Enjoy classic comfort food the easy way with this crispy-on-the-outside, moist-on-the-inside air fryer meatloaf! Perfect for busy weeknights.
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Meatloaf in the Air Fryer is perfectly moist and not greasy at all!
When it comes to comfort food that will feed the whole family, it doesn’t get much better than air fryer meatloaf!
One thing I love is how the air fryer allows all the grease to drip through the basket. That way, the meatloaf doesn’t cook in it and turn out too greasy.
It’s just enough to give it a wonderful crispy edges while the inside stays perfectly moist for a delicious meal!
If you’ve never thought about using your air fryer for making meatloaf, now is the time! No meatloaf pan is necessary.
So whether you have a few pounds of ground beef you need to use or you’re just looking for an quick weeknight dinner, definitely give this classic meatloaf recipe a try.
Looking for other dinner recipes to make? Check out this massive list of air fryer recipes perfect for main dishes at dinner!
What You’ll Need for Meatloaf in Air Fryer
- Ground beef — I recommend 80/20 lean
- Eggs
- Milk
- Italian breadcrumbs
- McCormick’s meatloaf seasoning packet
- Worcestershire sauce
- Ketchup
- Light brown sugar
- Dijon mustard
How to Air Fry Meatloaf
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
STEP TWO: Combine the beef, eggs, milk, bread crumbs, meatloaf seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. You can use a big spoon or just mix it with your hands.
STEP THREE: Form the meatloaf mixture into a loaf shape, then place it in the preheated air fryer basket. I recommend spraying the basket with some oil using an EVO Oil Mister so the meatloaf is easy to take out after cooking.
You can also place a piece of air fryer parchment paper in the basket under the meatloaf if you would like to help with cleanup.
STEP FOUR: Cook the meatloaf for 25 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Meanwhile, make the topping by combining the ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
STEP SIX: At 25 minutes, spoon ¼ cup of the topping mixture onto the meatloaf, just enough to cover it. Place the loaf back in the air fryer for 5-10 more minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees.
I use a Kizen Instant-Read Thermometer to get a quick read of the meatloaf temperature.
STEP SEVEN: Remove the loaf from the air fryer. If desired, you can add more of the topping and garnish with parsley.
STEP EIGHT: Allow the meatloaf to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Can I Make Turkey Meatloaf Instead?
You bet! In fact, it’s up to you whether you want to use ground beef, ground pork, or ground turkey in this recipe.
Can’t decide which flavor sounds best? You can always mix and match your favorite combinations! Just make sure you end up with 2 pounds (2 lbs) of ground meat total.
How Long to Cook Meatloaf in the Air Fryer
This easy meatloaf recipe will cook in just 35 minutes.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees before pulling it out.
I love using my Thermoworks DOT alarm that stays in the meatloaf while air frying and beeps when it’s done!
Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe Tips
- During the first 25 minutes of cooking, if you notice the top browning too early, cover it with aluminum foil. Remove once you add the topping.
- Use 80/20 ground beef for the best flavor — I find lean ground beef can turn out a little too dry
- Use the remaining topping as a dipping sauce for the meatloaf. My kids love the extra sauce!
How to serve this Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe
- Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
- The Best Air Fryer Green Tomatoes Recipe
- Easy Air Fryer Ranch Potatoes
- Air Fryer Carrots (or Carrots in the Instant Pot)
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Garlic
How to store Air Fryer Meatloaf
This recipe is for a small meatloaf that will feed a family of four. But if you find yourself with leftovers, count yourself lucky. They taste amazing the next day!
Simply store any extra meatloaf slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Properly stored, they will stay fresh for up to 4 days.
How to reheat Meatloaf in the Air Fryer
- Line your basket with air fryer parchment paper (if you don’t have any, regular parchment paper will work in a pinch, but the perforations work really nicely with the way the air fryer cooks).
- Spray both sides of your meatloaf with cooking spray, then lay it on the paper in the basket.
- Cook the slices for 3-5 minutes at 350 degrees.
Meatloaf Air Fryer FAQs
Fatty foods can often cause an air fryer to smoke if you don’t take the right precautions. This includes when cooking ground beef in the air fryer.
To avoid smoking, use one of these two methods:
– Place a piece of bread under the basket inside the drawer. This will help catch any grease.
– Place a small amount of water in the drawer of the air fryer.
To keep air fryer meatloaf moist, ingredients like eggs, breadcrumbs, and a touch of milk make all the difference. These help retain moisture inside the loaf, so you get a super juicy and flavorful dish.
If meatloaf is overcooked, it will turn dry, so pull it out from the air fryer as soon as it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. I like using a thermometer probe that fits in an air fryer basket and beeps when the meatloaf is done cooking.
If your meatloaf falls apart, it needs more binding ingredients. Eggs and breadcrumbs are key for helping the meatloaf hold its shape and texture!
Overcooking meatloaf can also lead to a crumbly, fall-apart texture.
More Beef Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Hamburgers
- Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak
- Air Fryer Ground Beef
- Frozen Hamburgers in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Air Fryer Roast Beef
- Ninja Foodi Meatloaf
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Meatloaf in the Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- [1 packet McCormick’s meatloaf seasoning packet 1.5 ounce ]
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
For the Topping
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees.
- Combine the beef, eggs, milk, bread crumbs, meatloaf seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. You can use a big spoon or just use your hands.
- Form it onto a loaf shape and place the meatloaf in the air fryer.
- Cook it for 25 minutes.*
- While the meatloaf is cooking, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl.
- After 25 minutes spoon 1/4 cup of the topping mixture onto the meatloaf. Place it back in the air fryer and cook for 5 to 10 minutes more until it reaches 165 degrees F.
- Remove the meatloaf from the air fryer and top with additional ketchup mixture and enjoy!
Hi Samantha ~
Glad I found you.
I look forward to your recipes.
Quick question: Do I use the ‘air fryer’ option or the bake option for the meatloaf recipe?
Thank you~
Hi Sandi, all of my recipes labeled for air fryer will use the air fryer function on your appliance. Enjoy!
I’d like to know this too. Almost all recipes just give the temp and time. They don’t say what setting!!! Let me know.
Hi Patti, all of the recipes labeled “air fryer” on my site use the air fry or air crisp setting. I make it easy as all air fryers don’t have additional settings on them.
Samantha,
This Recipe will also work great for Meat Balls with or without Gravy and Sausage Roll Filling.