This brown sugar meatloaf is an easy and tasty dish. It tastes as good as it smells!

Brown Sugar Meatloaf

cooking spray

brown sugar

ketchup

beef

eggs

onion,

milk

¾ cup finely crushed saltine cracker crumbs

salt

black pepper

ginger

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 5x9-inch loaf pan.


Press brown sugar into the bottom of the prepared loaf pan and spread ketchup over top sugar.


Mix all remaining ingredients thoroughly in a mixing bowl and shape into a loaf. Place on top of the ketchup and sugar crust.


Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour or until juices are clear.


This recipe was fabulous!!!!  Instead of spreading the ketchup and brown sugar on the bottom of the pan I mixed them together and used it as a glaze on top of the loaf and it came out beautifully.  I won't be using any other meatloaf recipe again!

I am not a meatloaf eater, but I found this recipe to be absolutely wonderful! My husband agreed (and he's a picky eater).  I did have to tweak the ingredients a little.  I used 1/3 cup of brown sugar instead of 1/2; ground turkey instead of ground beef; 1 packet of onion soup mix instead of a chopped onion; and 3/4 cup of bread crumbs instead of saltine crackers.  I also mixed the ketcup and brown sugar into a glaze and used it on top of the meatloaf.  I let the glaze cook on the meat for the last 15 minutes of oven time. It was great!

This is very close to a recipe my mom made often, the only difference being she added some mustard(dry spice works nice) and worchestershire to the brown sugar/ketchup mixture. (We put it on top too.)  That might add some zing for those that found this recipe a lil bit too sweet.  I also add garlic to the meat as another reader did, as I'm a Garlic-holic myself. ;)

I increased the recipe to feed 12 &amp; then cooked most in the called-for loaf pan &amp; the rest in a mini loaf pan. Per reviews, I made the following changes (I gave 4 stars to the recipe as written but w/ the help of the other reviewers this was 5 star).... I only used 1/2 cup of brown sugar &amp; I did add a couple tbp. of worcestershire to the sauce. I added a pkt of onion soup mix &amp; used half chopped onion. Decreased teh milk to 1/2 cup (remember I have increased the recipe by half) &amp; I only put a little bit of the sauce on bottom, using most of it on top. I also used half ground beef &amp; half ground turkey. This was moist, flavorful &amp; hubby said it beats out his recipe. Thank you Starbuck &amp; fellow reviewers! I served it w/ roasted sweet potatoes &amp; onions &amp; a salad....cherry salad (from allrecipes) for dessert.

My husband is a meatloaf conneisseur. I, on the other hand, can't stand the stuff. However, his arrival home from the war in Iraq prompted me to make this as his homecoming meal: good old-fashioned, USA comfort food. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The only problem is, I didn't have a recipe for it. I searched on allrecipes.com, read the ratings and reviews for each recipe, only wanting to make the BEST for my dear hubby. Alas, I picked this recipe out of all the others and made it. My very first attempt at making meatloaf! It was easy to follow and my husband almost fainted when he realized what he was getting for dinner! He LOVED it and even more amazing, I (the world's biggest anti-meatloaf person) loved it as well. This is our new favorite dinner, and I really want to thank you all for rating this, which drew my attention to it-most of all, I want to thank Starbuck for posting this recipe!!!

Very Yummy. I did what others did after reading ALL of the reviews. (yes it took me a long time lol) I mixed the ketchup and brown suger together with a dash of worstechire sauce and placed on the bottom and the top of the meatloaf. I also used onion soup mix instead of raw onion. Added Worstechire sauce and garlic to the meatloaf mixture. Lowered the brown sugar to 1/3 cup. Lowered the milk to 1/4 cup.  Used bread Crumbs instead of cracker crumbs. AND I cooked it 1 1/2 hours. I like my meatloaf well done with no pink. Seems like a lot of changes but after reading the reviews this is what I felt I needed to do. YUMMY!!!!

I don't know how I missed reviewing this!  I HATE meatloaf.  I can't stand it.  I LOVE this recipe!  I did make changes based on everyone else's reviews.  Here's what I did:
1.) I cut the brown sugar in the sauce in half
2.) I added a Tablespoon of Worcestshire sauce to the sauce.
3.) I put the sauce on top of the meatloaf.
4.) I only used 1/2c. milk, not 3/4c.
5.) I used seasoned salt instead of table salt.
6.) I used 1 package of dry onion soup mix instead of an onion.
7.) I used Progresso Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs instead of cracker crumbs.

