Air Fryer Meatloaf
This Air Fryer Meatloaf is moist and flavorful, with delicious crispy edges and a tangy meatloaf sauce. It’s easy to make and cooks much faster than in the oven!
You might also enjoy my classic Meatloaf Recipe, Instant Pot Meatloaf and Turkey Meatloaf.
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Meatloaf is such an easy meal to make, and it’s one of the best comfort foods. When you cook meatloaf in the air fryer, the inside stays moist and tender while the edges get a little crispy, and the meatloaf sauce caramelizes on top of the meatloaf. It’s absolutely perfect served with mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes and carrots.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Egg: To bind the meatloaf ingredients together.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: The bread crumbs soak up moisture, trapping it in the meatloaf so that it turns out moist and juicy.
- Onion: Adds flavor and moisture. Chop it finely for best results.
- Garlic: For flavor!
- Ketchup: Adds moisture and flavor.
- Seasonings: You’ll need Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Ground Beef: Use 80% or 85% lean ground beef. It’s essential that the beef has some fat, for moisture and flavor. You can also use ground turkey (cook ground turkey to 165 degrees F).
Plus, a simple meatloaf sauce!
For the sauce, you’ll need ketchup, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. The ketchup and sugar bring sweetness, while the vinegar adds a bit of tanginess.
How to Make Air Fryer Meatloaf
Pro Tips: As I was testing this recipe, I found that shaping the meatloaf mixture into two smaller loaves helps the meatloaf to cook through more quickly and evenly. When the meatloaf is done, be sure to let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing it. This helps to keep the meatloaf moist and prevents it from falling apart when you slice it.
Combine ingredients. First, mix together the egg, panko, onion, garlic, ketchup, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Then mix in the ground beef.
Preheat the air fryer to 350° F.
Shape the meatloaves. Divide the meat mixture in half and shape it into two loaves.
Air fry for 20 minutes.
Top with sauce. Stir together the ketchup, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Then brush the sauce on top of the meatloaves.
Air fry for 5-15 more minutes, until until the internal temperature in the center of the meatloaves is 160° F.
Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Recipe Tips
- To keep the meatloaf tender, try not to overwork the meat when mixing it into the other ingredients.
- Be sure to form the meatloaf mixture into 2 smaller loaves or it will take too long to cook through.
- To easily shape the meatloaf, start shaping it in your hands first and then finish shaping on a sheet of parchment paper so that you can flatten the loaves a bit. Shaping them well helps the meatloaf to hold together.
- Use a meat thermometer to tell when air fryer meatloaf is done. For best results don’t overcook it so that it stays moist and tender.
Make Ahead Instructions
- Make Ahead: You can make the meat mixture and shape the meatloaves up to 24 hours ahead of time. Wrap the loaves in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook them. You may need to add a few minutes to the air frying time.
- To Store: Leftover meatloaf can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Cover the meatloaf and reheat in a 350° F oven until hot (you can wrap it in foil if desired to trap in more moisture). Or reheat gently in the microwave.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Try one of these delicious air fryer recipes next!
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Ingredients
Meatloaf
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound ground beef, 80% or 85% lean
Meatloaf Sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the egg, panko, onion, garlic, ketchup, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Add the ground beef to the bowl and use your hands to mix everything together until well combined. Try not to over-mix.
- Preheat air fryer to 350° F.
- While the air fryer preheats, divide the meat mixture in half and shape each half into a loaf shape that measures approximately 5 inches long, 3 inches wide and 1 – 1¼ inches tall. I find that the best way to shape the meatloaves is to first shape each one into a log in your hands and then finish shaping on a piece of parchment paper, flattening the loaves a bit and pressing on the sides to make sure the loaves hold together.
- Place the two meatloaves in the preheated air fryer basket with a bit of space in between them. Air fry at 350° F for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl: ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar. Whisk to mix.
- Spoon or brush the glaze over the top of the meatloaves and cook for 5-15 more minutes, until the internal temperature is 160° F.
- Let the meatloaves rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Make Ahead: You can make the meat mixture and shape the meatloaves up to 24 hours ahead of time. Wrap the loaves in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook them. You may need to add a few minutes to the air frying time.
- To Store: Leftover meatloaf can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Cover the meatloaf and reheat in a 350° F oven until hot (you can wrap it in foil if desired to trap in more moisture). Or reheat gently in the microwave.
