Air Fryer Meatloaf is the perfect combination of flavors! Savory spices and a sweet glaze make for a meatloaf recipe that's done in less than 40 minutes!
Air Fryer Meatloaf is the best way to make meatloaf!
This meatloaf recipe is the perfect combination of savory & sweet flavors.
You won't believe how easy this meatloaf recipe is.
Served with broccoli and crispy potatoes, it makes a meal that'll satisfy your taste buds and fill your tummy!
If you've never air fried your meatloaf before, you're in for a big surprise!
One of the biggest complaints about cooking meatloaf is how long it takes.
Using your air fryer cuts the cook time in half!
Ingredients in Air Fryer Meatloaf
Ground protein (I used Beyond Meat, but you can use whatever protein you prefer.)
Breadcrumbs
Ketchup
Diced onion
An egg (whisked)
Mustard
Liquid smoke
Garlic powder
Salt
Smoked paprika
Oregano
For the glaze:
Ketchup
Brown Sugar
Dijon mustard
How to Make Meatloaf
- Add your ground protein to a large bowl.
- Add the breadcrumbs.
- Fold in the onions.
- Next, add the spices.
- Pour in the fresh diced parsley.
- Add the scrambled egg.
- Pour in the ketchup, mustard, and liquid smoke.
- Stir well to combine.
- Then form mixture into a loaf shape.
- Shape the meat mixture into a loaf and place it in a lined air fryer basket.
- Cook the meatloaf for 20 minutes at 370 degrees. Meanwhile, mix together the glaze ingredients.
- Brush the glaze over the meatloaf and return it to the air fryer to cook for another 10-15 minutes.
- Allow the meatloaf to rest before serving. Add more glaze if desired, then slice, serve and ENJOY!
Why do you need breadcrumbs in meatloaf?
Breadcrumbs combined with the whisked egg in this easy air fryer recipe act as the perfect binder for the meat.
Without proper binding agents, your meatloaf may fall apart or turn out too tough.
Adding the breadcrumbs and egg allow for the meat to hold its shape while retaining moisture to give this meatloaf its amazing juicy flavor!
How do you know when meatloaf is ready?
It can be challenging to know when meatloaf is finished due to the thickness of the loaf.
I recommend using a meat thermometer to take the guesswork out of the cooking time.
Meatloaf should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees when a meat thermometer is inserted into the center of the loaf.
If your meatloaf isn't quite done, place it back into your air fryer and cook in 2-3 minute intervals until it reaches the recommended temperature.
How long should meatloaf rest before serving?
Meatloaf should rest for about 10 minutes after it's removed from the air fryer.
It's important not to skip this step!
Letting the meatloaf rest allows the juices to settle and distribute throughout the loaf.
It also helps make slicing the meatloaf easier!
Tips for Making the best meatloaf
Keep an eye on the meatloaf while it cooks. I recommend checking it every so often so that you know it's not burning or cooking too quickly on the outside.
If you need to, you can cover the top of the meatloaf with foil to keep it from browning too quickly.
Don't rush the cooking time by increasing the cooking temperature!
To ensure that your meatloaf cooks evenly, keep your air fryer at a low temperature of 370 degrees F. Think low and slow!
Use a serrated knife when cutting your meatloaf. A serrated knife will give you more control, which ensures that the meatloaf won't fall apart while cutting.
Remember that cooking times will vary depending on your brand of air fryer and the thickness of your meatloaf.
Checking the loaf intermittently as it cooks will help to ensure that it isn't over or under cooked.
What can I add to meatloaf?
You can bulk up your meatloaf by adding chopped veggies such as bell pepper, carrots, and mushrooms if you like.
Be sure to chop the veggies finely so that they cook evenly inside the loaf.
How to Make Paleo Meatloaf
You can easily substitute the breadcrumbs to make Paleo meatloaf. Cassava flour and almond flour are great options!
What should I serve with meatloaf?
There are so many delicious side dishes that pair perfectly with meatloaf!
Try some of these:
Mashed potatoes or Baked potatoes
Crispy asparagus or a side salad
Potato pancakes or Crispy Brussels sprouts
More Air Fryer Dinner Recipes You'll Love!
We have so many air fryer recipes to choose from!
If you are having trouble figuring out which one to try next, we suggest: Air Fryer Hamburgers, Air Fryer Pizza and Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers
Looking for purchase an air fryer? Wondering which air fryer is right for you?
Here are my TOP picks of air fryers on the market today!
Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven.
If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the "Air Fry" function.
Are you gluten-free? Me too! We also have a sister site where EVERYTHING is gluten-free. It is called VegetarianMamma.
Always be sure to read ingredient labels to make sure that the product/ingredients fits your dietary restrictions!
Generally, we make simple enough recipes where you can sub the ingredients.
Common subs in our recipes include: Bread = Canyon Bakehouse Bread Crumbs = Ian's GF Bread Crumbs Flour = GF Jules All Purpose GF Flour.
Because our household is mixed between gluten and gluten-free, we have made almost everything on our site both ways. (except some of the frozen foods).
If you have any questions, please ask!
Meat Air Fryer Resources - We have a Meat/Veg Air Fryer Newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. We also have several Air Fryer Facebook Groups that you can join (see below for links).
