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Easy 5-Ingredient Meatloaf

Easy 5-ingredient meatloaf made with ground beef, onion soup mix, eggs, breadcrumbs, and a glossy ketchup glaze. Baked until the glaze is set and the loaf reaches 160°F, then rested for clean slices with a classic comfort-food texture.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Rest 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 610
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatloaf base
  • 2 lb ground beef
  • 1 can (1 oz) onion soup mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 0.33 cup ketchup plus more for top
  • 0.5 cup breadcrumbs

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Prep and shape
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan. Set the pan aside so it’s ready for shaping.
  2. Mix ground beef, onion soup mix, eggs, 1/3 cup ketchup, and breadcrumbs until just combined. Stop as soon as the mixture comes together so it stays tender.
  3. Press the mixture into the loaf pan and smooth the top. Press firmly enough to hold together, then level the surface.
  4. Spread a thin layer of ketchup over the top. Aim for an even coat so it caramelizes into a glossy glaze.
Bake and rest
  1. Bake 55–65 minutes at 350°F until the internal temperature reaches 160°F and the glaze is set. Look for a shiny, slightly caramelized top and juices that are mostly absorbed.
  2. Rest the meatloaf 10 minutes before slicing. Letting it rest helps the slices hold their shape.

Notes

For best texture, mix only until the ingredients are combined—overmixing can make meatloaf dense. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3–4 days in a covered container. Freeze cooked meatloaf up to 2–3 months. For a lighter option, use 93% lean ground beef instead of regular ground beef.