Mom’s Best Brown Sugar Meatloaf with a 3-Ingredient Glaze

For years, I made this meatloaf without measuring anything. I would add a little of this, pour in a little of that, and hope I remembered everything from the last time I made it.

After receiving several requests for the recipe, I finally decided it was time to write down my brown sugar meatloaf. I’m so glad I did because this is one recipe I never want to forget.

You know how much I love sweet things, and the brown sugar in this recipe does not disappoint. It’s mixed into both the meatloaf and the sauce, creating that wonderful sweet and savory flavor I love.

The cheese mixed into the meat is another little secret. It melts into the meatloaf as it bakes and adds something special to every bite.

Why Everyone Requests This Brown Sugar Meatloaf

I have a wonderfully dear friend who used to request this meatloaf when we lived near her. When we moved away, I gave her a general idea of how I made it because, at the time, that was about the best I could do. I was still winging the entire recipe.

Now she has the real recipe, with actual measurements and everything!

This brown sugar meatloaf is also loved by one of my sons, who is beyond picky. He can absolutely devour it. Anytime a recipe earns that kind of approval from a picky eater, I know it needs to be saved.

The combination of seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, panko crumbs, and the sweet ketchup glaze makes this an absolutely delicious meatloaf recipe. It’s tender, flavorful, and easy enough to make for an ordinary family dinner.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf Ingredients

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For the meatloaf

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 eggs
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups panko crumbs
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup dried onion
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

For the sauce

• 1 1/2 cups ketchup
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons mustard (I use Dijon mustard), or 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

The Dijon mustard gives the sauce a little tanginess that balances the sweetness of the ketchup and brown sugar. If you don’t want to use mustard, Worcestershire sauce is another option.

How to Make Brown Sugar Meatloaf

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Place the ground beef, eggs, 1 cup of the panko crumbs, shredded cheese, brown sugar, ketchup, dried onion, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce in a large mixing bowl.
3. Mix everything until the ingredients are evenly combined. If the mixture seems too wet to hold its shape, add more panko crumbs as needed, up to 1 1/2 cups total.
4. Place the meat mixture in one large loaf pan or divide it between smaller loaf pans. Gently press the meat into the pan without packing it too firmly.
5. In a separate bowl, mix the ketchup, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard for the sauce. If you prefer, replace the Dijon mustard with 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce.
6. Make a shallow indentation along the top of the meatloaf. This creates a place for that wonderful brown sugar sauce to settle instead of immediately running down the sides.
7. Spoon the sauce generously over the top of the meatloaf.
8. Bake the brown sugar meatloaf for approximately 1 hour.
9. Check the temperature in the thickest part with a food thermometer. The meatloaf is ready when the center reaches 160°F. If it hasn’t reached that temperature, return it to the oven for another 10 minutes and check it again. Continue baking in 10-minute increments until it’s fully cooked.
10. Let the meatloaf rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. This makes it easier to cut and gives the juices time to settle back into the meat.

A Few Helpful Tips

Don’t overwork the meat. Mix the ingredients until everything is evenly distributed, but try not to mash or squeeze the mixture too much. Overmixing and tightly packing the loaf can make meatloaf dense.

Begin with 1 cup of panko. Because the size of the eggs and moisture in the ground beef can vary, you may not always need the entire 1 1/2 cups. Begin with 1 cup and add more if the mixture is too wet to hold together.

Use the shredded cheese your family enjoys. The cheese adds flavor and helps make this brown sugar meatloaf extra special. A cheese that melts well is a good choice.

Make plenty of sauce. The sauce is one of my favorite parts of this recipe. It’s sweet, tangy, and delicious with the cheesy meatloaf underneath.

Trust the thermometer instead of the clock. Baking time can vary depending on the size and depth of your loaf pan. The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F, measured with a food thermometer.

Let it rest before slicing. I know it’s tempting to cut into the meatloaf right away, but letting it sit for about 10 minutes helps it hold together.

This brown sugar meatloaf is delicious with mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, green beans, corn, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad. I especially love serving something alongside it that can catch a little of the extra sauce.

For years, this was one of those recipes I made by memory and instinct. I’m happy to finally have it written down so my friend, my sons, and anyone else who loves a sweet and savory meatloaf can make it whenever they want.

We really do love this meatloaf recipe, and I’ve been asked for it over and over again. I hope your family loves it just as much as mine does.

What’s the one meal in your family that even your pickiest eater will devour?

Making every house feel a little more like home.

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