With these changes, I made the BEST meatloaf I have ever eaten (and like I said, I don't even like meatloaf!).  This has become a weekly request.  Thank you!  I am so happy I found this recipe!

I've made this a number of times now and I have learned a few lessons: First use a flat jelly roll pan, it gives you more delicious crust and glaze and keeps the loaf from stewing in its own fat.  Second, line the pan with aluminum foil, otherwise you will have a sticky mess that you cannot soak off.  Third, put the brown sugar glaze on top, it flavors the loaf more.  Fourth, use coarse ground chunk, lots of flavor and the coarse makes it easier for you to mix the loaf lightly.

I wasnt exactly impressed with this recipe for the simple fact that I have been topping my meatloaf with equal parts of brn sugar &amp; ketchup for years. The meatloaf its self was pretty boring and I think I was looking for some umph. So I made it a second time added kc masterpiece BBQ seasoning, garlic worcestershire, and some italian bread crumbs, chopped green pepper, red onion, paprika, oregano, basically I kept adding until I had the smell I wanted . Turned out better with more zest to match the topping. My family thought it was spot on. Save yourself the hassle mix the brown sugar and ketchup and just top your meatloaf halfway through. So much easier with the same taste result. So I will continue to make with these changes and that vaults this into a 5 star in my book. My 8 and 5 year old boys ate more than I did exclaiming how I should make it again. BBQ seasoning in the meatloaf is a must! Make in cupcake pans and top with mashed potatoes that have been died with pureed beets for the perfect April fools dinner.

AWESOME. I'm in with the rest though. Put the brownsugar/ketchup on top instead of bottom. Couple shakes of worstshire in meat. Hour later. CHOW DOWN. Thanks...

The key to making this recipe AMAZING is to listen to the most helpful reviews. If you do what the top 5 most helpful reviews say to do, then this meatloaf can't get much better!! For convenience, here are the recommended changes:

1. Use the brown sugar and ketchup as a GLAZE instead of putting them on the bottom. Use 1/4 cup of brown sugar instead of 1/2 cup, add 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, mix these 3 ingredients separately, and pour it on top of the formed loaf evenly (I recommend putting some on the sides of the loaf, too).

2. For the meatloaf mixture, use 1/2 cup of milk instead of 3/4 cup, and use 1 egg instead of 2. Also add in 2 cloves of minced garlic.

3. Use a 9x9 casserole dish (or bigger) instead of a loaf pan. Form the meatloaf so that there is at least 1/2 inch of space on all sides. Not only does this allow the glaze to be applied all around the meatloaf, but it also makes draining the excess juices easier.

4. After 30 minutes of cooking (halfway through), drain excess juices, let it finish cooking, then drain again if need be.

5. OPTIONAL: Add strips of bacon on top of the glaze before cooking. When you take the dish out to drain after 30 minutes, flip the bacon strips. Flipping the bacon in the glaze may seem awkward and messy, but it turns out beautifully when the cooking is finished.

My wife, who normally hates meatloaf, LOVED this.

My favorite recipe from Allrecipes! Most meatloafs taste like hamburgers but this one is better. I used 1/4 br. sugar, 1 egg and omitted the milk. I added 1 garlic clove, 1 TBL worchester sauce, packet of onion mix instead of raw onion. The cracker crumbs could also be replaced with seasoned bread crumbs. We sure to put bread end pieces on the bottom to soak up the grease plus it's helpful if the meatloaf is overcooked, the bread prevents the bottom from being burnt.  I don't bother doing layers, it is easier to mix everything with the ground beef and it still tastes great!

I was very surprise by this one .I fellow the recipe just as its written .So I will rate it.as so   4 1/2 Star .texture was very nice ,ginger did a lot for the taste. Sauce was sweet and very tasty .I use lean beef but if you do the sugar and sauce on the bottom I would recommend very lean beef, because you are not able to drain any fat off as the recipe is done .For taste this is a 5 star for me but if you have a savory loving person in your home they may not care for it as much as my family did . Milk and saltine may need to be adjusted to get the right texture but it was very close to perfect .Next time I make this I will put brown sugar and sauce on top, So that I can drain off the fat if it is too much  I  may even heat some ketchup,  Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar in a pan to serve on the side as a sauce  to use on the  meat loaf. Hope this help and thank for a great and differ meat loaf

This is the best meatloaf I have ever had or made. The brown sugar is what does it! I ran out of ketcup so I ended up using half BBQ sauce/half ketchup and it was fantastic. I may just do that on purpose next time! For those reviewers who didn't like the idea of the sauce on the bottom, you are mistaken! The sauce on the bottom marinates the meat almost thoroughly because its melds with grease (necessary for juicy meatloaf) and keeps the meat moist and flavorful. Putting the sauce on top only allows the oven heat to dry it out. Trust me. Don't change anything about this recipe! I will never use another meatloaf recipe again. Oh and one last thing, I always serve with mashed potatoes!

