Air Fryer Meatloaf
Sep 17, 2024
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My air fryer meatloaf recipe is a family friendly meal that is sure to become a regular on your weekly menu. This meatloaf has an amazing crust on the outside and is perfectly moist on the inside. I’ve topped this with my easy, secret sauce to add lots of flavor.
My easy recipe for meatloaf in the air fryer
I am obsessed with my air fryer and use it all the time. It’s perfect when I don’t want to take up oven space if I’m cooking something else.
That’s why I first decided to try making meatloaf in the air fryer. I was baking hash brown casserole and didn’t have any extra room in the oven for the meatloaf, so I brought out my trusty air fryer.
I have tested this recipe many times to make sure it cooked through and of course that it tastes delicious.
If you are interested in more meatloaf recipes be sure to try this Lipton Onion Soup meatloaf, BBQ meatloaf, one pound meatloaf, or these other meatloaf recipes.
Why you’ll love this meatloaf recipe
- Perfect crust on the outside and deliciously moist on the inside.
- A 2-lb meatloaf cooks up in about 45 minutes. You can also make this simple one pound meatloaf in the air fryer.
- Simple, easy, and not much clean-up.
- Makes amazing leftovers.
Reader Rating
“The finest meatloaf I have ever made! Years ago I purchased a double meatloaf pan with an internal perforated drip pan and was not truly satisfied with the results. This air fryer recipe requires continued attention but (including the sauce) is MASTERFUL!” – Pete
Air fryer meatloaf ingredients
- Ground beef – You can also use ground turkey. The higher the fat content, the more grease so I typically use a lean beef.
- Panko bread crumbs – I like using panko bread crumbs but you can substitute with regular bread crumbs, Italian bread crumbs, gluten-free bread crumbs, or quick cooking oats.
- Eggs – These help to bind the meatloaf together.
- Milk – Add a little moisture to the meatloaf.
- Onion – Diced onion adds great flavor.
- Parsley – Fresh parsley adds a hint of freshness. This can be omitted.
- Worcestershire sauce – Adds depth of flavor.
- Garlic salt
- Italian seasoning
- Sauce – For the meatloaf sauce, I use ketchup, brown sugar, and ground mustard.
How to make air fryer meatloaf
Scroll to the bottom for full printable recipe, ingredients and video.
Step one: Mix – Place the bread crumbs, milk, and eggs in a large bowl. Mix to combine. Add in the ground beef, diced onion, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning. Mix to combine.
Step two: Form – Place a piece of parchment paper in a loaf pan. Put the meat mixture on top of the parchment and form into a loaf.
Step three: Air fryer – Lift the parchment with meatloaf out of the pan and place in the air fryer basket. Cook at 380 degrees for 30 minutes.
Step four: Sauce – Place ketchup, brown sugar, and ground mustard in a small bowl. Stir together to combine. After cooking the meatloaf for 30 minutes, spread the sauce on top of the meatloaf. Continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F. Let meatloaf rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Heather’s recipe tips
- If the top of the meatloaf starts to get dark after 15-20 minutes of cooking, you can cover it with a piece of foil.
- I recommend using a lean beef to keep the grease down.
- You can make this recipe into mini meat loaves by dividing the mixture into 2 or 3 smaller loaves. Cook at the same temperature.
- Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F.
- If you don’t want to use all of the meatloaf sauce, you can save the reserve to serve alongside the meatloaf.
- Don’t like ketchup? Replace the sauce with BBQ sauce.
How to slice meatloaf
I recommend letting it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. Use a serrated knife for the best results.
How to store leftovers
Store any leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes or place in the oven at 350 degrees.
Meatloaf makes wonderful leftovers! I love using it to make a meatloaf sandwich.
What to serve with this air fryer meatloaf
There are so many wonderful meatloaf side dishes that are perfect with this main dish. A few of my favorite include:
Common questions
No, you don’t need to preheat.
Yes, you can use foil. If the top of the meatloaf starts to get dark before it’s finished cooking, you can lightly cover the meatloaf with foil to prevent burning.
I use a basket style air fryer. Mine is a 5.8 quart which can easily hold this meatloaf.
More tasty air fryer recipes
- Air fryer chicken breasts – Easy method for cooking chicken.
- Air fryer turkey meatballs – Lean turkey meatballs can be used for many dishes and meal prep.
- Air fryer grilled cheese – A simple way to make a delicious sandwich.
- Air fryer tuna steak – Make ahi tuna in minutes.
- Air fryer turkey tenderloin – Flavorful turkey can be made in minutes.
Let me know if you made this recipe in the comments below.
Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
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.
Video
Notes
- You can make this recipe into mini meat loaves by dividing the mixture into 2 or 3 smaller loaves. Cook at the same temperature.
- Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F.
- If you don’t want to use all of the meatloaf sauce, you can save the reserve to serve alongside the meatloaf.
- Don’t like ketchup? Replace the sauce with BBQ sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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?
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.
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!
I am so glad you enjoyed! You inspired me to try it with the plant based beef too.
My grill will not set temp at 370 so I had to choose between 365 & 375
Either or those is fine. Just check to make sure your internal temperature reaches 165 degrees when finished cooking.
This looks delish. How much milk?
Thanks Jackie! 1/4 cup milk. Enjoy!!
Yo! This literally made me hungry. It’s looking so good.
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
Air fryer meatloaf looks delicious Great meal. I like that we can Air fry loaf. That sauce looks delicious
I’ve been so wanting an airfryer. And I love me some meatloaf. Gonna have to make one.
I’m convinced there’s nothing the air fryer can’t do! I would love to try this meatloaf.
I can’t remember the last time I had meatloaf, but it was a favorite when I was a kid. Yours looks delicious!