This Air Fryer Meatloaf is the easiest way to make a classic comfort food dinner on a busy weeknight. The air fryer cooks the meatloaf in half the time of the oven and gives you a beautifully glazed outside with a tender and juicy inside.
It makes two mini loaves so they cook evenly and are easy to slice and serve. It is a family-friendly dinner that everyone at the table will love! I like to serve this with mashed red potatoes and a green vegetable like these green beans almondine.
Weeknight dinner
Fast air fryer Recipe
Quick Look: Air Fryer Meatloaf
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: 40 minutes
- 🕖 Total Time: 45 minutes
- 🥩 Servings: 4 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 320 calories per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Cook in air fryer at 325F
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: Meatloaf mixture, onion, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, and breadcrumbs
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Extremely easy, especially thanks to the air fryer!
Teresa left this 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“So delish! Super easy and super tasty! Minimal ingredients but lots of flavor. Even after two days and a reheat it’s still super moist. I’m a long time follower and your recipes never disappoint!“
Why You’ll Love this recipe
- Freezer Friendly – Build a freezer stash with multiple loaves for stress-free meals later on. This air fryer meatloaf recipe can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Extra Flavor – The thing that sets this air fryer meatloaf recipe apart is the sauteed onions. Sauteeing your diced onions prior to adding them to the meatloaf mixture keeps the final dish extra moist and flavorful.
- Versatile – You can use whatever ground meat you want for the meatloaf mixture, or you can combine several like I do. Ground beef, pork, and veal are my favorite combo.
For another air fryer meal, try these air fryer steak bites.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you need to make this air fryer meatloaf. For a full list of ingredients and amounts please head to the full recipe.
- Yellow onion – sauteeing the onion before adding it to the mixture really adds a nice depth of flavor
- Meatloaf mixture – I usually use a mix of beef, pork, and veal
- Egg – helps bind the mixture together
- Milk – keeps the meatloaf nice and moist
- Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce – adds a punch of flavor
- Bread Crumbs – can do gluten free bread crumbs if needed
Looking for another air fryer favorite? Try these air fryer ribs.
How to make Air Fryer Meatloaf
Step 1: Heat and saute onion until soft and fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
Step 2: Mix together all ingredients until evenly combined but do not overmix. Overmixing develops the proteins in the meat and makes the meatloaf dense and tough instead of tender.
Step 3: Form mixture into 2 small loaves and place them in the air fryer basket on an air fryer liner or a sheet of parchment paper. Preheat air fryer to 325F.
Step 4: Place meatloaves in the preheated air fryer and cook. Remove and top with 1 tbsp of ketchup. Continue to cook for an additional 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest before slicing and serving.
** Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer brand. I recommend using an instant read thermometer to test for an internal temperature of 160F. This is the best way to avoid overcooking or undercooking since all air fryers run a little differently.
Looking for another favorite meatloaf dish? Try this turkey meatloaf recipe.
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best air fryer meatloaf 🥩
- Do not overmix the meat. Mix just until everything is combined and stop. Overmixing makes the meatloaf dense and tough instead of tender and juicy.
- Use a meat thermometer. All air fryers cook a little differently so the best way to know when the meatloaf is done is to check the internal temperature. It is ready at 160F in the center.
- Use parchment paper in the basket. Lining the air fryer basket with parchment paper makes cleanup so much easier and prevents the loaf from sticking.
- Let it rest before slicing. Give the meatloaf at least 5 minutes to rest after cooking. Slicing too soon will cause the juices to run out and the loaf may fall apart.
I also use my air fryer to make air fryer turkey meatballs.
Recipe FAQs
What temperature do you cook meatloaf in the air fryer?
Cook air fryer meatloaf at 350F for about 25-30 minutes. Always check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure it reaches 160F in the center.
Why is my air fryer meatloaf smoking?
Smoking usually happens when grease from the meat drips to the bottom of the air fryer. To prevent it, add a few tablespoons of water to the bottom of the basket or use a leaner ground beef.
Can I make a single large meatloaf instead of two mini loaves?
Yes! Just make sure your air fryer basket is big enough. A large loaf will take longer to cook so check the internal temperature often.
How do I store leftover air fryer meatloaf?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat slices in the air fryer at 350F for 3-5 minutes until warmed through.
storage, Reheating, and Freezing
Once prepared, allow the meatloaf to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container. Reheat leftover meatloaf in an oven, air fryer or toaster oven at 250F for about 12 minutes or until warmed through. I find it reheats better when it is already cut into slices.
You can freeze the fully cooked meatloaves for up to 3 months. Wrap tightly to prevent any freezer burn.
Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Email Recipe for Later
Recipe
Air Fryer Meatloaf
Ingredients
- ½ yellow onion finely minced
- 2 tsp oil
- 1 lb meatloaf mixture I used a mix of ground pork, beef and veal, but you can use either just beef or just pork and beef
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp milk
- ¼ cup ketchup separated
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup bread crumbs
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium-low heat in a small skillet and saute onion until soft and fragrant – 4-5 minutes
- Pour meatloaf mix, egg, milk, 2 tbsp ketchup, worcestershire sauce, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and sauted onions into a large mixing bowl. Mix together until the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Form mixture into 2 small loaves and place in the air fryer tray on an air fryer liner or a sheet of parchment paper.
- Preheat air fryer to 325F. Place meatloafs in the preheated air fryer on the parchment paper.
- Cook at 325F for 20 minutes. Remove from the air fryer and top each meatloaf with 1 tbsp of ketchup. Continue to cook at 325F for an additional 7 minutes. ** Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer brand. I recommend using an instant read thermometer to test for an internal temperature of 160F.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving
Recipe Notes
- You can use ground beef, pork or turkey in place of the meatloaf mixture
- Use gluten free breadcrumbs in place of standard breadcrumbs
- Do not overmix the meat. Mix just until everything is combined and stop. Overmixing makes the meatloaf dense and tough instead of tender and juicy.
- Use parchment paper in the basket. Lining the air fryer basket with parchment paper makes cleanup so much easier and prevents the loaf from sticking.
- Let it rest before slicing. Give the meatloaf at least 5 minutes to rest after cooking. Slicing too soon will cause the juices to run out and the loaf may fall apart
- Use a meat thermometer. All air fryers cook a little differently so the best way to know when the meatloaf is done is to check the internal temperature. It is ready at 160F in the center.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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