Description
This Slow Cooker Meatloaf with Ketchup Sauce is a comforting, flavorful dish perfect for an easy dinner. Combining ground beef with classic seasonings, vegetables, and a tangy ketchup-based glaze, it cooks slowly to tender, juicy perfection using a convenient slow cooker method. The final sauce adds a sweet and savory finish, while simple pantry ingredients like saltine crackers bind the loaf beautifully. Ideal for meal prep or family meals, this recipe requires minimal hands-on time but delivers maximum taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatloaf Mixture
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup diced white onion
- 1 cup diced red or green bell pepper
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 25 saltine crackers, crushed
- 2 lbs ground beef (7% – 10% fat)
Ketchup Sauce Topping
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the eggs, diced onion, diced bell pepper, ketchup, milk, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add the crushed saltine crackers and mix thoroughly using clean hands. Then gently incorporate the ground beef, mixing just until all ingredients are combined to avoid compressing the meat excessively.
- Shape and Place in Slow Cooker: Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray. Shape the meat mixture into a loaf and place it at the bottom of the slow cooker. If the mixture feels too wet to hold its shape, add additional crushed saltines until firm enough to form a loaf.
- Cook the Meatloaf: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to maintain temperature and moisture needed for even cooking.
- Remove Excess Fat: After cooking, carefully remove any accumulated fat from the surface of the meatloaf and discard it to keep the dish leaner.
- Prepare and Apply Sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce to make the topping glaze. Spoon this sauce evenly over the cooked meatloaf in the slow cooker.
- Finish Cooking with Sauce: Cover and cook the meatloaf on LOW for an additional 30 minutes to allow the sauce to heat through and flavors to meld.
- Serve: Once done, serve the meatloaf warm, slicing as desired for a hearty and delicious meal.
Notes
- If you don’t have saltine crackers, substitute with 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers, oatmeal, or breadcrumbs.
- Ground turkey can replace beef; increase crushed saltines as turkey tends to be wetter than beef.
- Topping variations include barbecue sauce, warm brown gravy, plain ketchup, or zesty salsa.
- The meatloaf may appear pink due to myoglobin reacting to heat, but it is safe to eat as long as the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
Keywords: slow cooker meatloaf, easy meatloaf, ketchup meatloaf, comfort food, slow cooker recipes, ground beef meatloaf, family dinner