I love that I can serve up a delicious and tasty homemade meatloaf in a fraction of the time thanks to the air fryer. Perfectly cooked and juicy, I find that this Air Fryer Meatloaf recipe is ready to serve in around 30 minutes. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
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What’s in This Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe?
Glazed in a tangy and sweet ketchup mix, this air fryer meatloaf is tasty, hearty, comforting, and a breeze to make. I serve it up with all of your favorite sides for a cozy dinner idea that everyone will love!
- Ground Beef: We like 80-85% lean beef for a juicy meatloaf. Any leaner, and it may turn out dry.
- Breadcrumbs: Bind the meatloaf and help retain moisture. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Onion: A bit of finely chopped yellow or white onion adds an earthy-sweet flavor and moisture.
- Milk: Adds moisture and richness to the loaf. Any kind of milk will work, including plant-based milk.
- Ketchup: Adds a sweet and umami flavor to both the meatloaf and the glaze.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds savory, umami flavor to the meatloaf. Check the ingredients carefully if you’re gluten-sensitive, as not all brands are gluten-free.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning add flavor to the meatloaf, while garlic and onion powder add a savory element to the glaze.
- Egg: Helps bind the meatloaf and adds moisture.
- Sugar: Brown sugar adds rich sweetness to the glaze.
- Vinegar: A splash of red wine vinegar a touch of balancing acidity to the glaze.
Variations on Meatloaf in the Air Fryer
I prefer to make this air fryer meatloaf with beef as it has a higher fat content than chicken or turkey so it stays nice and juicy. I sometimes swap some of the beef with another ground meat like chicken or turkey. Pork would also be delicious!
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How to Store and Reheat
Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days and can be reheated in the air fryer at 320°F for 5 minutes to warm it back through.
How to Freeze
To freeze, tightly wrap the meatloaf in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then store in a Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
This is one hearty and delicious meal that is so easy to make. Serve it up with your favorite sides, like mashed potatoes and a spinach salad with bacon for one tasty family meal. Use leftovers to make a delicious meatloaf sandwich with Swiss or Provolone cheese!
Notes from the Test Kitchen
This beef meatloaf takes minutes to make before it gets cooked in the air fryer. Even the clean-up is a breeze! You just need one bowl to mix everything together, and then it’s cooked right in the air fryer basket.
Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 large egg
For the Glaze
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix all the meatloaf ingredients together.1 pound ground beef, ½ cup breadcrumbs, ½ cup finely chopped onion, ¼ cup milk, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 large egg
- Form the mixture into a loaf shape.
- Transfer the loaf to the air fryer.
- Cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
- While the meatloaf is cooking, make the glaze. Combine the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small dish.½ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder
- While the meatloaf is still in the air fryer basket, spread the glaze over the meatloaf.
- Cook the meatloaf for another 5 minutes.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Don’t overwork the meatloaf mixture. Everything should be well combined, but over-mixing it can cause the beef to become chewy and dense.
- Place the meatloaf straight into the air fryer basket. If you prefer, you can lay it on some foil.
- We love the tomato glaze to finish off this meatloaf, but it will still be delicious without it.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check the meatloaf for doneness; it should be 165°F at the thickest point.
- Let the meatloaf rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing to lock in the juices.
Nutrition Information
How to Make Meatloaf in an Air Fryer Step by Step
Mix the Meatloaf: In a large bowl, mix 1 pound of ground beef, ½ cup of breadcrumbs, ½ cup of finely chopped onion, ¼ cup of milk, 2 tablespoons of ketchup, 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, ¾ teaspoon of kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and 1 large egg together.
Shape and Cook the Meatloaf: Form the mixture into a loaf shape. Transfer the loaf to the air fryer. Cook at 350°F for 15 minutes.
Glaze and Cook the Meatloaf: While the meatloaf is cooking, make the glaze. Combine ½ cup of ketchup, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon of onion powder in a small dish. While the meatloaf is still in the air fryer basket, spread the glaze over the meatloaf. Cook the meatloaf for another 5 minutes.
I didn’t see mentioned what size air fryer you used to cook this amount of meatloaf.
Hi Mark, we used a 4-qt air fryer!
Will this recipe work in an air fryer that opens with doors and has trays instead of a basket?
It should! You’ll just need to place it on a tray!
Delicious!
Fantastic! 5 stars
Split into 2 loaves and cooked for 25 min.
Used soy sauce instead or Worcestershire because that’s what I had on hand
Added grateded parmesan to loaf mixture before cooking. Wonderfully moist even though I used 93/7 lean ground beef. Will definitely repeat! Thank you!
We’re so happy to hear you love this recipe, Mal!
Fantastic!
Split into 2 loaves and cooked for 25 min
Added grateded parmesan to loaf mixture before cooking.
My air fryer doesn’t have a basket. What do I do?
Does it have a tray? You can place it on a tray! Otherwise, you can buy a basket on Amazon!
I am a new air fryer. I plan to make my own meatloaf recipe, nut needed an idea to time. To make this gluten free, switch to oatmeal in place of bread crumbs. I like to use a medium salsa in place of the onions, it gives a little kick to the meatloaf. I have made meatloaf in the microwave and use a doughnut shape. This would help get it cooked through.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Marsha!
It said at the beginning cooking time is 20 min. Then at the end when you started to cook it it said 15. Then mix the top glaze Then cook for 5 min more. It a play on words a little. Just have a meat Thermoneter and check the center. Altitude and size of loaf may affect it. I justcmade this had to put it back in for more cooking time.