This Slow Cooker Meatloaf is made easily in your crockpot and has just 4 ingredients!
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I know…I can just hear you saying it now. Meatloaf? Really? Yes, meatloaf. Really. I know that meatloaf has a bad rap. It’s been the center of many jokes that I’ve heard regarding food. Because of this, I always hesitate to serve meatloaf to the family, even though every time I do serve it, they love it. And finding a meal that everyone loves is not exactly easy.
So, I’m here today to share our Slow Cooker Meatloaf. It’s a simple recipe. Just 4 ingredients and made in the slow cooker. You can’t get much more simple than that.
We like the main flavor in our meatloaf to be, well…beef. (With the exception of this Mexican Meatloaf that the kids devour!)
Here’s the ingredients you’ll use for a meatloaf that your family will love.
1. Beef. Choose a good, lean beef. We used 90% lean ground sirloin. Since it is baking in the slow cooker, there is nowhere for the fat to be drained, so choosing a lean meat will help your meatloaf not to drown in fat while it is cooking all day. We still had some fat to drain off when it was all said and done, but not too much.
2. 1 envelope potato pancake mix. We like to use Hungry Jack potato pancake mixes. If you aren’t sure what this is, you can see a picture here. We find them in the aisle that has the breading for fish, chicken, etc. Why add this to the meatloaf? Because it will absorb some of the liquid and fat while cooking. We like to use potato pancake mix because that is what we use to thicken our Grandma’s Meatballs, but you could also use oatmeal or bread crumbs (about 1 or 1 1/2 cups).
3. 1 envelope dry onion soup mix. As I said before, our family likes classic meatloaf with a great tastes. To season the meatloaf, we simply add an envelope of dry onion soup mix. This gives great flavor without needing a bunch of spices.
4. 3 eggs. Eggs are a binder in meatloaf and help everything stick together.
Top your meatloaf with barbecue sauce, ketchup or your favorite sauce. The kids and I go for ketchup in our house. Matt goes for the barbecue sauce!
Enjoy this easy recipe. I hope your family loves it as much as ours does!
Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 4 pounds ground sirloin (90% lean)
- 1 envelope potato pancake mix
- 1 envelope dry onion soup mix
- 3 large eggs
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the meat with the potato pancake mix, onion soup mix and eggs. Mix well.
- Shape this into a loaf and put the loaf into the slow cooker. Allow it to cook on low for 7-8 hours, or on high for 5-6 hours.
Nancy A. says
I love meatloaf, but this is a lot of beef. Can I halve it? I have been searching for a good meat loaf, I make it and it falls apart.
Lizzy T says
Nancy, Yes, you can make just half a recipe. Use half of the envelopes of mixes and save the other half for another time you make the meatloaf. And if you halve it, I’d probably use two eggs. It may cook more quickly, too. I’ve got three growing kids and like to have leftovers, so I forget that sometimes 4 pounds of meat are not needed! I hope you enjoy this!
rosemom says
Make two loafs and freeze one for a later date. Two birds with one stone. Hee
Julie Clark says
Perfect solution!!
Martha says
Freeze the other half for another dinner…2 meals from 1 prep….
Lizzy T says
Thanks, Martha, for sharing your time-saving hint!
rosemom says
you are not working the meat enough. I use 2 eggs and cracker crumbs. mix well, shape into loaf. I put mine on a rack so I won’t be in it’s own juices.
ROSE says
YOU CAN HALVE ANY RECIPE OR MAKE IT ALL AND FREEZE HALF
boualem Réal says
I love snacks with simple ingredients and uncomplicated and does not require a big effort in the preparation, thank you
Lizzy T says
You are so welcome!
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite books says
I love meatloaf, your recipe sounds great!
Pinned.
Lizzy T says
Thank you, Melissa!
Matt Robinson says
Never gets a bad rap here, we love meatloaf and this one looks so perfect and easy to make. We’re all about the slow cooker, so thanks!
Lizzy T says
It is so easy, Matt. Enjoy!
Terese | Topline Foods says
Love this idea! 4 lbs is a lot of beef but I can see how you would need that in most slow cookers to keep the meat from being like a “pancake”. Our house could eat this up too with leftovers for snacks and lunch!
Lizzy T says
Yes, Terese! The leftovers go quickly in our house!
Janet says
Thank you for sharing your meatloaf recipe. I am going to give it a try. I have a great recipe that I use rice crispies instead of the potato mix. Everything else is the same. The sauce is ketchup, brown sugar and soy sauce mixed together. It makes your meatloaf taste amazing. Thanks again for sharing.
Lizzy T says
That sauce sounds amazing, Janet! I’ll have to try it on our meatloaf next time. Thanks for sharing!
Janet says
oh, I also added sausage ( sage sausage) with fresh onions to my meatloaf.
Lizzy T says
Maybe he’ll like this recipe, Maria! 🙂
Walter E. Kalck says
how do you get the eat loaf out of the slow cooker with out breaking it up ?
Lizzy T says
Well…we have never really pulled it out and served it in a whole loaf. We’ve just sliced it and served it. You could try lifting it with two spatulas.
Linda Holder says
I like your recipe and I am going to make your recipe the next time I make a meat loaf . Thanks for sharing with us and have a nice week.
Betty Muncy says
Can you freeze this for later and if so, would you thaw it before cooking? I’ve seen other recipes that said to line the pot with foil strips and then spray with a non-stick spray so it can be removed from the pot.
Lizzy T says
I love the idea of using foil to remove it from the pot! Thanks for sharing that tip! If I froze the raw meatloaf, I think I’d try putting it in the fridge overnight to start defrosting, then put it in the crockpot in the morning. I’d be afraid it wouldn’t cook all the way through if it was frozen solid in the morning. I’d love to hear if you try it and how it worked!
Neil says
I am going to cook this tomorrow. I have slow cooker bags. I line the cooker with that. When it is done I just take it out and throw it out. Don’t have to clean the slow cooker.
Julie Clark says
I haven’t tried these yet, but I so need to!
TrevorsGammy says
I thought I’d let you know that they also make crock pot liners so you don’t have to use foil–they just fit into the pot and when you are done you pull up the sides and remove everything(like a cooking bag)
Lizzy T says
I’ve seen these but have never used them. Great idea!!
Angela says
My grocery store doesn’t carry the potato pancake mix, is there something I can substitute?
Lizzy T says
Angela, you could substitute about 1/2-1 cup of dry quick oats. This is how I always used to make meatloaf. 🙂 You could also use bread crumbs (1/2 cup).
alsewgirl says
I’ve used oatmeal, too….for 40 years. It is healthier than crackers or bread. It works to hold it together.
Rachel says
What could you use instead of the dry onion soup mix? My picky man won’t eat it, he WILL find the tiny little onions haha
Julie Clark says
You could make your own homemade soup mix, but just leave out the onions. Here’s a recipe! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/217155/dry-onion-soup-mix/
joyce clough says
all i could find was a 6oz box of potato pancake mix how much do i use
Julie Clark says
You can use the whole 6 ounce package.
Netta Braun says
I have a box of cereal ( toasted Oates). I am going to try this instead of bread crumbs. Will let u know how it turns out. Also using 1lb. Of vension 1lb. Hamburger.