Slow Cooker Meatloaf
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!

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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.
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.
- Form the mixture into a loaf shape and add the meatloaf to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
- 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!
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!
Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 pound lean ground pork
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 oz carrots finely diced
- 3 oz zucchini squash finely diced
- 1 ounce diced onion or shallots
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons all-purpose seasoning
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Mix panko bread crumbs and milk in a small bowl and let them soak for 5 minutes
- Add the panko mixture to ground pork and ground beef in a large bowl
- Add egg, diced veggies, onion or shallot, and seasoning to bowl
- Using your hands, combine ingredients gently until well-mixed, but do not over-mix
- Form mixture into a loaf shape and add meatloaf to slow cooker
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours
- Slice meatloaf into 1-inch to 1 and 1/2-inch thick slices
- Strain meat drippings from slow cooker into a pan, add beef broth if extra liquid is needed, and whisk in slurry of cornstarch with water (about 2 tablespoons of each) until gravy is smooth
- Bring the gravy to a simmer until thickened, and serve over meatloaf and mashed potatoes
Notes
- The internal temperature should reach 165 ℉ to be completely cooked.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat on low power in the microwave or in a skillet with a bit of oil.
- Freeze individual slices by wrapping in plastic or storing in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Use at least a 5-quart or larger slow cooker for this recipe.
Nutrition
Slow Cooker Meatloaf FAQs
- What makes meatloaf fall apart? Meatloaf can fall apart if it doesn’t contain the right ingredients (or the right quantity) to bind it together, such as panko bread crumbs or egg.
- How long does it take to make meatloaf in the slow cooker? Cook the meatloaf on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. All slow cookers will slightly vary in their temperature settings so you can also check the temperature to ensure it has reached 165 ℉ in the middle of the loaf.
- Can you cook meatloaf on high in the slow cooker? Yes, you can shorten the cooking time by cooking the meatloaf on high for approximately 4 hours.
- Can this recipe be made in the oven instead? Yes, the best temperature to cook this meatloaf recipe in the oven is 350 ℉. Combine all ingredients and form the meatloaf in an oven-safe dish. It should take approximately 1 hour to cook, but the best way to know if it is done is to check the internal temperature to ensure it reaches 165 ℉.
Can’t wait to try your recipe for this meatloaf…I have tried many different recipes looking for the taste I remembered when the “Old Woolworth’s Store Deli” was open (this was up in Canada), and haven’t had much luck for my satisfaction….This looks awesome, I’m pretty sure I will love it…..
Thanks for sharing…I’m always on the search for the best recipes, and judging from what I’ve seen here, I will be happy camper,……
Hugs, Loretta
You don’t state what to do with breadcrumbs once soaked. Do I need to squeeze the milk out the breadcrumbs or mix the whole lot in?
You just mix the it all in per step 2. The milk should be fully absorbed into the breadcrumbs after 5 minutes.
Question, can this be prepared as a freezer to crockpot meal?
Yes! You could make the meatloaf up and stick it in the freezer! Thaw fully and add to slow cooker with fresh potatoes!
This might be a dumb question, but if I only have a smaller slow cooker and just cut the recipe in half, will it work?
Yes, should work perfectly for this recipe!
This is one of my favorite recipes. I make this like once a month! I use the same sauce as you have for the blueberry bar b q meatballs though.
Thanks! That sound really yummy!