Skip the oven and make a delicious, mouth-watering slow cooker meatloaf recipe! All you need are a few classic meatloaf ingredients and you’re set to go. This easy crockpot meatloaf is one to add to your holiday meal plan.
Add a twist to your traditional crockpot meatloaf recipe by trying my Slow Cooker Bacon Barbecue Meatloaf, Slow Cooker Salsa Meatloaf or my Slow Cooker Meatloaf and Baked Potatoes.
Why this slow cooker meatloaf recipe works
This slow cooker meat loaf is so moist and is pretty much fool-proof! Made with onions, bell pepper, and saltine crackers, this one pot meal is a family favorite! This is the ultimate classic comfort food and is easy to make in the slow cooker. This is my mom’s recipe that I converted from a loaf pan to the slow cooker.
I don’t understand why some people hate meatloaf, were they fed awful meatloaf as a kid? My mom made the best meatloaf, and I wish I still lived at home and had my meals made for me! My mom made hers on a baking sheet; I love this updated way to make it!
Other meatloaf recipes we often make are Slow Cooker Turkey Meatloaf and Slow Cooker Lipton Onion Meatloaf.
Ingredients
- Ground beef – Use an extra lean ground beef for meatloaf. I always get asked why is my meatloaf floating in grease? If you use a ground beef 7% – 10% fat, your meatloaf won’t be floating in grease.
- Vegetables – Onions and bell pepper. Trust me on the bell pepper, it makes this recipe. Cut the onion and bell pepper into a small chop.
- Seasonings – Onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Ketchup – This helps moisten the meatloaf.
- Milk – This also helps moisten the meatloaf and some say milk makes for a more tender loaf.
- Crackers – Crush saltine crackers for the binder in this recipe.
Step by Step Directions
Step One – In a large bowl, add the eggs, onion, bell pepper, ketchup, milk, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Step Two – Crush the saltine crackers in next and mix this all together with clean hands.
Step Three – Add the meat next, only mixing everything until the meat mixture just comes together.
Step four – Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray, and shape the meatloaf mix into a loaf on the bottom of the slow cooker. Your meatloaf should hold into a loaf form without falling apart. Add more crushed saltines if the mixture seems too wet.
Step 5 – Cover, and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours, without opening the lid during cooking time. Scoop out the fat with a spoon, and discard.
Step Six – Add the homemade sauce ingredients to a small or medium bowl. Mix together the sauce ingredients.
Step Seven – Spoon the homemade sauce on top of the meatloaf.
Step Eight – Cover and continue cooking for 30 more minutes on LOW if you want the sauce heated. Serve and enjoy!
What do I top my meatloaf with?
- A mixture of ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce is a classic sweet and tangy way to top meatloaf (see my recipe for this in the recipe card).
- You can also use warm brown gravy, barbecue sauce, ketchup, or even a zesty salsa.
What to serve with crock pot meatloaf:
Sure thing! Alright, so if you’re throwing together some crockpot meatloaf, you’ve got some awesome options to team up with it. Check it out:
- Mashed Potatoes: ‘Cause who doesn’t love a mash and meat combo, right?
- Roasted Vegetables: Pop some carrots, Brussels sprouts, or green beans in the oven for that extra oomph. Try my slow cooker baby carrots recipe!
- Steamed Veggies: Keep it simple with some lightly steamed broccoli, cauliflower, or asparagus.
- Salad: Fresh garden salad, because greens make everything better.
- Mac and Cheese: Cheesy goodness to match the meatloaf vibes. You can make slow cooker mac and cheese if you have another slow cooker!
- Gravy: Pour some homemade gravy over that meatloaf for a flavor explosion.
- Baked Potatoes: Load ’em up with sour cream, chives, cheese, or bacon. Here is my slow cooker baked potato recipe.
- Coleslaw: Tangy and crunchy coleslaw for that perfect balance.
- Garlic Bread or Rolls: Gotta have something to mop up those delicious sauces.
- Baked Beans: Don’t forget the baked beans – a classic BBQ side that pairs awesome with meatloaf. Try my crockpot baked beans.
Mix and match these sides, and you’re in for a yummy feast!
Try one of these leftover meatloaf recipes:
This recipe makes plenty to go around. If you have leftovers, try the following to have a quick family dinner on busy nights.