This is a really sweet version of regular meatloaf...I loved it.  Instead of putting all of the brown sugar at the bottom of the pan, I mixed it up with the meat.  Gave that sweet flavor to the entire dish.  It was great.

My family loved this recipe, and I have requests to make it again.  We have a gluten allergy, so instead of saltine cracker crumbs, I substituted gluten free crackers.

This meatloaf is excellent!  My entire family loved it!  I didn't follow the recipe exactly as directed.  I forgot the milk, and did not add ginger as I did not have any.  I did not think the recipe was too sweet, although we do enjoy sweet foods.  Instead of layering the brown sugar and ketchup on the bottom, I mixed it together, and combined about 2/3 of the mixture in with the meat mixture, then brushed the remaiming sauce over top of the meatloaf before cooking.  It was excellent!  After taking his first bite, my 4 year-old said, MOM, THIS IS AWESOME!!!  :)  This is definetly a keeper!

If you put the ingredients into the loaf tin then place upside down onto a baking sheet, bake for 15 mins then remove the loaf tin you have a perfect loaf right side up, then brush the ketchup, brown sugar (I add half teas dry mustard to it) then continue baking.  I also add teaspoon of dry mustard and 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce to the meat mixture.

This was really just okay for us.  I made as written, except that I too put the glaze on the top of the meatloaf the last 15 mins of cooking.  It was just a tad bit bland for our taste.  We added ketchup to it on our plate, which helped some, but still wasnt a favorite.  Thanks!

Excellent meatloaf!My whole family loved it.My husband took a bite and said "You did something different to the meatloaf."I told him "Yes, it's a new recipe."He said "It's better".Everyone asked for more.The only things I changed about the recipe was to divide the brown sugar and ketchup between the top and bottom instead of putting it all on the bottom.I didn't use lean ground beef and used a little more salt and pepper than the recipe called for, but not much.The meatloaf turned out very moist and yummy.There were no leftovers and they were all fighting over the last piece.If you are NOT using very lean ground beef, do NOT add as much milk as the recipe calls for because it won't need it. Great recipe! A real kid and husband pleaser!

I used less ketchup and sugar and it was just dandy. Also used equivalent amount of quick oats for the saltines. A keeper.

The BEST EVER!! My kids love it and now it's the only meatloaf I will eat!

Great base recipe but like some others mentioned - needs a little more flavour.   Have been making this similar recipe for decades.  I use a packette of dry onion soup mix in with the meatloaf - cheating but it does add such flavour.
And use more ketchup and put the ginger in with the brown sugar and ketchup.  
Put the meatloaf in the pan and cook it for 30 minutes then invert it onto a tray with sides and apply the ketchup sugar combo as a glaze.  This way the grease can drain off and the glaze gets a nice caramlized texture.

Jokes abound in our family regarding my attempts at making meat loaf.  If you are as meatloaf challenged as I was, try this extraodinary recipe!  Following other's advice I put the ketchup sauce on the bottom of the pan along with the top.  I would make extra of the sauce next time just so we would have more topping.  This is a wonderful recipe thanks to you Starbuck!

I thought this recipe was great!  I did make a few change though...1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup milk, and pouring the ketchup/br.sugar mixture on TOP instead of under the meatloaf.  You can also layer it on the bottom, middle and on top (which I will try next time).  Also, I found that the 1 hour requested cooking time was TOO early for me.  When I took it out after 1 hr, it was still VERY pink on the inside. Anyway, I left it in for 1.5 hours and it was P-E-R-F-E-C-T!!! Juicy &amp; moist with a hint of pink...DEE LISH!! Enjoy!:)

the basic recipe is fine, however, the ketchup and brown sugar need to be put on the top not the bottom. I added a stalk of diced celery, 1 diced beef tomato, 1 shredded carrot, and half of a red pepper, diced to the meat mixture.  I also lined my bread tin with bacon and then top off with the meatloaf mixture and then top with the ketchup and brown sugar and then more bacon!

Following others advise, I mixed the brown sugar and ketchup together, then put an equal amount on the bottom and top of my loaf. It was perfect.  Not too sweet, just juicy enough, one of the best meatloafs I have ever had.  YUMMY!  Thanks Starbuck.

