Kalyn’s Best Meatloaf Recipe (Family Favorite)
It was my sister Pam who named this Kalyn’s Best Meatloaf Recipe, and this is the meatloaf everyone in my family has been making for years! Give it a try and see if your also thinks this is the best meatloaf!
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This family-favorite meatloaf that my sister Pam dubbed Kalyn’s Best Meatloaf Recipe is something I first made many years ago, long before food blogs existed or I ever thought about carb-conscious cooking. And through the years many family members have enjoyed the meatloaf and asked for the recipe.
Then in 2005 when I started Kalyn’s Kitchen eventually I posted the family’s favorite meatloaf recipe (with a cringe-worthy photo that certainly wouldn’t have enticed anyone to make it.) And I talked about how this meatloaf recipe uses canned mushroom soup and the Lipton onion soup mix, which is certainly not the norm for my blog.
And then, even though all my family thinks this is the best meatloaf recipe ever, I might have let this recipe hang out in the archives forever without updating the photos until it was brought to my attention that fairly regularly people in my family make the meatloaf for friends. And I found out that family members who love the recipe were sharing the link to that old post with horrible photos with their friends who had enjoyed the meatloaf! So I had to get better photos!
And when Kara and I made the meatloaf you see here, it was SO good that we realized it probably deserves to be called my BEST meatloaf recipe, even if it uses some convenience products. And we decided to share it during the holidays when people might like a super-simple and foolproof meatloaf recipe. (And when I calculated the nutritional information I was happy to see that the meatloaf isn’t nearly as high in carbs as I had imagined!)
Of course if you’d never make a meatloaf with processed ingredients, then this recipe isn’t for you! But if you’re interested you can read below to find tips for making a less-processed, gluten-free, or lower-carb version of this recipe that most of my extended family members call Kalyn’s Best Meatloaf Recipe!
What ingredients do you need?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- lean ground beef
- pork sausage
- whole wheat bread crumbs (or low-carb bread crumbs)
- Lipton Onion Soup Mix (affiliate link)
- Campbells Cream of Mushroom Soup (affiliate link)
- egg
- Garlic Powder (affiliate link)
- salt and pepper
Why does my family think this is the best meatloaf recipe?
There are several reasons people in my family think this is my best meatloaf:
- First, they love the combination of ground beef and pork sausage that adds flavor.
- Second, the combination of Lipton Onion Soup Mix (affiliate link) and Campbells Cream of Mushroom Soup (affiliate link) gives a Beef Stroganoff vibe to the meatloaf that my family really loves.
- And finally, this recipe is easy enough to make for a week-night dinner and makes two meatloaves so you have some for another meal.
Want a Gluten-Free or Lower-Carb Version of my best meatloaf:
I didn’t tag this recipe Low-Carb, but when I calculated the nutritional information I was pleasantly surprised that even with the breadcrumbs it came out to only 10 carbs per serving. But here are some tips if you want to try making a version that’s gluten-free and even lower in carbs.
- If you want a low-carb option with similar flavors to this recipe I found a recipe for dry Onion Soup Mix if you want to make your own.
- I also found a low-carb and gluten-free onion soup mix at Amazon.com (affiliate link).
- Amazon also had quite a few options for Gluten-Free Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (affiliate link)
- The Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup has 20 carbs, and this recipe makes 10 servings, but I did find a recipe for Low-Carb Cream of Mushroom Soup that can be cooked down to make a condensed soup to use in recipes
- I used 1 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs, but you could use low-carb breadcrumbs (affiliate link) or a combination of low-carb breadcrumbs and ground pork rinds if you prefer.
- You can also use Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs (affiliate link) for gluten-free.
Want to see more of my Family Favorite Recipes?
Use Denny Family Recipes for more family-favorite recipe ideas like this one.
How to Make Kalyn’s Best Meatloaf Recipe:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Preheat oven to 375F/190C.
- Spray Broiler Tray (affiliate link) with non-stick spray.
- Crumble ground beef and sausage into a bowl and let it come to room temperature.
- Add mushroom soup, onion soup mix, bread crumbs, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mix ingredients with your hands until they’re well-combined.
