This air fryer meatloaf has everything I want from meatloaf: a nicely browned outside, a tender middle, and plenty of savory flavor from the onion, garlic, tomato paste, and herbs. Each serving also has 31 grams of protein, so it makes a filling dinner without needing anything complicated.
Cooking meatloaf in air fryer is also much quicker than waiting around for a large traditional meatloaf to bake in the oven, and with less grease too! If you want another easy dinner, try these Meatballs in Air Fryer next. Keep reading to see how easy it is to get that crisp outside while keeping the middle moist.
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Video Tutorial
Try This Air Fryer Meatloaf
If meatloaf is already one of your comfort food favorites and popular recipes, making air fryer meatloaf is a really easy way to change things up. Dividing the mixture into two smaller loaves helps them cook quickly, and I especially like the crispier outside you get from the air fryer.
It also works well when I want a healthy dinner for busy weeknights that still feels hearty and filling. Serve it with vegetables or a fresh salad, and it can easily become an easy low carb meal without changing the meatloaf itself.
Why You’ll Love It
- High in protein: Each serving has 31 grams of protein, which makes this a really satisfying dinner.
- Crispy outside: The air fryer gives the tasty meatloaf that browned exterior while keeping the inside tender; no foil or olive oil is needed.
- Full of flavor: Onion, garlic, tomato paste, paprika, basil, and oregano give the beef plenty of savory flavor.
- Easy to serve: Mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad all work alongside it.
Ingredients
- Lean ground beef: I like lean beef here because you still get a moist, meaty center without the meatloaf becoming overly greasy. The 500 grams also divides nicely into two smaller loaves for the air fryer.
- Breadcrumbs: These soak in the milk before anything else is added. I wouldn’t skip that short soaking time because it helps give the meatloaf mixture a softer texture rather than leaving dry breadcrumbs throughout.
- Tomato paste or ketchup: Either works here, which is handy. I’d use tomato paste when I want a deeper tomato flavor, while ketchup gives it a slightly sweeter taste.
- Onion: Finely chopping the onion is important for me because I want that flavor throughout the meatloaf without getting large pieces of onion in every slice. Garlic powder and onion powder can be used instead, but I prefer it fresh.
How to Make Air Fryer Meatloaf
1. In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to soak up the milk.
2. Add the large egg, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, tomato paste (or ketchup), soy sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly.
3. Add the ground beef to the bowl and mix well to ensure even distribution of all the ingredients. Let the mixture sit for about half an hour.
4. Preheat your air fryer (mine is the Instant Vortex Plus XL) to 360ºF (180ºC).
5. Divide the meat mixture into two portions and shape them into a loaf shape (2 meatloaves). Use a cooking spatula to place them on the bottom of your air fryer basket.
6. Air fry the meatloaves for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 70-75°C.
7. Once the meatloaves are ready, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before adding a homemade glaze, slicing, and serving.
Recipe Tips
- Let the breadcrumbs soak in the milk for a few minutes before adding the other ingredients.
- Don’t skip the 30-minute resting time for the meat mixture.
- If the meatloaf browns too quickly, decrease the temperature by 20°F and extend the cooking time by 5–7 minutes.
- Use a meat thermometer to reach an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.
- Cook in batches rather than overcrowding the air fryer basket.
- A thicker meatloaf may need a few extra minutes to cook through.
- Let the cooked meatloaf rest before slicing so the juices have time to redistribute.
- Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container, wrapped in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
What Can You Serve With This?
- Mashed potatoes
- Buttered green beans
- Roasted vegetables
- Garden salad
- Worcestershire sauce
- BBQ sauce
FAQs
Your meatloaf mixture might be too wet or lacking a proper binder like eggs or breadcrumbs. Ensure you're mixing the ingredients thoroughly, and consider adding a touch more binder if it seems too loose.
This usually indicates that the cooking temperature is too high, causing the outside to cook faster than the inside. Next time, try reducing the temperature and extending the cooking time for a more even cook.
A dry meatloaf can result from overcooking or using lean meat with minimal fat content. Consider reducing the cooking time, using meat with higher fat content, or adding moist ingredients like grated vegetables or a splash of broth.
To achieve an even crust, make sure to preheat the air fryer and, if possible, occasionally rotate the meatloaf during cooking. A piece of perforated parchment paper under the meatloaf can also help with airflow and even cooking.
Recipe
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Cooking spatula
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Large bowl
- Fork
- Serving plate
Ingredients
- 500 grams lean ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste or ketchup
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to soak up the milk.
- Add the egg, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, tomato paste (or ketchup), soy sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly.
- Add the ground beef to the bowl and mix well to ensure even distribution of all the ingredients. Let the mixture sit for about half an hour.
- Preheat your air fryer (mine is the Instant Vortex XL) to 360ºF (180ºC). Divide the meat mixture into two portions and shape them into two meatloaves. Use a cooking spatula to place them on the bottom of your air fryer.
- Air fry the meatloaves for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 70-75°C.
- Once the meatloaves are ready, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Notes
Cooking Time and Temperature
Air fry at 360°F (180°C) for 25–30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 70–75°C.Taste & Texture
Crispy and browned on the outside with a tender, moist center and savory flavors from the garlic, onion, tomato, and dried herbs.Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Thaw frozen meatloaf in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Recommendations
- I like serving this with mashed potatoes and buttered green beans when I want a classic meatloaf dinner.
- For something lighter, I’d go with a fresh garden salad or roasted vegetables.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the beef for ground turkey or chicken.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or rolled oats if needed.
- Add cayenne pepper or chopped jalapeños for some heat.
Proper Storage Tips
- Place leftovers in an airtight container.
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months and thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating.
Pro Tips
- If the mixture is too wet, add some breadcrumbs.
- If the mixture is falling apart, add an egg.
- Let the cooked meatloaf rest before slicing so the juices can redistribute.
- Mixing the ingredients by hand can help distribute everything evenly.
Video
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