Brown Sugar Meatloaf – Covered with a sweet brown sugar glaze this meatloaf full of flavor, it’s the best meatloaf you will ever have. Grab a fork & dig in.
I grew up eating meatloaf at least once a week, okay maybe it wasn’t that often but my mom loved to make meatloaf. As I got older I started to crave her recipe after having so many dry, bland and not so good meatloaf. This Brown Sugar Meatloaf recipe from my mom can’t be beat. I’m serious put it to the test.
I’ve had this meatloaf my entire life. I honestly thought this is how meatloaves were made. But as I grew up and started to eat dinner at friends homes, I quickly found out that all meatloaf is NOT created equal. My mom’s recipe is far superior and the key reason is the brown sugar glaze. {Drooling now.}
Another factor that makes my mom’s recipe better than everyone else’s is the fact that she uses bread, not bread crumbs. She breaks up soft, chewy bread into cubes and this makes it moist and not dry at all. My dad loves onion, so naturally, this is loaded up with onion but that is something you can adjust to your liking.
I love onion too – so I leave it as it and I cut the onion into larger chunks so that it makes it easier for my kids to pick out. Some have an aversion, thinking that it might make them grow greens on top of their head {LOL}.
The first time I made this Brown Sugar Meatloaf, my hubby was not looking forward to dinner because he hated meatloaf. HATED it. But as soon as he took a bite of my mom’s recipe – he had a change of stomach and heart. My kids love this meatloaf too!
Always fighting on who gets the end pieces because they have the most amount of glaze. My hubby and I usually win this and I tell them as soon as they make the meatloaf then they can have the end pieces. But I have been known on occasion to share.
I first posted this recipe back in October 2013 and I giggle at the picture {image below} . This was when I first started my blog so it brings back some great memories. And also, I remember that day just like it was yesterday because I was so stressed out.
I made a complete dinner just to style the meatloaf, and the picture isn’t even all that good. LOL. But I have learned a lot since then, and I don’t stress about the side dishes in the photos anymore, which has made my life so much easier. I will say, though, that it is fun to look back.
Make this a complete meal with the following:
- Dinner Sweet Rolls
- Fresh Green Beans with Bacon & Sliced Almonds
- 3-Ingredient Roasted Potatoes with Crunchy Onions Recipe
- Quick Easy Green Salad Recipe
Enjoy this best ever Brown Sugar Meatloaf – my family has been making this meatloaf for 3 generations and you will know why after your first bite.
Recipe note: NOTE: I like to drain the pan ½ way thru the baking time. We also like to double the sauce!!!
Don’t forget to pin Brown Sugar Meatloaf this to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Brown Sugar Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
- 3-4 bread slices, cut into 1 inch cubes I use white sandwich
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 9×13 pan.
- Mix together the brown sugar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce.
- In a mixing bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf.
- Pour sauce over loaf. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until it's cooked through and the juices run clear.
Original post image, Oct 2013, this post was recently updated.
Have any of you added brown sugar IN the meatloaf? And PLEASE confirm 9×13 pan? not the loaf pan?
Thanks!
9×13 is correct, I have never made mine in a loaf pan, because I like all the sides caramelized with the glaze. And no brown sugar IN the meatloaf.
I wish there was some way to share this recipe other than Pinterest, x, whatever that means, and Facebook. I don’t do any of those things.
Where are you looking to share it?
Making this as we speak! I can’t wait !
This was the tastiest meatloaf I’ve ever had and the first one I personally ever made. My entire family loved it and my picky 8 year old ate every bite (unprompted). Will become a house staple. Thank you so much!!! I used white onion, light brown sugar, white ground pepper and pink Himalayan salt.
I am so glad you all love this too. Family recipes are the best.
Can I substitute the bread for bread crumbs and if so how much
I’ve made this before and the bread pieces ended up clumping and it didn’t turn out right I did something wrong
Oh, shoot, did you mix it with your hands or a spoon, the chunks of bread should be distributed evenly through the meatloaf. Sorry that didn’t work for you, I haven’t tested this with breadcrumbs but maybe I will give that a go next week and let you know.
Can I use wheat bread instead?
Yes, you totally can do that.
Thank you for sharing