Vegetarian Air Fryer Resources – We have a vegetarian air fryer newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. We also have a specific vegetarian air fryer recipes group on facebook.
If you are looking for vegetarian recipes beyond air fryer ones, we have a Vegetarian Newsletter as well as a Vegetarian Recipes facebook group. This newsletter and FB group offers up recipes that on the stove, in the oven, on the grill, in the instant pot and more!
Have you made this recipe? Please leave a comment AND rating below! It helps other readers!
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Air Fryer Meatloaf
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground protein (I used Beyond Meat) You can use beef, turkey, pork, etc.
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (or ½ cup flour) Use gluten free if you are GF
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- ½ cup onion diced
- 1 egg whisked
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 tbsp liquid smoke
- ¼ c fresh parsley
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp oregano
For the glaze:
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
Instructions
- Add your ground protein to a large bowl.
- Add the breadcrumbs.
- Fold in the onions.
- Pour in the fresh diced parsley and spices.
- Add the scrambled egg.
- Pour in the ketchup, mustard, and liquid smoke.
- Stir well to combine.
- Shape the mixture into a loaf.
- Put the meatloaf into the air fryer basket on top of parchment paper. Air fry for 20 minutes at 370 degrees F.
- Remove the air fryer basket from the unit.
- Mix the glaze ingredients together.
- Spread the glaze on top of the meatloaf.
- Return the meatloaf back to the air fryer and cook at the same temperature for 10-15 minutes. (If you are using meat, your meatloaf should reach 165 degrees F in the center before consuming. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the loaf has reached a safe temperature.)
- Allow the meatloaf to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
- You can add vegetables to this recipe. Nice additions are a ½ of diced carrots or ¾ c of diced bell pepper. If you enjoy mushrooms, you can also add those to your air fryer meatloaf. Just be sure that you diced them very small so they cook through.
- If you are wanting to make Paleo Meatloaf, you can sub out the breadcrumbs and sub in cassava flour or almond flour.
- Do not SKIP the “resting” part of this air fryer meatloaf recipe. You need to let the meatloaf sit and rest to cool down. This will help you cut into the air fryer meatloaf.
- Use a serated knife to cut your air fryer meatloaf into slices. This type of knife will help the meatloaf to not break apart when cutting.
- You need to check on your air fryer meatloaf every so often. You need to check to make sure it isn’t crisping too fast or burning. If you feel that the top of your air fryer meatloaf is starting to burn, you can place foil on top of the meatloaf to help with that. Be careful that you secure the foil so it doesn’t fly up into the air fryer’s heating area.
- Don’t try to rush this air fryer meatloaf recipe by increasing the temperature. Cooking at a lower temperature helps to keep the meatloaf moist.
- Cooking times may vary a little depending on how you shape your loaf.
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
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Let's talk! Drop me a comment below and tell me if you are a meatloaf lover! Have you tried my air fryer meatloaf recipe? Let me know in the comments what you thought!
I hadn't thought to make a meatloaf in my air fryer but I'm glad you did. It was so good. I loved how crispy it made the outside.
So glad you loved the crispy outside of our air fryer meatloaf. Its my favorite part too!
I didn't know you can make such a wonderful meatloaf in an air fryer. That glaze is so good. 🙂
What a nice recipe, I didn't know you could make meatloaf in the air fryer. I do like to add vegetables in my meatloaf, I do like the crunchy bites of carrots. Never add a glace, I will try it next time. It adds a nice colour
Oh, I loved carrots
in the air fryer too. The glaze to this meatloaf is so good. It makes the top so crunchy but with a sweetness. Come back and let me know how you enjoyed it!
Interesting, this meatloaf looks good and amazing that it is done in an airfryer.
Thanks Sadia for checking out our air fryer meatloaf!
Now that I have gone through your post, I realize that I haven't made a meatloaf in such a long time. Really excited to give your recipe a try!
Thanks Danielle, I hope that you enjoy this air fryer meatloaf!
I don't always make my meat loaf the same each time. But after trying your glaze, it's always on there.
That glaze is just so yummy, isn't it? I love it too! Who knew air fryer meatloaf could be so tasty!?
Now that I have gone through your post, I realize that I haven’t made a meatloaf in such a long time. Really excited to give your recipe a try
Do come back and let us know how you liked it! YUM!
THAnks so much for the recipe
Hello Betty! You are very welcome! Glad you are such a fan of the site. I know you've made so many of our recipes! Thanks for being a big supporter!
Yes, I recently am new to air fryers, and made this meatloaf the other day. The only ingredient I left out was the liquid smoke, as I didn't have any. This turned out to be the best meat loaf ever. It turned out so moist. Unlike the oven, where it can dry out. I will always be making the air fryer way now. The sauce was a big plus too !
Yay Marlene! Thank you SO much for coming back and letting me know how it turned out. I am SO glad it was delicious and the sauce was a hit too!
I've made this several times after seeing it in your facebook group. I tried breaking it up into to pans but I actually like molding it into one loaf and using parchment around it. The glaze of this is the star piece!
So glad that its a repeat recipe for you! Yes, I agree that glaze is the star for sure!
Found you on youtube, the glaze on this is the best I've ever had!
Hello Erica and welcome from Youtube! Thanks for checking us out there and venturing over the the website! So glad you love the glaze, we do too!