I LOVE this recipe for meatloaf..It is fun to make and it REALLY IS "THE BEST MEATLOAF" I have ever tasted...Thank you,Starbuck, for sharing it with me..I have a new "potluck dish" in my arsenal now..

Hubby requested meatloaf for his birthday dinner, but this wasn't one of our favorites.  Hubby usually loves all meatloaf but to him this was just okay.  I am not a big meatloaf fan and found this way too sweet for me.

OK, here I go.  I'm going to be "That Person" who reviews a recipe after making a bunch of changes...sorry. Some changes were made because they seemed like good ideas...other changes were due to a lack of certain ingredients.  I have a feeling it would be a four or five star recipe if I had made it (mostly) as written.  I am writing this review because I do want to make it again, and I want to remember what I did and what I didn't so I can make it closer to "tangastar's" recipe next time.

Changes: 
1. I put the ketchup/brown sugar mixture on top of the meatloaf as suggested by other reviewers (this I would probably do anyway, as the thought of it sitting and mixing with the beef grease at the bottom of the pan grosses me out.  Maybe it adds a nice flavor, but my heart thanks me!).  I added 1 TBS. Worcestershire sauce to this mixture per another reviewers reco, but I think it cut the sweet...not such a good thing.  Next time, I may try to add it to the meat mixture, but not as the sugar/ketchup topping, IMO.

2.  I cut the brown sugar to 1/4 cup, but next time I will keep it at 1/2 cup. It should have been sweeter, but maybe it was cut by the flavor of the Worcestershire sauce.

3. I used bread crumbs instead of Saltines - all I had.

4.  I added garlic (very important).  I do love me some garlic!

5. I didn't have an onion, so I used onion soup mix (also based on other reviews).  I think this made it too salty.  Will definitely use the onion next time.

the glaze is supposed to be at the top of the meatloaf.  this recipe has been around for years.  I have been making it for a long time.  Use yellow mustard, brown sugar and ketup.  also instead of the cracker crumbs, use seasoned bread crumbs.  so much more flavor.  so good.

The kids call it sweet meat! They love it but it is on the sweet side. I reduced the brown sugar just a bit. To those who question why it is in the bottom of the pan: it allows the flavors to steam into the meatloaf and not dry it out. You are supposed to remove it from the pan by inverting it onto a plate to serve and then your sauce IS on TOP! Simple and yummy!

Best meatloaf I ever made.  My picky family loved it!
This will be a staple in our home going forward.

Instead of a loaf, I used a muffin pan for 12 individual loaves.   (Serves 5)
Made the following tweaks...
Used 1 1/2 lbs of ground beef 
1/2 cup of milk 
1 egg.
2 tsp of minced garlic to the meat mixture. 
1 cup of season bread crumbs instead of the crackers
ketchup/brown sugar mix:
3/4 cup of ketchup 
1/4 cup of brown sugar. 
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire
Spoon ketchup/brown sugar sauce on bottom &amp; on top.
cook for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
I put the muffin tin on top of a foiled cookie sheet to catch any drippings for easy clean up.

this is a great recipe, but I did add the bread in the bottom and the brownsugar and ketup on top of the meatloafs.

My whole family LOVED this! I used Italian bread crumbs instead of saltine crackers as I did not have any on hand at the time and I also put the ketchup and brown sugar on top as well as on the bottom as instructed. I use ground turkey instead of ground beef. It came out beautiful and my children ask for it at least twice a week.

I love meatloaf and have tried many, MANY recipes from books and cooking sites. This one is really, really good. I sauteed the onions with a clove of minced garlic and added about 1T. worstestershire to the meat mixture. Also added a tsp. of spicy brown mustard to the sauce (spread on top). Don't use a loaf pan - just form the meat mixture into about a 5"x9" mound on a lined cookie sheet.

Great easy meatloaf. I follow the recipe except for saltines were "Ritz type" crackers, and my ginger was fresh for the topping. I also used a splash of Worscestshire sauce ( a bit of both in the meat and in the topping), and pulverized a half of a onion in my food processor. The onion used that way, really increases the flavor and adds to the moistness. I have made this before and still agree the sauce needs to be on top. It saturates the meat, and if you are real lucky even get carmalized edges due to the brown sugar. I serve it with mashed potatoes, green beans or peas, and dinner rolls. I have even divided up the meatloaf mixture and made separate meatloaf muffins, using my muffin tin. Once in a while I will throw a chunk of cheese in the center of each muffin tin mixture. Family loves it. Today I snuck in finely chopped mushrooms, celery, and carrot. It is in the oven as we speak, we will see if the picky kids notice.

