Easy Meatloaf with Onion Soup Mix
DELICIOUS, dreamy meatloaf with tons of flavor thanks to a packet of onion soup mix. Seriously so, so good.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 eggs
- 1 onion soup dip mix packet
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze I get mine at Trader Joe’s!
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Prepare a medium sized baking dish with some cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the panko and cream and let sit for 5 minutes to soften.
- Add the eggs, onion soup, and Worcestershire to the bowl and stir to combine. Add the ground beef and mix using your hands, working quickly and gently just until everything is combined.
- Carefully form the meatloaf into a gentle oval shape in the baking dish. Keep the overall mixture somewhat loose; just working toward an even oval without pressing too much. Sprinkle the top of the meatloaf with kosher salt.
- Stir together the ketchup and balsamic glaze, and spread that over the top of the meatloaf – it’s ok if some drips down the edges.
- Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes out of the oven before slicing and serving with the pan drippings.
Notes
Use any kind of beef you like! I find that really lean beef (90% or higher) yields a less juicy and more dry meatloaf, so keep that in mind. That said, ground turkey (not ground turkey breast) and super lean beef can be used if needed.
Don’t obsess about the panko – use regular breadcrumbs if that’s all you have.
I cook this in a flat baking dish (any size larger than 8 inches or so works fine!) instead of a loaf pan because I like the crispy edges that the open air of the oven gives. If you prefer to cook this in a loaf pan you can, just add about 10 minutes to the cooking time and/or use a meat thermometer to be sure the meatloaf is cooked through.
Make Ahead: The meatloaf can be made in advance and reheated like you would leftovers. Additionally, you can form it in advance and keep it in the fridge covered with plastic wrap for up to 3 days, then uncover, add the ketchup sauce, and bake on the night you’d like to eat it to save some time.
Serving: I love this meatloaf with a quick-cooking green veg and plain white rice (to catch all the drippings from the meatloaf!). After 30 minutes of cooking the meatloaf, start some white rice per the package directions; it’ll be done right about the time the meatloaf is.
For a green veg (think broccolini, thin green beans, asparagus), heat a skillet with olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the greens for 5 minutes until just slightly browned at the edges and bright green everywhere else, then add ½ cup water and continue cooking until the vegetable is soft and most of the water has evaporated. Sprinkle with salt and squeeze lemon wedges over top, then serve.
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!