Air-Fryer Meat Loaf
This air-fryer meat loaf is juicy and full of flavor, and it cooks in about half the time as an oven-baked loaf.
classic meat loaf may take an hour or more to cook in the oven, but air-fryer meat loaf arrives on the dinner table in about half the time. Quicker cook times does not mean a sacrifice in taste. This is one juicy, tender, well-seasoned loaf, with a gorgeous glaze to boot— all thanks to the handy air fryer.
Total Time
Prep: 15 min. Bake: 30 min.
Makes:2 mini meat loaves
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup 2% milk
- 1/3 cup crushed saltines
- 3 tablespoons chopped onion
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon rubbed sage
- Dash pepper
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Directions:
- In a large bowl, beat egg. Add the milk, cracker crumbs, onion, salt, sage and pepper.
- Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.
- Preheat air fryer to 325°. Shape into 2 loaves;
- place in greased air fryer. Cook 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine ketchup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce; spoon over meat loaves.
- Cook until a thermometer reads 160°, 10-15 minutes longer.
Air-Fryer Meat Loaf Variations
- Make it gluten free: Sub the saltines for gluten-free breadcrumbs, and double-check that your brand of Worcestershire sauce is certified gluten free.
- Sub in a different meat: Not a fan of beef? Use lean chicken, turkey or lamb instead.
- Add a spice blend: Add a few tablespoons of your favorite spice blends to the loaf batter, such as taco seasoning, Italian seasoning, Jamaican jerk or Greek seasoning.
How to Store Air-Fryer Meat Loaf
To store, allow the meat loaf to cool to room temperature. Wrap the meat loaf tightly in aluminum foil, and store in the fridge for up to four days.
To freeze, allow the meat loaf to cool to room temperature. Wrap the meat loaf tightly in foil, and store in the freezer for up to three months. To reheat, allow the meat loaf to partially thaw in the fridge overnight. Unwrap the meat loaf, and bake it on a greased baking pan at 350° until heated through and a thermometer reads 165° in the center.
Q/A
What kind of ground beef is best for air-fryer meat loaf?
The best ground beef for meat loaf in the air fryer is 90/10. These meat loaves are not baked in a pan, and too much grease falling into your air fryer can cause the grease to smoke and burn. You might be able to get away with an 85/15 ground beef if you’re looking for a little more fat.
Should you air-fry your meat loaf covered or uncovered?
You should air-fry your meat loaf in the air fryer uncovered.
How can you make sure your air-fryer meat loaf stays juicy?
To make sure your air-fryer meat loaf stays juicy, avoid slicing it right away. Let the meat loaf rest for about 10 minutes before digging in.
What can you serve with air-fryer meat loaf?
You can serve so many different side dishes for meat loaf. Try our Amish buttered noodles, oven-roasted asparagus or easy potato rolls.
Nutrition Facts
1 meat loaf: 352 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 164mg cholesterol, 891mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 1g fiber), 26g protein