All in all, very good.  I did think it was a little too sweet so next time I'll cut down on the brown sugar just a tad.  I did like the glaze on top.  I also used bread crumbs instead of crackers since I had those on hand.  Very good and will make again.. just cut back on the brown sugar a little. Thanks for the terrific recipe!

I reviewed this recipe before I made it by telling how I’d do it in a Microwave Oven.  I have since done it and will tell you the results.  First, I used ground buffalo but only 1 lb.  I used oatmeal instead of cracker or bread crumbs.  Big mistake, will try bread crumbs next time.  I reduced the water, another mistake, as you need to use more in a microwave.  I used barbeque sauce instead of ketchup and mixed it with the brown sugar and put it on top.  I also used the onion soup mix instead of an onion.  I’ll try the onion next time.  I will also save out some sauce to put on the meatloaf when eating.  I cooked it for 20 minutes in the microwave.  That was too much time.  It was done but the top got kind of hard.  Hope this helps anyone who tries the microwave method.

THANK YOU for sharing such a good recipe!!!!  I have made meatloaf for my husband and he never really cares for it---this time he couldn't stop saying how much he liked this.  He said it tasted like baby back rib sauce on it.  I took out the onions because my husband &amp; daughter arn't huge onion fans, and we all ate until our stomaches were hurting (lol).  It did look a little mushy while making it, but it came out delicious!!!  I made it with mashed potatoes &amp; corn---yummmmyyy.  The leftovers I had for lunch the next day, and they tasted great. The second time I made this my daughter helped me--we used small loaf pans, and I added the onions to mine, and she added cheese to hers.  She really got a HUGE kick out of making her own, and she ate more than usual. :)

This is how my mom makes it, the only difference is she adds Worcestershire to the ketchup mixture and instead of saltines she uses crushed ritz crackers, which gives it a more buttery flavor. This recipe is great.

i've been looking for a good meatloaf recipe...i found it!  i actually cooked it in the crockpot.  placed meat in crock and put veges around it.  put sauce right on top of meat.  cooked on low for about 5 hrs.  delicious!

If you're looking for a different meatloaf recipe, try this one.  It's original in flavor.  I added sauted bacon pieces to the mix to "kick it up a notch" and incorporate another element of flavor that paired well with the brown sugar.  This also tasted *wonderful* the next day for lunch.

I did make a little more of the sauce then what's called for and put it on top of the loaf the last 10-15 minutes of baking.  To the sauce, I added worchestershire sauce, dijon mustard, and garlic powder.  

p.s. If you don't like your meat sweet, then don't try this one.  Or don't try this and rate it poorly.  It is "brown sugar" meatloaf.  If this is you, try the Rempel meatloaf (also on this website.)

This recipe is great.. I really liked the meatloaf :) 

After reading other users' reviews, I decided to make some changes. I used 1 medium onion instead of a small onion, I reduced the amount of brown sugar to 1/4 cup. I also added some drops of worcestshire in the ketchup. In addition, I substituted 3/4 cup egg matzohs for 3/4 cup soltine cracker crumbs. It turned out to be great. I will make this meatloaf again :)

I've been making my own excellent meatloaf for over 20 years, so I did not use the actual "meat loaf" ingredients, what I did do was make the ketchup/brown sugar glaze.  I did not put it on the bottom, but put it on top of the meatloaf.  It was so tasty that I will never make my meatloaf again without this glaze.  With the leftovers I made sandwiches and I couldn't help but lick my fingers!

This was the second meatloaf recipe I tried. It was good. I read some of the reviews and took some comments into consideration. Like others I thought that it called for a  bit too much milk and it came out a little too mushy. I also put the brown sugar and ketchup on the top instead of the bottom. It was a good recipe. I will definately try this one again but alter the ingredients a bit. It was very simple!

I add bacon bits and finely chopped white onions. I put italian bread crumbs and the brown sugar mixure in the middle and on top.
I get request for this all the time. My largest meat loaf so far is 8 lbs.

This was Okay. I normally dont add milk to my meatloaf...I added eggs, bread pieces (didnt have crackers) bell pepper, garlic, onion powder, S&amp;P, milk. I added ketchup/brown sugar on top, this was a good recipe, maybe needed a bit more flavor for me.