- Divide and shape into two loaves. (I make diagonal grooves, purely for decoration.)
- Bake 50-60 minutes, or until meatloaf is firm and well browned.
- Internal temperature must be at least 160F/70C when you test with an Instant Read Meat Thermometer (affiliate link).
- Serve hot, with ketchup if you prefer! I would use G. Hughes Sugar-Free Ketchup (affiliate link)
- This freezes very well, and it’s great to pull out of the freezer for a quick dinner.
Make it a Low-Carb Meal:
I was pleasantly surprised that this meatloaf recipe came out to only 10 carbs per serving. If you wanted to make it into a low-carb meal it would be delicious with Roasted Turnips, Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan, or Twice-Baked Cauliflower.
Kalyn's Best Meatloaf Recipe (Family Favorite)
It was my sister Pam who named this Kalyn's Best Meatloaf Recipe, and this is the family-favorite meatloaf recipe that everyone in my family has made for years!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 12 oz package pork sausage
- 1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs (or low-carb bread crumbs)
- 1 pkg. Lipton onion soup mix (dried mix)
- 1 can Campbells Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 1 egg
- 1 T garlic powder
- salt-pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F/190C.
- Spray a Broiler Tray (affiliate link) with non-stick spray. (I always use this type of pan for cooking meatloaf so the fat can run out.)
- Crumble the ground beef and sausage into a bowl and let the meats come to room temperature.
- Add breadcrumbs, onion soup mix, mushroom soup, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Use your clean hands to mix the ingredients, squeezing and folding over and squeezing again until ingredients are well-combined. (Don't over-mix, just mix until combined.)
- Divide the mixture in two and shape into two loaves. (I like to use a knife and make diagonal grooves, purely for decoration.)
- Bake 50-60 minutes, or until meatloaf is firm and well browned and internal temperature is at least 160F/70C when you test with an Instant Read Meat Thermometer (affiliate link).
- Serve hot and see if this meatloaf becomes a favorite in your family!
- This freezes very well, and it's great to pull out of the freezer for a quick dinner.
Notes
I use Jimmy Dean 50% less fat sausage when I can find it, but use any sausage you prefer.
See suggestions earlier in the post for making a low-carb and gluten-free version of this recipe.
This recipe created by Kalyn long before there was such a thing as a food blog!
Nutrition Information
Yield
10Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 342Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 7gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 129mgSodium 500mgCarbohydrates 10.1gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 33g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
My best meatloaf recipe as originally posted definitely has some carbs and isn’t gluten-free, although when I calculated the carbs I realized this is not that much of a splurge for a carb-conscious dish, but probably not for Keto. Use the tips in this post if you want to make a version that’s more low-carb diet-friendly or gluten-free. I’m not sure what advice to give for the original South Beach Diet, but I doubt the ingredients for this are especially South Beach Diet friendly.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Oven Dinners to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2005, simply as a way to record the recipe for my family. After I found out family members were making it for friends who were asking for the recipe, I updated the photos in 2019. The recipe was last updated with more information in 2023.
40 Comments on “Kalyn’s Best Meatloaf Recipe (Family Favorite)”
Thanks!…Definitely will try..sounds great! I will use pork rinds or breadcrumbs I ground from low-carb bread. If you think any meatloaf needs “catsup” ..get G Hughes brand is a great low-carb catsup.
Hope you enjoy the recipe. I am a fan of the G Hughes products too.
The whole family loved this! I did saute green pepper, onion and mushrooms and, when cooled, mixed in to the meat at the stage where you add breadcrumbs and egg etc. Also added 2 tbsp of chili sauce. Other than that, I followed the recipe.
So happy to hear it was a hit at your house!
I have what is probably a stupid question. Would you freeze the meatloaf before it’s cooked or after? Thank you!
Not a stupid question at all! I’m sure you can freeze it and cook later (after it’s thawed.) But what I do is cook the meatloaf, then eat some and freeze some (usually a few packages) to eat later! I love pulling it out for a quick dinner.
Really good recipe. The meatloaf was delicious.
