Back to the Basics: Southern-Style Meatloaf

When you talk about comfort food, few dishes stand as tall as a classic homemade meatloaf. We going back to the basics on this one — by popular demand. This is that hearty, flavorful, straight-from-the-heart type of dish that’ll make you feel like you’re back in grandma’s kitchen. This ain’t just meatloaf — this is soul food wrapped in a pan.

Let’s get into it.

Why You’ll Love This Meatloaf Recipe

• It’s packed with savory flavor from a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage.
• Moist and tender thanks to milk, eggs, and breadcrumbs.
• That meatloaf glaze? Sweet, tangy, and absolutely next level.
• It’s a dump-and-go recipe — once you get everything chopped and ready, it’s easy to bring together.
• Family-friendly and great for leftovers.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Meatloaf Ingredients:

• 1 lbs Ground Beef (preferably 80/20)
• 1 lb Italian Mild Sausage
• 1 medium Onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 Red Bell Pepper, finely diced
• 1/2 Green Bell Pepper, finely diced
• 2 large Eggs
• 3 Garlic cloves, minced
• 3 Tbsp Ketchup
• 3 Tbsp fresh Parsley, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup Panko Breadcrumbs (or crushed crackers like Saltines or Ritz)
• 1/3 cup Milk
• 1 ½ tsp Salt, or to taste
• 1 ½ tsp Creole Kick (or Cajun seasoning)
• ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
• ½ tsp Ground Paprika

Meatloaf Glaze:

• 3/4 cup Ketchup
• 1 ½ tsp White Vinegar
• 2 ½ Tbsp Brown Sugar
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• ½ tsp Onion Powder
• ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
• ½ tsp Salt

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Grab a meatloaf pan or a loaf pan with a removable tray if you have one. That’s going to help drain off that excess fat, especially when you’re working with 80/20 ground beef and sausage.

Step 2: Combine Your Meats

In a large mixing bowl, add:

• 1 lbs of ground beef
• 1 lb of Italian sausage

Mix lightly with your hands just to combine. Don’t overwork it — we just getting started.

Step 3: Dice Your Veggies

Time to bring that flavor:

• Dice your red and green bell peppers. Keep it small if you want that smooth texture, or go a little chunkier for a bite of flavor.
• Chop your onion finely.
• Mince your garlic.

Add all these into your meat mixture.

Step 4: Add the Rest

Dump in the rest of your ingredients:

• Eggs
• Ketchup
• Fresh parsley
• Panko breadcrumbs (or crushed crackers)
• Milk
• Salt, black pepper, paprika, and that Creole Kick seasoning

Get in there with your hands and gently mix everything together. Use a folding motion — don’t mash it down. The goal is to combine without making it dense.

You’ll notice as you mix that the milk and egg are helping keep it moist. The breadcrumbs and crackers are working as binders. You’ll see where your seasoning and veggies are, and you want to get it evenly distributed.

Step 5: Shape the Loaf

Now grab your meatloaf pan. Spoon the mixture in without packing it down too tightly. Just push it in gently and form a smooth top.

If you’re using a regular baking sheet or a loaf pan without a tray, line it with foil or parchment and shape the meatloaf by hand.

Step 6: Make the Glaze

In a small bowl, mix together:

• 3/4 cup Ketchup
• White vinegar
• Brown sugar
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Black pepper
• Salt

This glaze is that secret sauce that brings everything together. Sweet, tangy, and savory.

Step 7: Bake It Up

Place the meatloaf in the oven uncovered and bake for about 40 minutes.

After 40 minutes, pull it out and brush a generous layer of glaze over the top.

Put it back in the oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature hits 160°F in the center.

Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing so it holds together.

Expert Tips

• Meat Mix: The combination of beef and sausage adds flavor and fat. If you don’t do pork, sub in ground chicken or turkey sausage.
• Breadcrumb Hack: Don’t have panko? Use crushed Saltines, Ritz, or any dry cracker you got on hand.
• Don’t Overmix: Too much handling = dense meatloaf. Mix until just combined.
• Veggie Dice Size: Small dice melts into the loaf. Larger chunks = more texture.
• Drain the Fat: If you’re using fatty meat, go with a loaf pan with a lift-out tray or bake on a rack so it doesn’t sit in grease.

Variations to Try

1. Spicy Kick: Add jalapeños or red pepper flakes.
2. BBQ Twist: Swap ketchup for BBQ sauce in the glaze.
3. Cheesy: Mix in 1 cup shredded cheddar for a cheesy loaf.
4. Mushroom Lovers: Add sautéed mushrooms for earthiness.
5. Italian Style: Use Italian seasoning and top with marinara instead of ketchup glaze.
6. Tex-Mex: Add taco seasoning, corn, and black beans.
7. Bacon-Wrapped: Wrap it in bacon before baking.
8. Stuffed: Add a center of cheese, spinach, or hard-boiled eggs.
9. Mini Meatloaves: Bake in muffin tins for individual servings.
10. Smoked Meatloaf: Cook low and slow in your smoker for extra depth.

What to Serve With It

You can’t go wrong with these classics:

1. Mashed Potatoes
2. Mac and Cheese
3. Green Beans
4. Collard Greens
5. Cornbread
6. Creamed Corn
7. Roasted Carrots
8. Cabbage and Bacon
9. Rice and Gravy
10. Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls

Storage Tips

• Fridge: Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Slice and wrap pieces in foil, then store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
• Reheat: Pop slices in the microwave or warm in the oven at 325°F until heated through.

Serving a Crowd?

This recipe yields about 8 slices — perfect for a family meal. For a crowd, double the recipe and make two loaves side by side.

Make Ahead

• You can fully assemble the meatloaf up to a day ahead. Just wrap and refrigerate.
• When ready to cook, bring it to room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.

Homemade Meatloaf

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• Meatloaf:
• 1 lbs ground beef 80/20
• 1 lb Italian mild sausage
• 1 medium onion finely diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper diced
• 2 eggs
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 3 tbsp ketchup
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ tsp Creole Kick or Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• Glaze:
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1 ½ tsp white vinegar
• 2 ½ tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a large bowl, combine all meatloaf ingredients. Mix until just combined — don’t overmix.
• Press mixture into a meatloaf pan or form into a loaf on a baking sheet.
• In a separate bowl, mix together all glaze ingredients.
• Bake meatloaf uncovered for 40 minutes.
• Remove from oven, brush glaze generously on top.
• Return to oven and bake for 15–20 more minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
• Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve and enjoy.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!