THE best meatloaf!  I have been making this recipe for years since I found this recipe and everyone agrees that they have never had better.  I use the meatloaf mix of veal, ground beef and pork from the grocery store instead of just ground beef, and substitute the crackers with italian style bread crumbs instead.  The ketchup and brown sugar on the bottom of the pan absorbs into the meatloaf and there is plenty to pour over the meatloaf once you take a slice.  I also have never used the ginger in this recipe.

Yes, there are so many ways to make meatloaf. I have to say, love this one. Everyone always ask for the recipe. It's so easy, has just the right ingredients. I too put the ketchup and brown sugar on top while cooking. I also add fresh ginger, about 1 Tbl, instead of dry ground. Thank you for the great recipe. :)

Want to make this one even better?  Substitute a 1/2 lb. of the beef with regular Jimmy Dean Sausage... I have converted non-meatloaf lovers over.  It has been a staple in our house for years now.

This was really great! I also put the brown sugar ketchup mixture on top of the loaf. I also decrease the amount of br. sugar...but it's wonderful! My family loves it!

I found this recipe 3 months ago and my husband absolutely loves it.  It's such a moist and tasty dish.  It's easy to make a triple recipe and freeze the extra !!

Great recipe.  I followed instrutions and put brown sugar on bottom and compacted it followed by ketchup.  Because some reviews said it did not add much flavor, on the top I added equal parts brown sugar and ketchup and blened them into a paste and used it as a glaze on the top. It got nice and brown.  
I also substituted onion soup mix for onion and added steak sauce as recommended.
Kids loved it.

I've been making this recipe now for about a year and it is one of our all time favorites! I've found that I like to mix the brown sugar and ketchup into the meatloaf mixture better than packing it on the bottom of the loaf pan.
The sweet and tangy flavor makes it into every bite! A real winner!

very tasty, more so than another brown sugar meatloaf recipe i found on this website. i used only 1/4 c of brown sugar as recommended by several other reviewers. i also mixed in about 1 tbsp of worcestshire sauce with the ketchup. i wasn't sure how to pack the meat in the 9x5 pan w/o disrupting the brown sugar/ketchup layers. as someone else mentioned, it was difficult to turn over because the sauce splattered. also the loaf was quite lopsided---not attractive! i will definitely make it again, but i will mix the brown sugar and ketchup, and will pour it on top of the loaf.

It was a little too sweet for me, wish I would have tried the dry mustard, as suggested by a reviewer. I did try the Worsechester sauce- which was fine, but I prefer my meat loaf with garlic powder, bell peppers and plenty of salt and pepper. Wont try this one again, but may borrow the topping (sauce) for my own meatloaf recipe. Wasn't too impressed. :/ Darn it.

I had panko crumbs to use up instead of crackers.  Also, I was out of brown sugar so used a little turbinado sugar with a drizzle of molasses.  My family was in need of some comfort food, one kid had actually asked for meatloaf.  This recipe was the best I've tried.  

The only reason this got even gets three stars is because my 6 year old liked it. I added soy sauce and garlic to offset the sugary sweetness. The meatloaf itself was incredibly bland. My kid ate the top w/ the sauce and then smothered the rest of the meat w/ ranch dressing. With my changes, the topping was pretty good, I just wish there was some on every bite. All in all, this recipe was a failure. I might try the topping again on a more flavorful meatloaf

Good basic meatloaf recipe-good as written or you can add chopped green peppers to meat mixture.  I personally don't care for the ginger. I agree with many others that the brown sugar and ketchup needs to go on top of the loaf. And one more trick to pass along-when I make meatloaf I always place a few slices of bread( end crusts work best but any bread will do) on the bottom of the pan and then place my meatloaf on the bread slices -bread soaks up all the extra grease that cooks out of the meat and makes for a less greasy -bottomed meatloaf!!

Excellent.  Made this for the family and my two teen boys had another friend over for dinner.  Those boys each had about 3 huge slices of the loaf and ate nearly the whole thing (and I used 3 lbs of meat).  I made the sauce and added some yellow mustard to create a sweet, sharp taste.  They tore into the sauce too.  This gets a A++ in my book.  I was hoping for leftover meatloaf sandwiches the next day, but my older son sot to the leftovers first and finished it off :-)  This is a keeper.

Doubled the recipe and left out the milk as it was moist enough. Added a bit more mustard powder. We are not big meatloaf fans but I had some ground beef that needed to be used -- We were very impressed.

