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My air fryer meatloaf is perfectly juicy and moist and cooks in just 20 minutes. It’s topped with the most flavor-packed glaze.
Looking for more air fryer recipes with ground beef? Try my air fryer hamburgers and air fryer meatballs next.
We are a meatloaf-loving family; if there is one thing that grinds our gears, it is a dry and overcooked meatloaf.
Enter- the air fryer. I’ve been a little skeptical about cooking a classic meatloaf with this fast-cooking gadget, so it took some time to perfect the ratios. After making it hundreds of times for my family, I can safely share my tried and true air fryer meatloaf recipe with you today!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Made with pantry-friendly ingredients. Nothing hard-to-find or difficult to prep.
- Quick and easy. There’s no foil to grease, messy cleanup, or need for multiple pots. It’s so easy I can even get the kids involved in cooking.
- Cost-effective. Have you seen the cost of meat these days? Thankfully, ground beef is still affordable!
- Perfect texture and flavor. Can I lament about how incredible the texture is? It’s tender and slightly crisp in the right places but always juicy and moist in the middle. The sticky, sweet glaze gives it a subtle sweetness that balances out all the meaty flavors.
Ingredients needed
- Ground beef. Always use regular ground beef instead of anything too lean or lower in fat. This is the secret trick to perfectly juicy meatloaf every single time.
- Yellow onion. Finely chopped or grated. If you have time, grate the onion as it mixes into the meat much better and amplifies the taste.
- Eggs. Act as binding ingredients and keeps its shape.
- Milk. To soak the breadcrumbs and make the meatloaf soft. I used whole milk but use whatever milk you have on hand.
- Panko breadcrumbs. It helps keep the juices in the meatloaf and also helps with binding. If you only have standard breadcrumbs, you must reduce the amount by two tablespoons. The finer consistency absorbs more moisture than the larger panko flakes.
- Parmesan cheese. My secret ingredient in all my meatloaf recipes. If you can, freshly grate the cheese as it will melt better.
- Garlic. Either fresh or pre-minced garlic.
- Fresh parsley. Chopped.
- Worcestershire sauce. Adds a sweet, tangy, and salty flavor to the meatloaf.
- Italian seasoning.
- Salt and pepper. To taste.
- Glaze. A combination of ketchup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
How to make air fryer meatloaf
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Make the meatloaf mix. Start by adding the ingredients for the meatloaf in a bowl and mix well. Using your hands, prepare meatloaf from the mixture.
Step 2- Air fry. Add the meatloaf to a preheated air fryer diagonally so it fits easily. Air fryer for 15 minutes.
Step 3- Make the glaze. Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar.
Step 4- Cook again. Spread the glaze over the meatloaf and air fry for another 5 minutes.
Arman’s recipe tips
- To know when the meatloaf is fully cooked, use an instant-read thermometer. Fully cooked meatloaf has an internal temperature of 165F, but I remove it from the air fryer at 155F and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil to avoid potential over-spill. Contrary to popular belief, you CAN add tin foil to the air fryer. I also recently tried using disposable air fryer liners, which were okay, but the meatloaf was a little soggy at the bottom.
- Don’t over-mix the ingredients after adding the meat, as the cooked meatloaf will become tough and gummy.
Storage instructions
To store: Place leftovers in a shallow container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled meatloaf in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Reheating: Easily reheat portions of the meatloaf in the microwave for 30-40 seconds or reheat them in the air fryer. I suggest air frying at 180C/350F for 3-5 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can! I tested this recipe with ground turkey (lean, NOT extra lean) and ground pork, and it turned out to be just as delicious as using beef. There is no need to adjust the cooking time at all.
If you prefer your meatloaf to be firmer around the edges (and staying intact when sliced), i suggest wrapping the meatloaf in plastic wrap and chilling it for 30 minutes before air frying. It doesn’t change the flavor but gives the meatloaf more stability.
Yes, of course. To bake this particular recipe, add it to a preheated oven (180C/350F) and bake it for 40-45 minutes or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 165F (or 155F with 5 minutes resting time).
Yes! Swap out the panko breadcrumbs for gluten-free panko breadcrumbs instead.
More air fryer dinners to try
- Air fryer stuffed peppers
- Air fryer pork tenderloin
- Air fryer steak
- Air fryer salmon
- Air fryer chicken thighs
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Video
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef lean or extra lean
- 1 small onion finely chopped or grated
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup parsley finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For the glaze
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef and onion and mix well. Add the eggs, milk, panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning until completely incorporated.
- Using your hands, shape the meat mixture into a thick loaf. Transfer it into the air fryer basket diagonally.
- Air fry the meatloaf for 15 minutes.
- Whisk the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and ketchup together. Brush on top of the meatloaf and air fry for 5 minutes or until the meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 155F (it will reach 165F after resting).
- Remove the meatloaf from the air fryer and let it sit for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published September 2022, updated and republished November 2024
I made this last night , we LOVED IT !!!
Thank you for you healthy alternatives, we have made so many of your recipies over the years. Take care and stay well. Cindi
Okay, I almost passed this one by–after all another meat loaf recipe. But, it was for my air fryer, so I gave it a try. I’m so glad I made it! So easy and tasty and the easy glaze absolutely makes it special!
This looks so easy!!
I’ve been wondering how to do meatloaf in the air fryer. This looks really good. Thanks for sharing. Sincerely Debora Atkins
Wow this looks great and like something I can actually do (I’m a beginner in the kitchen)! I don’t like cooking that much but since I got the air fryer I’ve enjoyed it a lot more. I can’t wait to try this!
Wonderful and easy@
This meatloaf is the greatest! I’m very picky about my meatloaf and I love this one! So very moist and very flavorful! You did this one proud! ☺️
i had the ingredients and made it today. It turned out great.
I added a 1/2 lb of sausage and decreased the ground beef
i will make it again
Excellent meatloaf….very tasty and moist.
Easy to make & very tasty. Will definitely make again!
Any recommendations for keeping the meatloaf grain-free? I love meatloaf but can’t tolerate most grains.
You can swap it out for almond flour!
Witch one is a good air fryer too many to choose from?
I love using a Phillips- I’ll link it in the post 🙂