Who knew that a juicy, delicious home-cooked meatloaf could be this simple? Slow Cooker Meatloaf is an easy solution to your comfort food cravings – paired with a heaping scoop of mashed potatoes, of course!

two slices of meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy in a shallow bowl

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Many people can relate to the mixed feelings associated with meatloaf on the supper menu. Let’s be honest – it has not always had the most appealing presentation! However, whether you liked meatloaf as a child or not, you have to give this slow cooker recipe a try.

Why make meatloaf in the slow cooker instead of the oven?

Classic meatloaf recipes rely on oven-baking for an hour or more, but the slow cooker is so much easier! You can prep the meatloaf ingredients and let it cook all day (up to 8 hours) without worry of burning or drying out. It will fully cook and remain juicy, flavorful, and ready to serve!

In the slow cooker, it’s easier to prevent dry meat because the meat cooks in its own juices. It may not be the prettiest main dish, but the extra juices do make it taste amazing! Plus, you can use the meat drippings to make a savory gravy to spoon over a serving of meatloaf and potatoes.

Ingredients Needed

Panko bread crumbs – Panko is the key ingredient for a meatloaf that keeps its form in the slow cooker and absorbs extra flavor! This is an easy ingredient to keep on hand in your pantry. Mix the bread crumbs with milk prior to mixing with the meat to keep the meatloaf from drying out.
Milk – A little milk (whole milk or 2%) softens the panko and helps bind the meatloaf.
Ground Meat – Use a mixture of lean ground pork and lean ground beef for extra delicious flavor in each slice of meatloaf. In general, look for ground beef and pork that are at least 80% lean to prevent the meatloaf from becoming too greasy.
Vegetables – A few added veggies bring complexity to the flavor and a nice texture. Finely dice some carrots and zucchini squash, and add a small amount of diced onion or shallots.
Egg – Adding an egg to the mixture aids in binding the meatloaf ingredients together.
All-purpose seasoning – This is a great seasoning choice for ground meats and vegetables!
Cornstarch – You will need a bit of cornstarch to create a slurry to thicken the gravy at the end of cooking.

bowl of panko breadcrumbs and bowl of milk

package of ground pork and package of ground beef

How To Make Slow Cooker Meatloaf

Mix panko bread crumbs and milk in a small bowl and let them soak for 5 minutes. (This is an essential step to ensure the meatloaf doesn’t end up too dry.)
Add the panko mixture to ground pork and ground beef in a large bowl.
Add egg, diced veggies, onion or shallot, and seasoning to the bowl. Tip: Use a mini food processor or chopper to finely and evenly dice the veggies.
Using your hands, combine ingredients gently until well-mixed, but do not over-mix.

meatloaf ingredients mixed in clear glass bowl

Form the mixture into a loaf shape and add the meatloaf to the slow cooker.

raw meatloaf with chopped veggies in oval white slow cooker

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

slow cooker with a cooked meatloaf with juices

Slice the meatloaf into 1 to 1 and 1/2-inch thick slices.
Strain the meat drippings from the slow cooker into a pan, add beef broth if extra liquid is needed, and whisk in a slurry of cornstarch with water (about 2 tablespoons of each) until the gravy is smooth.
Bring the gravy to a simmer until thickened, and serve over meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Many recipes use crushed saltine crackers in the meatloaf, but I have found that panko soaked in milk is the best option.
If you want to add in some extra veggies, you could also add finely chopped bell peppers (any color).
My Homemade Garlic and Herb Seasoning is another great seasoning option to swap for all-purpose seasoning!
To make this meatloaf dairy-free, choose any dairy-free milk alternative to mix with the panko bread crumbs.
To make a one-pot meal with potatoes, add baby potatoes around the meatloaf in the slow cooker. Then, add ½ cup – 1 cup of beef broth to help them cook. When the potatoes are fork-tender, remove them from the slow cooker, place them in a separate bowl to mash, and follow the remaining steps here.
If you’d like to try another variation of meatloaf, check out Slow Cooker Turkey Meatloaf.

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Meatloaf

It’s a given that you need a side of something like mashed potatoes to soak up the tasty gravy. Another tasty low-carb option is my Easy Slow Cooker Whipped Cauliflower Recipe.

My family loves to add a side of green beans with garlic. Other delicious veggie options are Slow Cooker Creamed Corn or Oven Roasted Carrots. Complete your satisfying home-cooked meal with a dinner roll and fresh salad!

Slow Cooker Meatloaf and mashed potatoes next to green beans served on separate plates

Storing and Reheating

Store leftover meatloaf in the fridge for up to 3 days, or securely wrap individual slices and freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrost in the refrigerator, and warm individual slices in the microwave on reduced power. Or, try one of my favorite ways to reheat a slice of meatloaf – heat it in a skillet with a little bit of oil to make it crispy!