Absolutely delicious meatloaf.  We made a few adjustments: only 1/4 cup of brown sugar to keep the sweetness down, only 1/4 cup of milk because the mixture had plenty of moisture and we added 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.  Per the suggestion of other users, we also spread the brown sugar/ketchup mixture over the top.

My husband really liked this meatloaf, although I thought it was WAY too sweet!  If I make it again I'll definitely cut down on the brown sugar!  Also, I thought the meatloaf part itself was pretty bland and needed some spices or something to "zip it up" a bit.  In addition to adding extra spices, I think some chopped green peppers might also help to give it a little more flavor.  I also thought that using a whole chopped onion was way too much -- even a small one.  I would use half that much if I ever made it again.  In fact, I think if I ever made this again I would probably use my own meatloaf recipe and then add the glaze to it, making sure to reduce the brown sugar down to 1/4 cup or less.

Tasty recipe whole family loved it! Husband told me to throw the old meatloaf recipe away.

I just made this meatloaf for a group of 10 and everyone absolutely loved it.  I am not a fan of meatloaf but loved this recipe.  I doubled and used two loaf pans.  I also put half of the ketchup, brown sugar mixture on the bottom and the other half on the top.  I had to cook about 30 minutes more for a total bake time of 1 and 1/2 hours.  I also added about a 1 1/2 teaspoons of dales sauce or worstishire.  Excellent!  My husband loves meatloaf anf he could not stop raving about this recipe!  Loved this!!

I LOVED the ginger in the meatloaf.  I wouldn't call it bland or ordinary at all.  I took advice of a previous reviewer and used 1/2 the brown sugar ketchup on top and 1/2 on bottom.  Too good!  I won't go back to my old meatloaf.

Did I do something wrong?  This loaf was floating in a a greasy brownsugar mess when I took it out of the oven.

My family loves this, I add 1TBS. worchester sauce to the ketchup before I put it over the brownsugar. There are never leftovers...Try it, you won't be disappointed.

I have used this recipe several times and actually alternate my meatloaf dinners between different recipes. I think the meatloaf stays moist, by putting the brown sugar and ketchup on the bottom I think the flavor melds through the meatloaf and adds an element of surprise to the consumer. I use a good grade or 90 - 95%% fat free ground beef so I never have a problem with meatloaf or anything I make being greasy. This recipe is very tasty and not your every day meatloaf recipe but a nice alternative. It makes great leftovers for sandwiches too!

Did not like this at all. Will not eat again.

Amazing. Like whoa amazing. The only changes I made were that I used seasoned bread crumbs and panko bread crumbs in the meatloaf because I like the carbs :) I also doubled the ketchup and brown sugar mix and mixed a little into the meatloaf too. i wish i had put the bread slices on the bottom because there was a lot of grease, even though I used very lean ground beef. Am going to try turkey next time. i think it is the ginger that really makes this recipe delicious. Try it in a sandwich with a little cheddar cheese and the brown sugar ketchup mix. i know it is probably the most fattening thing ever but i kept eating it after i was totally full. that is how delicious it is!

If I could give this no stars I would. This is bland but achingly sweet. There is more than enough sugar in everyone's diet without making our meat entrees sweet also. Just look at the nutritional breakdown and see how many carbohydrates are in this! This was not to our liking.

This was my first taste of meat loaf and i loved it... being based in the UK i've not really come across it so me and my boyfriend made it last night and it was amazing!! The only thing i changed was i halved the milk and also halved the sugar. also i put the sugar  and tomato sauce on top not in the bottom of the pan! Will be making this again soon!!

I like a mix of sweet and savory, but this was wayyyyy too sweet. I used less sugar and otherside did everything according to the recipe. It was yummy, and i will make it again probably using turkey to make it low fat. Also, i like to put it on top of the meatloaf instead of underneath.

I use ground turkey in place of the beef and use Ritz crackers in place of the saltine crackers. Always turns out great!

This is my favorite! I didn't change a thing I do put the ketchup and brown sugar on top. I also put some bread slices on the bottom to soak up the grease so the meatloaf doesn't sit in it. Delicious! Thanks for sharing.

I have used this glaze for meatloaf for a long time.  I actually add a few shakes of red wine vinegar to the ketchup and brown sugar.  It just adds another depth of flavor to the glaze. You need to adjust to taste.  I also put the glaze on top of the meatloaf, because my loaf pan has another pan that sits inside it with holes for the grease to drip away from the meatloaf.  I use my own meatloaf recipe (in my head), but the glaze is what gives it the flavor.  Awesome!!

