Lipton Onion Soup Meat Loaf

Our Lipton onion soup meat loaf recipe uses a clever shortcut to add plenty of flavor with minimal prep time. Make it in the slow cooker for an easy dinner.
Onion Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Homemade meat loaf is cozy and comforting, but some recipes require a lot of prep time to chop vegetables and measure spices. Not this one. This Lipton onion soup meat loaf recipe delivers all the flavor in a fraction of the time it would usually take pull together. And like other easy slow-cooker recipes, this tender, juicy meat loaf is perfect for busy days.

After a quick mixing of ground beef and just four other ingredients, a few hours in the slow cooker brings this meat loaf to life without any fuss. Taste for yourself why this is one of our favorite classic comfort food dinners and Test Kitchen-approved meat loaf recipes.

Onion Meat LoafTMB Studio

Ingredients for Lipton Onion Soup Meat Loaf

  • Ground beef: Choose a good-quality ground beef for this recipe, preferably one with a fat content of at least 15% to ensure a moist, tender meat loaf.
  • Lipton onion soup mix: The secret ingredient! A packet of onion soup mix delivers a well-balanced, all-in-one mix of seasonings and spices. No measuring spoons or cutting board required. While Lipton is our favored one here, you can use any brand of onion soup mix for this recipe.
  • Ketchup: It isn’t classic meat loaf without the ketchup!
  • Binders: Oats and eggs bind the loaf together. The oats will also absorb plenty of flavor and moisture from the meat. Make sure to use quick-cooking, as other types of oats will be too tough to cook through.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the slow cooker

Cut three 20×3-inch strips of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Crisscross them so they resemble spokes of a wheel. Place the center of the “wheel” in the bottom of a 3-quart slow cooker, then bend the strips so they reach up the sides. Coat well with cooking spray.

Step 2: Prep the seasonings

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, oats, ketchup and soup mix. Mix until the egg is well beaten and the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Step 3: Add the beef, and shape the loaf

Crumble the ground beef over the egg mixture. Using clean hands or a spatula, mix lightly but thoroughly so the mixture holds together well. Shape into an oval or rectangular loaf shape with the seam side down. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t knead the meat mixture; overmixing can cause the beef to toughen. Mix it gently to ensure a moist and tender meat loaf.

Step 4: Cook the loaf

Place the loaf on the center of the foil strips. Cover the slow cooker, and cook on low for five to six hours, until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat loaf reads 160°. Using the foil strips as handles, remove the meat loaf from the slow cooker, and transfer it to a platter.

Editor’s Tip: Allow the meat loaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This gives the loaf time to set, achieving the best texture and preserving the juices.

Recipe Variations

  • Add herbs and spices: While the soup packet delivers plenty of flavor in a hurry, you can always add your favorite fresh or dried herbs for an extra boost. Think classics like rosemary, parsley or thyme. If you enjoy garlic or heat, add a pinch of garlic powder or cayenne pepper.
  • Add onions: Really love onions? Add finely minced raw onion to the loaf, or gently saute chopped onions until golden brown, and mix them in. You can add it to your rotation of favorite onion recipes.
  • Add a dash of umami: Adding super-savory umami ingredients will give the meat loaf tons of flavor. Try adding a dash of Worcestershire or soy sauce to the mix.
  • Swap in bread crumbs: Don’t have oats on hand? You can add homemade bread crumbs or store-bought bread crumbs, or use any bread crumb substitute, such as panko, cooked rice or broken-up crackers.
  • Top with sauce: Spread ketchup, salsa or classic barbecue sauce over the top of the loaf before baking.
  • Try a different meat: You can easily make turkey or chicken meat loaf, or even mix in pork with the ground beef. Just make sure you cook it to the proper safe temp for that meat.

How to Store Onion Soup Meat Loaf

Store cooked meat loaf wrapped tightly in the refrigerator for up to four days. Leftover meat loaf is delicious hot or cold, and it makes a delicious sandwich for lunch or dinner.

Lipton Onion Soup Meat Loaf Tips

Onion Meat Loaf sliced and served with broccoli on sideTMB Studio

How else can you cook onion soup meat loaf?

You can cook Lipton onion soup meat loaf in the oven instead of the slow cooker. Shape the meat loaf as directed in Step 3, then place in a foil-lined loaf pan or on a baking dish. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until a thermometer reads 160°. Covering the meat loaf will help to keep it juicy, but you won’t get a crispy crust on top.

What’s the secret to juicy onion soup meat loaf?

There are a few secrets to getting a juicy onion meat loaf. First, when cooking with ground beef, it’s important to choose the right ratio of fat-to-lean beef. For meat loaf, we suggest using beef with at least 15% fat. You may go leaner or mix a leaner ground meat in with the beef, but the loaf may turn out a bit drier. You can also seek out a meat loaf recipe that calls for lean beef but adds extra moistening ingredients to the mix, such as this glazed meat loaf recipe.

Other tips for avoiding a dry meat loaf: Don’t overmix the beef, and make sure to let the meat loaf stand at least 10 minutes when it’s done cooking.

What can you serve with Lipton onion soup meat loaf?

Serve your favorite comfort food meat loaf sides like mashed potatoes, green beans or macaroni and cheese.

Onion Meat Loaf

My husband and I really enjoy this delicious meat loaf made with onion soup mix. You only need five ingredients to assemble this easy entree before popping it in the slow cooker. —Rhonda Cowden, Quincy, Illinois
Onion Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Total Time

Prep: 15 min. Cook: 5 hours

Makes

8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix
  • 2 pounds ground beef

Directions

  1. Cut three 20x3-in. strips of heavy-duty foil; crisscross so they resemble spokes of a wheel. Place strips on the bottom and up the side of a 3-qt. slow cooker. Coat strips with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine eggs, oats, ketchup and soup mix. Crumble beef over mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into a loaf. Place loaf in the center of the strips. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until a thermometer reads 160°.
  3. Using foil strips as handles, remove meat loaf to a platter.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 276 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 117mg cholesterol, 579mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein.