mixture? I couldn’t find any at the store. Is there anything I can substitute with for the ketchup topping? Thanks!
heather
Hi, yes, you can just use 1 teaspoon of regular mustard and it will work great. Hope you enjoy!
Tara
Update… it tasted so good and my husband even loved it! This is the first time making homemade meatloaf without the meatloaf mix and it tasted very good! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Paris007
Dry mustard can be found on the spice shelf in case you looked just in the ketchup/mustard section where it’s not stocked.
Sylvia
Made this tonight and loved it. I only had one pound of meat so just halved everything. Cooked it for 15 minutes then put the topping on it and cooked it for another 10 minutes. Came out perfectly. Used the parchment paper and almost didn’t even have to wash the air fryer basket. Very little cleanup. This is a definite keeper.
heather
So glad you enjoyed it!
Mary
Might be stupid question, you put parchment paper in air fryer while cooking.
heather
I do just to help keep it clean and together. You don’t have to put it in there. You can poke a few holes through the parchment paper to let the air circulate better.
Kay
Can you use GF oatmeal instead of Panko bread crumbs? How much oatmeal should I use?
heather
Hi Kay! Yes, you could replace with GF oatmeal. I would use about 1/2 cup oatmeal.
Penny
Thanks for the recipe. I’m cooking mine now. I love anything I ca air fry!
Kathleen
This was amazing! I used a medium only and about 3/4 cup of green bell pepper. This will be my go to meatloaf recipe!
Ashley Godsey
I don’t see serving size suggestion. Info is for a diabetic
Kim
Trying this. Only thing is, does there messy cook ON the parchment paper IN the air fryer, or only the meaty after it is formed?
heather
Hi Kim,
I actually cook mine with the parchment in the air fryer. You can poke a few holes in the parchment to allow air to circulate around the meatloaf. I actually, didn’t poke any holes and it cooks fine. You could place just the meatloaf itself in the air fryer basket also and it will cook fine.
Nancy
This recipe worked very well with Impossible Plant Based Ground “Beef”! I also substituted A1 instead of Worcestershire as I am vegetarian. I will definitely make this again!
heather
I am so glad you enjoyed! You inspired me to try it with the plant based beef too.
Carolyn
My grill will not set temp at 370 so I had to choose between 365 & 375
heather
Either or those is fine. Just check to make sure your internal temperature reaches 165 degrees when finished cooking.
Jackie
This looks delish. How much milk?
heather
Thanks Jackie! 1/4 cup milk. Enjoy!!
Debbie
Yo! This literally made me hungry. It’s looking so good.
Cathy Mini
Wow, that was so cool, I never heard that air fryer looks so interesting, I’ll check it out and I love the meatloaf looks so delicious. yummy
Swathi
Air fryer meatloaf looks delicious Great meal. I like that we can Air fry loaf. That sauce looks delicious
Barbies Beauty Bits
I’ve been so wanting an airfryer. And I love me some meatloaf. Gonna have to make one.
Monica
I’m convinced there’s nothing the air fryer can’t do! I would love to try this meatloaf.
Beth
I can’t remember the last time I had meatloaf, but it was a favorite when I was a kid. Yours looks delicious!
Rena
What a great idea! I bet it is delicious and probably a lot less greasy than cooking it the traditional way.
AK
Oh delicious! Meatloaf is such a comfort food to make!
Tasheena
This turned out great. I would’ve never guessed to make meatloaf in a air fryer.
Liz
This looks so scrumptious! I seriously need to invest in an air fryer.
Heather
I mostly use mine for the kids nuggets and fries. Have to try!
Sarah Bailey
Honestly, I am amazed at the things you can do in an air fryer I had no idea you could do things like meatloaf in it!
Pam Wattenbarger
We make meatloaf in our air fryer too. I love how simple it is. I’ve got to try your recipe too.
Amber Myers
This looks so good! I love meatloaf. I really need to get an air fryer. I keep seeing all sorts of great recipes using one.
GiGi Eats
Air Fryer ANYTHING is my jam!! I haven’t done meatloaf (YET)… But I air fry salmon EVERY SINGLE DAY!
Jen
Yum, I haven’t had meatloaf in ages. It always reminds of my grandpa that I was very close to. Meatloaf was his favorite!