I agree with many others that the glaze should be on the top. I also don't put my meatloaf in a bread pan,I take a cooling rack and cover it with foil and poke some holes in the foil and put the rack over a cookie sheet and the grease drains thru the holes.

I am so disappointed in this recipe. I followed it exactly and it was mushy and had entirely too much onion (and I LOVE onion!).

I thought that this was pretty good. The kids however, thought that it was too sweet.  My husband is on what I call a "traveling spurt" (he travels on business every week tuesday-thursday for about two months in the beginning of every year) so I scaled the recipe down to 3 &amp; cut the brown sugar from 1/2 cup to 1/4 cup (and they still thought it was sweet).  The meat itself was very tender &amp; tasty.  Thanks Starbuck!

Great recipe though one of my kids doesn't like Onion I chopped them real fine and seemed ok

This is THE BEST meatloaf I have ever tasted!  Everyone loved it, even my very picky 7 year old daughter!

The brown suger and ketchup were a horrible combination. Way to sweet! If I wanted candy I'd buy some!

First time in my life that I made meatloaf and it tasted great. I also laid some sliced bread in the bottom of the pan like other reviewers suggested.

My whole family loves this one, especially the wife because she has a sweet-tooth. My favorite meatloaf recipe to date. Putting the brown sugar and ketchup in the bottom of the pan makes all the flavor cook into the meatloaf making every bite amazing, definitely the way to go!

I have been using this recipe for many years - my mother passed it on to me.  Same recipe as this one, only after baking 1 hour at 375 deg., turn meatloaf upside down to serve. That's the trick!

Made it first time last night - the taste was such a pleasant surprise!  This has replaced my "ol' favorite" meatloaf recipe forever!  One suggestion - when turning the loaf over do it over the sink - the sweet topping splashes a bit.

Husband and kids loved this!  My only meatloaf recipe now.  For kids I use muffin pans and can then serve individual portions easily.  Everyone requested I put more brown sugar and ketchup on top as well.

I made this meatloaf last night exactly to recipe and it turned out delicious. I let it sit for about 30 minutes before serving. In the loaf pan it was sitting in the meat, sugar and ketchup juices so what I did was plated the meatloaf on a serving dish, sliced it and then poured the juices over the meatloaf before serving. I had two slices and my boyfriend ate the rest completely by himself, he loved it. I am making it again Sunday night for guests, I am thinking of making three pans of it because I know we will want left overs. Thank you so very much for the best meatloaf recipe I have ever came across, this will now be the meatloaf I will make for now on.... ** Just an update, since making this recipe I now make it every week, we absolutely love it! Thank you for sharing this recipe.

This was so freaking good I had to stop myself from eating out of the pan when I put it away.  I don't think I'll ever make meatloaf any other way again.  It required more cook time, and I used a meatloaf pack that had pork as well as beef.  I am quite fond of meatloaf in general, but this was by far the best I've ever had.  I thought that the liquid would be too much, but it kept the meat very moist and combined with it well.  I also used regular bread crumbs instead of saltines.

wonderful taste increased meat to two pounds

Out of this world delicious! Made it just as called for, but can see that it would be very simple to put in additions such as some bell pepper. This is a new weekly favorite!

Oh..my..goodness!  This is absolutely the best meatloaf I've ever tasted!  I made a few changes, however.  I changed the serving to yeild 4 instead of 8.  I used 1 pound of ground turkey, only 1/4 cup milk, 1 tsp of onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, (did away with the ginger), and 3/4 cup of Italian bread crumbs.  I mixed the brown sugar and ketchup together, mixed in 1 tbsp in my turkey mixture, spread half in a 5x9 rectangle on the bottom of a metal casserole pan and put my meat mixture over it, shaping it to fit.  Then I put the other half over the top.  It only took one hour for it to cook, mainly because of the lack of grease.  It was DIVINE!  I can honestly say it will be the only meatloaf recipe I use.  Every five-star rater is telling the truth!

I always remember needing loads of Ketchup when my mom made meatloaf. Not the case here. This recipe is seasoned to perfection. This is my husband's favorite and it floors me whenever he specifically requests meatloaf for dinner. Who REQUESTS meatloaf? Apparently those who make a meal with this recipe.

My husband was the meatloaf maker in our household until he tasted this recipe.  He said "I'm never making meatloaf again!"  He loves this one.

See how to make a 5-star meatloaf that’s tangy and slightly sweet.

brown sugar meatloaf

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hours

Total: 1 hours, 20 minutes

Author : tangastar

Ingredients

Instructions

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