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Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Cheeseburger meatloaf with melted American cheese inside and a ketchup-mustard glaze on top. Baked until the center hits 160°F for a juicy, classic burger-style slice every time.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
rest 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 510
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatloaf base
  • 2 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 0.667 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • 0.333 cup whole milk
  • 1 onion small, finely grated
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 pepper to taste
Cheese + serving
  • 6 American or cheddar cheese slices
  • 0.25 cup ketchup for glaze
  • 1 tbsp mustard for glaze
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar for glaze
  • 1 dill pickle slices for serving

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Prep and assemble
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, whole milk, grated onion, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
  3. Press half of the meat mixture into the loaf pan, then layer cheese slices across the center.
  4. Press the remaining meat mixture over the top to seal the cheese inside.
Glaze and bake
  1. Mix the glaze (ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar) and spread it evenly over the top.
  2. Bake for 60–70 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160°F and the glaze is caramelized.
Rest and serve
  1. Rest the meatloaf for 10 minutes before slicing.
  2. Slice and serve with dill pickle slices on top.

Notes

For the cleanest slices, let the meatloaf rest the full 10 minutes—this helps the cheese set and the juices redistribute. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days; freeze sliced portions up to 2 months (thaw overnight in the fridge). If you want a lighter option, swap half the ground beef for lean ground turkey while keeping the same bake time and target internal temperature of 160°F.