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Brown Sugar Glazed Classic Meatloaf

Brown Sugar Glazed Classic Meatloaf bakes low and slow with a sticky ketchup-and-brown-sugar glaze that caramelizes into a deep golden crust. Ground beef stays juicy thanks to milk, eggs, and crushed saltines, then the loaf is brushed with glaze before baking and rested for clean slices.
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Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 560
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

ground beef
  • 1.5 lb ground beef
binder and seasonings
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 cup crushed saltine crackers
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 pepper to taste
glaze
  • 0.75 cup ketchup
  • 2.5 tsp brown sugar
  • 1.5 tsp white vinegar
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Preheat and prep
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Combine the ground beef, milk, large eggs, small onion, crushed saltine crackers, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and mix until just combined.
  3. Shape the mixture into a loaf and place in a baking pan.
Make and apply glaze
  1. Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, white vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce for the glaze.
  2. Spoon the glaze generously over the top of the loaf.
Bake and rest
  1. Bake for about 1 hour, until the internal temperature reaches 160°F, with the oven staying at 350°F.
  2. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing, leaving the loaf to set and the glaze to settle.

Notes

For the juiciest slices, mix just until the ingredients come together—overmixing can make the loaf dense. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Freeze baked meatloaf for up to 2 months (slice after thawing for best texture). For a lighter option, use ground turkey in the same amount to reduce saturated fat while keeping the same glaze.