Description
A juicy, weeknight-friendly meatloaf made in a cast iron skillet with a sticky brown sugar glaze. It requires only 15 minutes of prep time and uses simple pantry staples for a comforting, one-pan meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds ground beef (80/20 fat ratio)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (Panko or regular)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, and hot sauce. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, diced onion, minced garlic, eggs, breadcrumbs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with hands until just combined; do not overmix.
- Transfer the meat mixture to a 12-inch cast iron skillet. Press firmly into an oval or rectangular shape, about 1-inch thick. Press a slight indentation in the center with your thumb.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Optionally, loosely tent with aluminum foil during this time to retain moisture.
- Remove skillet from oven. Pour the prepared glaze evenly over the meatloaf, spreading it to the sides.
- Return to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 15 minutes until the glaze is caramelized and sticky.
- Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should reach 160°F (71°C).
- Remove from oven and let rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.
Notes
Do not overmix the meat to avoid a tough texture. Adding the glaze halfway through prevents burning. Letting the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes is crucial for juiciness. If using lean beef, add extra milk or olive oil. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: meatloaf, cast iron skillet, weeknight dinner, easy recipes, ground beef, brown sugar glaze, one pan meal, family dinner