40 Ways to Make Meat Loaf

Taste of Home meat loaf recipes are all Test Kitchen-approved. Top 'em with bacon, ketchup or cheese—any way you make it, meat loaf is comfort food. Psst: The next-day sandwiches might be the best part!

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Traditional Meat Loaf

Topped with a sweet sauce, this traditional meat loaf recipe tastes so good that you might want to double it so everyone can have seconds. It also freezes well. —Gail Graham, Maple Ridge, British Columbia

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Mexican Meat Loaf

Tasty taco ingredients makes this Mexican meat loaf extra special. Serve with sour cream and sliced fresh avocado. —Tena Huckleby, Greeneville, Tennessee
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Italian Meatloaf

My husband doesn’t even like meat loaf, but he’ll always eat this irresistible Italian meatloaf! He likes this dish because it offers a wide variety of flavors. —Myra Innes, Auburn, Kansas
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[rms_recipe id="191208" title="Buffalo Blue Cheese Meat Loaf" cta_text="Go to Recipe" image="https://www.tasteofhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/exps191208_SD163575A10_08_2b-4.jpg" image_alt_text="Buffalo Blue Cheese Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Taste of Home" link="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/buffalo-blue-cheese-meat-loaf/"]I made meat loaf with wing sauce for my guy, who prefers food with big flavors. He went crazy for it, and now likes it even more than traditional Buffalo wings! —Latesha Harris, Beaverton, Oregon. Next, check out our favorite sides for meatloaf.

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Sassy Salsa Meat Loaves

Here's a twist on classic meat loaf. You can make these loaves ahead, and they’ll last for a few days. Make meat loaf sandwiches with the leftovers, buns and a little Monterey Jack cheese. —Tasha Tully, Owings Mills, Maryland
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Meat Loaf with Chili Sauce

I used to serve this meat loaf in my cafe, where so many of my customers asked for it. I adapted the recipe for my slow cooker at home, where it's quite popular, too. —Robert Cox, Las Cruces, New Mexico
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BBQ Meat Loaf Minis

Kids can have fun helping to prepare these mini meat loaves in muffin cups. For extra spice, we sometimes add 2 teaspoons chili powder and 1 cup of salsa. —Linda Call, Falun, Kansas
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Gyro Meat Loaf with Tzatziki Sauce

A spin on a classic meat loaf, I love this because I can sneak spinach in on my meat-and-potatoes family. Serve it with Greek-style potatoes or a Greek salad. I also get to make a whole other meal the next night with the leftovers—gyros. —Mandy Rivers, Lexington, South Carolina
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Sun-Dried Tomato Meat Loaf

Our kitchen staff gives Italian flair to this lightened-up meat loaf by mixing in tangy sun-dried tomatoes. The recipe yields a large loaf, so save the extras for sandwiches! You can eat this sun-dried tomato meat loaf for days! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Bacon-Topped Mini Meat Loaves

Here's all the savory deliciousness of Mom's meat loaf in a single-serving size! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Cheesy Turkey Meat Loaf

Nothing says comfort food better than meat loaf! Get this one started in the morning and you’ll have a fantastic hot meal ready even by lunchtime. —Deanna Martinez Bey, Wake Forest, North Carolina
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My Mom's Best Meat Loaf

The Rice Krispies used in this recipe are my mom’s secret ingredient. While they may seem odd or out of place, they help hold the meat loaf together. And once they are cooked, no one realizes they're even there. —Kelly Simmons, Hopkinsville, Kentucky
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String Cheese Meat Loaf

My daughter likes the cheese stuffed into this tasty meat loaf made with a blend of ground beef and Italian sausage. Served with a salad and sourdough bread, the meal is special enough for company. —Laura Lawrence, Salinas, California
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Taco Meat Loaves

We live in Texas and love the Southwest style of cooking. This taco meat loaf recipe spices up plain ol’ meat loaf! —Susan Garoutte, Georgetown, Texas
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Chicken Loaf with Mushroom Gravy

Try a twist on traditional meat loaf with this chicken loaf that begins in the food processor. Here, ketchup is replaced with an easy mushroom sauce for a more upscale topping. —Keri Schofield Lawson, Brea, California
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Easy Breezy Turkey Loaf

