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Author:
Franco Salzillo
You’ll relive your fondest family memories as soon as you smell meatloaf straight out of the oven. Meatloaves are a typical home-cooked meal for many and comfort food for everyone.
Making meatloaf is an opportunity to get together around the table and enjoy a satisfying meal, nothing too fancy — simply perfect. And if you don’t have an oven or want to experiment with making yours in an air-fryer, you can!
The seasonings make meatloaves stand out, provided you’re using high-quality meat. A lean-to-fat ratio of 80-20 guarantees a meaty loaf that’s not too dry.
As for the add-ons, breadcrumbs and eggs give body to the loaf, while onion and garlic give it personality. Worcestershire sauce is deliciously compatible with red meat and will provide umami flavors to the meatloaf, and chopped parsley adds freshness to the dish. Ketchup, of course, adds tang and sweetness to the meaty dish, so let’s add some of it as well.
The air fryer meatloaf recipe below makes a whole meal with a lovely glaze. Still, the dish might be too lonely on the plate.
Serving meatloaf with a starchy side, whether pasta or roasted potatoes, is paramount, and veggies or salad guarantee your dinner is balanced. Starches and veggies will complete your meal without stealing the spotlight from that juicy meatloaf.
For the loaf:
For the glaze:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, onion, ground beef, eggs, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, cider vinegar and brown sugar for the glaze. Set aside.
Depending on your air fryer’s capacity, divide the mixture. For large, 6.5-10.5 quarts-sized fryers, make one big loaf. For appliances with a rack, make two smaller loaves. For smaller air fryers, work in batches or reduce the amount of loaf mixture.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and cook for between 15 and 25 minutes, depending on the size of your loaf and the number of loaves. When in doubt, consult your appliance’s user manual. Glaze the loaves every 5-8 minutes.
Use a meat thermometer and ensure the loave’s core temperature reaches 160°F.
Remove from the air fryer, slice and serve with your favorite sides, from steamed vegetables to mashed potatoes; everything is delicious with meatloaf.
