The Best Meatloaf Recipe (Seriously)

A hearty homestyle family favorite. Give this easy meatloaf recipe with onion soup mix a try. Simple yet scrumptious!

Meatloaf has gotten a bad rap over recent years. True, it may not be the healthiest of dishes, but when you have a hankering for a home-cooked meal, to me, there’s nothing that satisfies better. Deliciously seasoned meat. In a loaf. I seriously don’t understand any omnivore’s objection to such a delicacy.

Meatloaf, much like vegetable soup or chili, has been experimented with and adapted so many times throughout history that you could literally make a different version every day for the rest of your life and still leave many unexplored.

Fancier or more unique is not always better. “New-and-improved” is often inferior to the classic. To me, that’s kind of how it goes with meatloaf.

This recipe is adapted from Lipton’s “Souperior Meatloaf” recipe, which features the key ingredient, Lipton Recipe Secrets Beefy Onion Soup Mix. After trying many, many (seriously, countless) meatloaf recipes over the years, I just can’t shake Lipton’s recipe. I have, however, tweaked it some.

Not straying far from Lipton’s recipe, this loaf calls for less water and replaces dry bread crumbs with buttery crackers, making it (in my humble opinion) a firmer and more flavorful version.

So give this recipe a try. Throw it all together in one bowl, shape it in a pan, bake it, and top it – or don’t – however you like.

My favorite meatloaf topping is from the woman, the legend, Paula Deen. Alongside her classic meatloaf recipe is a simple, sweet and tangy sauce made of just ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar. Guys. It is incredible. Below you’ll find the recipe for that as well.

Meatloaf Ingredients

• Ground beef
• Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix (or Beefy Onion Soup Mix)
• Cracker crumbs (buttery – think Town House or Ritz)
• Egg
• Ketchup
• Water

Topping Ingredients

• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Brown sugar

How to Make Easy Meatloaf Recipe with Onion Soup Mix

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 2 pounds ground beef, one envelope onion soup mix, 3/4 cup cracker crumbs, one beaten egg, 1/3 cup ketchup, and 1/2 cup water.

3. Shape into loaf in a greased casserole dish or loaf pan.

4. Cover with topping, if using.
5. Bake for 1 hour, or until the middle is no longer pink.
6. Let stand 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving.
7. Enjo

How to Make the Topping

1. In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon mustard.
2. Spread evenly over meatloaf before baking.

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The Best Meatloaf (Seriously)

A hearty homestyle family favorite. Give this easy meatloaf recipe with onion soup mix a try. Simple yet scrumptious!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Resting Time 10 mins

Total Time 1 hr 20 mins

Course Main Course

Servings 8

Ingredients

  

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 envelope onion soup mix
• 3/4 cup cracker crumbs
• 1 beaten egg
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup water

Topping (optional)

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp mustard

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, dry onion soup mix, cracker crumbs, one beaten egg, ketchup, and water.
• Shape into loaf in a greased casserole dish or loaf pan.
• Cover with topping, if using.
• Bake for 1 hour, or until the middle is no longer pink.
• Let stand 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving.
• Enjoy!