If you want a meat loaf that reminds you of home, try this super easy recipe. Your favorite store-bought spaghetti sauce lends some zip, and the ground turkey saves on calories. —Jo Ann Shappard, Vincennes, Indiana
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Mozzarella Meat Loaf

My five kids weren't fans of meat loaf until I "dressed up" the usual recipe with pizza toppings. These days, they eat this hearty dinner with their own families. —Darlis Wilfer, West Bend, Wisconsin
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Pot Roast Meat Loaf

If your taste buds call for pot roast but your pocketbook insists on ground beef, here's the perfect solution! You save on cleanup, too, since the meat and veggies cook in the same dish. —Magdalene Fiske, La Farge, Wisconsin
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Mini Meat Loaves

My family and I can't get enough of these little meat loaf muffins topped with a sweet ketchup sauce. They are the perfect portion size. This recipe requires no chopping, so it's quick and easy to make a double batch and have extras for another day. I've given them to new moms, too. —Joyce Wegmann, Burlington, Iowa
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Best-Ever Meat Loaf

The combination of onion, carrots, parsley and cheese—plus the tomato-mustard topping—makes this meat loaf really colorful. The recipe lends itself easily to being doubled or halved to suit the number you're cooking for, and it freezes well, too. It's the best meatloaf ever! —Anna Baker, Blaine, Washington
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Meat Loaf Cordon Bleu

I'm a school counselor and a mother of one young child. Even with my busy schedule, I can make this in the morning and pop it into the oven when I get home. —Barb Jacobsen, Campbell, Nebraska
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Sweet-and-Sour Meat Loaf

My husband and I like basic, hearty meat-and-potatoes meals. The sweet-and-sour flavor adds a deliciously different twist to this longtime standby. —Debbie Haneke, Stafford, Kansas
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Cheddar-Topped Barbecue Meat Loaf

My family loves the bold barbecue flavor of this tender meat loaf. I love that it's such an easy recipe to prepare in the slow cooker. —David Snodgrass, Columbia, Missouri
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Bacon-Topped Meat Loaf

My family loves meat loaf—and this one in particular. I created this bacon meatloaf after trying and adjusting many other recipes over the years. Cheddar cheese tucked inside and a flavorful bacon topping dress it up just right for Sunday dinner! —Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana
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Vegetable Meat Loaf

I'm not big on leftovers, so I've pared down my recipes to serve two. This meat loaf is simple and quick to prepare, plus it helps you eat your veggies. It's great served with cheddar-topped baked potatoes. —Judi Brinegar, Liberty, North Carolina
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Favorite Meat Loaf Cups

My family enjoys meat loaf, but sometimes I can't spare the hour or more it takes to bake in the traditional shape. A quick alternative is to divide the meat mixture into muffin cups for individual servings that are ready in less than 30 minutes. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
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Mom's Meat Loaf

Mom made the best meatloaf, and now I do, too. When I first met my husband, he didn't care for homemade meatloaf, but this won him over. —Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas
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All-American Meat Loaf

There are many variations on meat loaf, but my family loves this stick-to-your-ribs version. —Margie Williams, Mount Juliet, Tennessee
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Dad's Favorite Barbecue Meat Loaves

It may sound old-fashioned, but it warms my heart to serve dishes that make my family and friends happy. This recipe does just that, and then some. —Leta Winters, Johnson City, Tennessee
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Meat Loaf with Oatmeal

A simple blend of seasonings results in a hot and hearty meat loaf that's big on flavor and very satisfying. —Lauree Buus, Rapid City, South Dakota
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15-Minute Microwave Meat Loaf

I combined a few awesome-tasting recipes to create this flavorful microwave meat loaf, which my husband loves. And because it's made in the microwave, the entree is ideal for busy nights. —Deb Thompson, Lincoln, Nebraska
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Turkey Meat Loaf

I first made this recipe when my husband and I had to start watching our diet. Since then, I've been asked to make my turkey meat loaf many times. —Ruby Rath, New Haven, Indiana

Ellie Martin Cliffe
Now Taste of Home's content director, Ellie has been writing about food and parenting for almost 20 years. When she isn't at TOH HQ, she's likely trying gluten- and dairy-free recipes, canning whatever's in season, listening to anything with a fiddle, or playing Forbidden Island with her family.