- Leftover Meatloaf Soup – Recipe by Food Network
- Leftover Meatloaf Tater Tot Casserole – Recipe by Allrecipes
- Leftover Meatloaf Quiche – Recipe by Kitchen Magpie
- Leftover Meatloaf Chili – Recipe by Food.com
- Leftover Meatloaf Baked Ziti – Recipe by Rachael Ray
- Leftover Meatloaf Sandwiches – Recipe by Best Recipe Box
Recipe FAQs and Variations
It takes 5 hours on low to cook a two-pound flavorful meatloaf in a crockpot.
Yes, you can! You can use ground turkey for this recipe. Though you may need to add more crushed saltine crackers, ground turkey tends to be wetter than ground beef.
Add crumbled bacon and barbecue sauce instead of ketchup to this recipe. Or for an Italian twist and a teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the meatloaf mixture and top with warm marinara to finish off the dish.
You can use crushed Ritz Crackers instead of saltine in meatloaf. Or you can use bread crumbs or even oatmeal as a binder. I suggest about a cup for any of these substitutions.
Your meatloaf should have an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit and will be safe to eat. If it is still pink, it is from chemical changes due to myoglobin and heat.
Add any remaining meatloaf to an airtight container or cover it with aluminum foil. Store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
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Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup diced white onion
- 1 cup diced red or green bell pepper
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 25 saltine crackers
- 2 lbs. 7% – 10% fat ground beef
For the Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. mustard
- 1 tsp. worcestershire sauce (optional)
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, add the eggs ,onion, bell pepper, ketchup, milk, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Crush the saltine crackers in next, and mix this all together with clean hands. Add the meat next, only mixing everything until it just comes together.
- Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray, and shape the meat into a loaf on the bottom of the slow cooker. Your meatloaf should hold into a loaf form without falling apart. Add more crushed saltines if the mixture seems too wet.
- Cover, and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours, without opening the lid during cooking time.
- Scoop out the fat with a spoon, discard.
- Mix together the sauce ingredients, and spoon over meatloaf.
- Cover and cook for 30 more minutes on LOW if you want the sauce heated. Serve and enjoy!
How to Video:
Sarah’s Notes:
- Barbecue sauce
- Warm brown gravy (can buy packets or jarred gravy)
- Plain ketchup
- Zesty salsa
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Husband loved this meatloaf.
Can I pre make the meatloaf the nite before and put in crockpot in morning?
If you lay a strip of foil down one side, across the bottom and up the other side it’s much easier to lift the loaf out of the crock. Let the strips go out under the lid a little. Then you can deal with the fat, replace the loaf and make your sauce if wanted. (BYW, I always use ground turkey – not much fat!)
Cannot believe the title went over my head “Ma…the meatloaf!” Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers. So this is where you got the recipe. LOL
Yes! Your eye first one to notice. Lol
I cannot believe the title went over my head. “Ma…the meatloaf!!” Will Ferrell, Wedding Crashers LOL!
how can you make this without so many carbs and what is a substitute if I cannot use Diary
Hi Suzie, a recipe similar to this may be better. And would work fine in the slow cooker on LOW for 5 hours. https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/low-carb-meatloaf-paleo-gluten-free/
I did it yesterday. With bb sauce and concentrate tomate sauce. And all my family was attonising.
I did no have crakers and I put instead bread crumbs soaked with milk.
Congratulations. Sarah.
Great recipe, my only change is , I use Italian bread crumbs, no crackers, and tomato sauce instead of ketchup. Sometime my mother used to do, was put a hard boiled egg in the middle, so that you would get some egg in some slices.
I gave this recipe a try and it was wonderful! ❤ So moist. The only thing I changed was to add a bit of nutmeg & worcestershire sauce to the sauce. My family loved it and it was so easy!
Awesome! I really love your additions!
How much did you add???
Could I double this? Six servings is not enough for my family
I think you could Julie! Add a little more cooking time though. 🙂
I use Sweet Baby Ray’s instead of Ketchup on mine and everyone just loves it.
I do the same in another recipe, I add bacon and add sweet baby ray’s on top at the end. Best. Meal. Ever.
My mom always laid bacon over the meatloaf. It was excellent. I still do that today. The kids are grown and gone it’s the wife who doesn’t like the bacon on it. Soooooooooo I put bacon on it, cook for 30 minutes, take the bacon off, I cut 4 slices on the meatloaf, then back in for another 30. If it was up to me, it would stay on. A man’s work is never done I tell ya. Came out great.Thank you.
For gluten free you can add ground white mushrooms in place of the saltines, it’s what my mom adds in her meatloaf now instead of bread or crackers.
Such a great tip! I will try that!
You could also use white rice.