Best Italian Meatloaf

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This mini slow-cooked meatloaf is tender and juicy and so easy to prepare! Made with onions, garlic, spices and topped with a sweet and sour sauce. This easy recipe makes the perfect serving size for one or two people. Recipe includes instructions on how to convert a Crockpot or Crockpot-style slow cooker to a single serving.

I love a good meatloaf recipe – I consider it the ultimate comfort food. When meatloaf is simple, full of flavour and perfectly tender and juicy, it’s a winner.

We have a wonderful Bacon Cheese Meatloaf for One recipe here at One Dish Kitchen and believe me, it’s fabulous. This particular meatloaf is cheesy, filled with bacon and reminds me of a bacon cheeseburger without the bread.

But if you are looking for a meatloaf recipe that is a little more traditional and not cheesy at all, then this Crockpot meatloaf recipe is the one you will love.

Meatloaf Crockpot

You might wonder why someone would make a meatloaf in a slow cooker or crock pot when it could easily be made in the oven.

Well, to cook a meatloaf in an oven is, of course, a great idea. But what if you’re busy all day and would like to come home to a home-cooked meal already prepared and waiting for you?

That’s when a Crockpot meatloaf is the perfect meal.

With this Crockpot meatloaf recipe you will discover that meatloaf is tender and juicy. My method for a tender and tasty meatloaf involves a quick and easy extra step and is well worth it.

Ingredients

• garlic
• butter
• black pepper
• Worcestershire sauce
• chopped onions
• molasses
• dried thyme
• salt
• ground beef
• egg
• breadcrumbs (instead of breadcrumbs, you can replace 3 tablespoons of oat or almond flour or use 4 tablespoons of old-fashioned oat flakes)

Derictions:

1. Cut 1 foot of aluminum foil in half lengthwise. fold each strip in half lengthwise to create two long strips.
2. Place the foil strips on the bottom of the slow cooker or crock pot in a cross pattern.
3. Cut the strips so that they are flush with the edge or under the edge so that they do not interfere with the lid of the slow cooker.
4. Spray the foil and the slow cooker with non-stick spray.
5. Professional tip: The reason I use foil is that the meatloaf can easily be lifted out of the bowl, leaving the oil behind.
6. Cook chopped onions and a clove of garlic in a little butter in a small frying pan. When the onions start to soften, add the dried thyme, salt and black pepper.
7. Professional tip: Cooking the vegetables in butter is the secret of a juicy and soft meatloaf.
8. Pour the cooked onions and garlic into a large bowl and add 1/2 pound of ground beef.
9. To the beef, add Worcestershire sauce, an egg and breadcrumbs, almond flour or oatmeal to help hold it together.
10. Combine the ingredients, shape the meat into a round or oval shape and put the meatloaf in your slow cooker.
11. Cook the meatloaf over low heat for 6 hours.
12. When you have about 30 minutes left to cook, mix 1/4 cup ketchup combined with 1 tablespoon of molasses and place the mixture on top of the meatloaf.
13. Put the lid back on the slow cooker and cook for another 30 minutes.