39 Ways to Make Meat Loaf

Satisfy the meat-and-potatoes eaters in your house with this satisfying dish that all cooks up in one pot! Talk about classic comfort food. —Faith Cromwell, San Francisco, California

Onion soup mix and stuffing are the surprise ingredients in these incredibly simple mini meat loaves. They’re definite family-pleasers. —Nicole Russman, Lincoln, Nebraska

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

When my husband and I were first married, he refused to eat meat loaf because he said it was bland and dry. Then I prepared this version, and it became his favorite meal. —Suzanne Codner, Starbuck, Minnesota

I used to have a catering business, and my specialty was comfort food. I once needed a gluten-free meat loaf, and my clients went nuts over this recipe. I often use an 8×8-in. pan or a loaf pan, but a muffin tin really cuts the cooking time. —Vangie Panagotopulos, Moorestown, New Jersey

Here’s a zesty, flavorful meat loaf you can really sink your teeth into! Great with black beans, rice, green salad with lime vinaigrette, or any of your favorite Tex-Mex sides. —Kristen Miller, Glendale, Wisconsin

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

We still can’t settle on our favorite salsa, but, honestly, why bother? There are so many fantastic options! We love trying them all in this twist on classic meat loaf. You can make these loaves ahead, and they’ll last for a few days—perfect for meat loaf sandwiches topped with a little Monterey Jack cheese. —Tasha Tully, Owings Mills, Maryland

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

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

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

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

Here’s all the savory deliciousness of Mom’s meat loaf in a single-serving size! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Nothing says comfort food better than meat loaf! Get this one started in the morning and you’ll have a delicious hot meal ready for Sunday dinner. —Deanna Laughinghouse, Raleigh, North Carolina

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

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

We live in Texas and love the Southwest style of cooking. This recipe spices up plain ol’ meat loaf so it tastes like a filling for tacos. —Susan Garoutte, Georgetown, Texas

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

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

It’s easy to whip up this turkey and bean meat loaf on weeknights, and it makes fantastic sandwiches the next day. It’s a little softer than most loaves but it slices perfectly and holds its shape while serving. —Laurie Bock, Lynden, Washington

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

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

We created this recipe to convince my son to try meat loaf, adding blue cheese and bacon for flavor. It worked! —Lila Allen, Fallon, Nevada

My family and I can’t get enough of these little 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. They’re great to give to new moms, too. —Joyce Wegmann, Burlington, Iowa

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

I’m a working mom. 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

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

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

It’s fun to make miniature meat loaves instead of one big loaf…plus, they cook up quickly in a skillet rather than in the oven. This recipe is one of my old standbys for a speedy supper. —Paula Martin, Paxinos, Pennsylvania

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

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

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

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

I’ve made loads of meat loaf variations, but my family loves it best when we have this stick-to-your-ribs version. —Margie Williams, Mount Juliet, Tennessee

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

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

I created a stovetop recipe that is just as good as baked, so we don’t have to wait for it to come out of the oven. —Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania

I combined a few great-tasting meatloaf recipes to create this flavorful 15-minute version, which my husband loves. And because it’s made in the microwave, the entree is perfect for busy nights. For an extra boost, I flavor the meatloaf with onion soup mix.—Deb Thompson, Lincoln, Nebraska

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