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Air Fryer Meatloaf is delicious, and makes a nice main dish for a satisfying meal. You can make this tasty meatloaf in the air fryer and have it ready to eat in about an hour.
Meatloaf is a classic American recipe, but many cultures have their own version.
Air Fryer Meatloaf
The air fryer is becoming a favorite kitchen cooking appliance. They are especially good at cooking basics such as Bacon and Chicken Breasts.
This tasty meatloaf recipe is one of the many classic American versions, and is perfect for cooking in the air fryer. It is flavorful, moist, and easy to make.
Which Ground Beef is Best for Meatloaf?
- Typically Ground Chuck, with a 80% lean to 20% fat ratio is best for lots of flavor.
- I tend to use 90%/10% as the flavor is still great, but there is less grease to deal with.
- You can even use 97%/3% if you are wanting even less fat in your Meatloaf.
Some Variations of This Meatloaf Recipe
- Try adding small cubes of cheddar cheese to the meat mixture.
- Wrap the loaves in bacon before cooking.
- Substitute the bread crumbs with stuffing crumbs, crushed pork rinds, Panko, or even cooked rice.
- Add a packet of onion soup mix (don’t add the salt).
How to Make Meatloaf in the Air Fryer
Gather all of your ingredients together. Mix the meatloaf ingredients together in a large bowl.
Once the meatloaf mixture is made, mix up the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl (or make the sauce while the meatloaves are cooking). Then form 2 equal loaves and set on foil lined basket or rack.
Air fry the meatloaves for about 20 minutes. Then spoon half of the sauce on the loaves and air fry them for another 10 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. The meatloaf is done at 160°F internal temperature.
**TIP: You can use half of the sauce on the meatloaf and cook the meatloaf in the air fryer, then spoon the remainder on after it is finished, before serving.
Tips for Meatloaf made in the Air Fryer
- It is good to line the air fryer basket with foil so it will be easier to clean up.
- Cottage cheese sounds strange to put in meatloaf, but it makes it moist. Substitute with an equal amount of milk if desired.
- Air frying fatty foods can cause smoking. To prevent this, you can put a piece of bread under the rack in the bottom of the basket. In case the grease spills, the bread will soak it up (not all models have room under the rack for this).
Storing Leftover Meatloaf
• Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• You can freeze leftover meatloaf for up to 3 months in an airtight container or in a freezer bag.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Air Fryer Cornbread Muffins
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Baby Back Ribs
If you make this delicious meatloaf in the air fryer, please let me know. Just leave a comment and a star rating below. I would like to know how you liked it!
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Meat Loaf
- ¼ cup Minced Onion
- ¼ cup Shredded Carrot
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic (or 3 teaspoons Garlic Powder)
- 3 Tablespoons Ketchup (or BBQ sauce)
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 large Eggs, beaten
- ¼ cup Cottage Cheese (or whole milk)
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 pounds Ground Beef
- ⅓ cup Seasoned Bread Crumbs (or stuffing crumbs, crushed pork rinds, etc)
Sauce
- ½ cup Ketchup
- ¼ cup Tomato Sauce
- ¼ cup Packed Brown Sugar (or pure maple syrup)
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Finely Minced Onion
- 1 teaspoon Liquid Smoke (optional)
Instructions
Meat Loaf
- Preheat the air fryer at 375° for 5 minutes.
- Line the air fryer basket with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the onion, carrot, garlic, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, beaten eggs, cottage cheese, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Mix in the ground beef and bread crumbs by hand or with a large spoon until well combined.
- Form 2 loaves, and place in the air fryer basket.
- Place the basket in the air fryer and cook at 375° for 20 minutes.
Make the Sauce
- Combine the ingredients for the sauce together in a small saucepan.
- Cook over medium low heat for 4 minutes, stirring often.
Finish
- Spoon half of the sauce over the meat loaves and place back in the air fryer. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove the meat loaves and place on a serving tray. Spoon remaining sauce over the loaves and let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Cottage cheese sounds strange to put in meatloaf, but it makes it moist. Substitute with an equal amount of milk if desired.
- It is good to line the air fryer basket with foil so it will be easier to clean up.
- You can use half of the sauce on the meatloaf and cook in the air fryer, then spoon the remainder after it is finished, before serving.
- Frying fatty foods in an air fryer can cause smoking. To prevent this, you can put a piece of bread under the rack in the bottom of the basket. In case the grease spills, the bread will soak it up (depending on the style of air fryer).
You can freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was very easy to make and we ate all of it! (Family of 5) thanks for the recipe!