YUM! Tender, juicy, and packed with old-fashioned comfort, this Slow-Cooker Classic Sunday Meatloaf brings all the nostalgia of home cooking straight to your dinner table! Topped with a sweet and tangy ketchup-brown sugar glaze, this dump-and-go recipe lets your slow cooker do all the heavy lifting for a cozy supper that guaranteed won’t leave any leftovers.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Hands-Off Slow Cooking: No worrying about a dry bake in the oven—the slow cooker keeps the meatloaf incredibly moist and tender.
Classic Tangy Glaze: A sweet-and-savory ketchup glaze caramelizes directly over the loaf as it slow-cooks.
Minimal Prep Effort: Simple pantry staples combined into one bowl and dropped into the slow cooker pot!
Essential Kitchen Equipment
6-Quart Slow Cooker (Crock-Pot): Perfect size for shaping and cooking a full meatloaf loaf.
Aluminum Foil (Sling): Essential for easily lifting the hot, cooked meatloaf out of the slow cooker insert without it breaking.
Ingredients
Meatloaf Base:
2 lbs Lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
1 cup Breadcrumbs or crushed Ritz crackers
1/2 cup Yellow onion, finely diced
1/2 cup Green bell pepper, finely diced
2 large Eggs, beaten
1/2 cup Milk
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black pepper
Sweet Ketchup Glaze:
3/4 cup Ketchup
2 tbsp Brown sugar
1 tbsp Yellow mustard or Worcestershire sauce
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Create Foil Sling: Line the bottom and sides of your slow cooker with a strip of aluminum foil, leaving long overhang edges on the sides to use as handles later. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
2. Combine Meat Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, diced onion, diced green pepper, beaten eggs, milk, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Gently mix with your hands until just combined (do not overwork).
3. Shape & Place: Form the meat mixture into a oval loaf shape and place it directly into the center of the foil-lined slow cooker.
4. Mix & Pour Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, and yellow mustard (or Worcestershire sauce). Pour the ketchup glaze evenly over the entire raw ground beef loaf.
5. Slow Cook: Cover with lid and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours (or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours) until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
6. Lift, Rest & Serve: Carefully use the foil handles to lift the cooked meatloaf out of the slow cooker. Let rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before slicing into thick pieces!
Chef’s Tips
Use Lean Meat: Using 85/15 or 90/10 ground beef prevents excess fat pooling at the bottom of the slow cooker while cooking.
Broil Option for Crispy Glaze: For an extra sticky glaze, transfer the cooked meatloaf to a baking sheet after slow cooking and broil under high heat in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes!
Nutritional Breakdown (Per Serving / Yields 6 Servings)
Servings: 6 thick slices
Calories: ~340 kcal
Protein: 32g
Net Carbs: 14g
Fat: 16g
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I make this meatloaf lower in carbs?
Yes! You can replace the breadcrumbs with 1 cup of almond flour or crushed pork rinds, and use a sugar-free ketchup paired with a zero-calorie brown sugar substitute for a keto-friendly version!