Rachel, so glad you enjoyed it!
Laurel, so glad you liked it!
I just made this into foil packet dinners and it was FABULOUS!! I added fresh, sliced mushrooms and it was a hit. I put holes into the bottom of the foil packets and baked it on a rack to allow the extra fat to drain. We loved it.
RedRoseHip, so glad you are enjoying it!
I've tried lots of meatloaf recipes lately and I keep coming back to this one since it's the only one my family will eat.
~Kristi, I'm guessing it would work, although I haven't tried it that way. Most of the mushroom soups I've seen have other ingredients I don't want, but maybe I should look harder for one and try to adapt this! Let me know if you try it; would love to hear how it turns out!
Is there any way to substitute tha cream of mushroom soup with one of the cream of….soups that are all over Pinterest. This is one of my fave recipes on your blog, but I'm with you we don't use the fake soups or onion soups any longer.
Gillian, so glad you liked it. This is such an old recipe, but several of my siblings still use it regularly!
Kalyn,
I have been looking for years for a great meatloaf recipe. Well, thank you! I have finally found it! My picky husband loved it, too! He doesn't like mushrooms so I didn't tell him what was in it :). We had 8 generous servings between us and my adult son who eats a lot. Thanks!!
Here's a very helpful hint, I substituted Chicharrones (Pork Cracklins/Rinds) instead of the bread crumbs. They usually have 0 carbs & the pork flavor complements the pork meat. However, it's high in sodium & fat — so if someone uses them they may not have to add much salt to taste & they would need to make sure to use the leanest cut ground beef & pork they can find.
Anonymous, I'm not sure the pork rinds are South Beach Friendly, due to the saturated fat content. Might work though, if you're careful to use low-fat meat.
Oh my that looks delishious! We luv meatloaf.
My non meatloaf loving kids had seconds. It was delicious. Thanks for making south beach so much easier and tastier. Everyone of your recipes that I've tried has been first rate.
Julie, so glad it was a hit.
I might eat it with this cauliflower dish.
We're going to try this recipe tonight. I LOVE LOVE meatloaf. Do you recommend any side dishes to go well with this in particular?
Kim, so glad it was a hit!
I have always hated meatloaf but decided to try this recipe since it did not have ketchup all over it.
I made a half recipe to serve 3 people. It was enough for us and we have leftovers to enjoy.
My daughter, age 9, generally hates my cooking. Everyone cleaned their plates tonight!
I no longer hate all meatloaf.
Thanks for posting this recipe.
Rebecca, love the sound of your Italian version!
Kalyn, This is great I’ve made it a few times now and have started to experiment a bit and make it my own. Lately I’ve been sustituting a can of tomato paste and some basil instead of the cream of mushroom soup for a more italian flavor. Thanks.
-Rebecca
Jeri, thanks for the feedback. This is such an old recipe, but it’s always tasty.
I made your meatloaf last night–delicious! I used ground turkey instead of ground beef. My hubby really liked it. Jeri
The cream of mushroom soup really is interesting but i bet its wonderful… I’m gonna save this so one day I can give it a try!!!!
Kayln- MEat loaf is nothing to be ashamed of. I actually love it but avoid it due to the calorie bomb it usually represents. But your recipe sounds delish without adding 5 lbs to the waitline. I’m definately going to give this a shot.
OKay, trying to use my meat riddled mind here. Let’s see, 1 loaf.
1 loaf would yield maybe 4 portions and using math, that would be 8 portions for 2 loaves. At this point, consider 2 portions my portion, which would be 1/2 loaf, on 1 loaf, there.
By 1 portion that includes all helpings, which in my definition would be 2. That much sodium stil makes my mouth smack.
I grew up on Campbells and packaged love. Wish I could continue. But, the Dr. still asks me to limit, I stick to creme fraiche instead of the Campbells.
Hugs to everyone and hope the weekend went fine,
Biggles
Biggles, I kid you not. I made two loaves, and each one was about 6 slices, but I don’t count the tiny little end slices as a whole serving. One slice of meat loaf about an inch wide is a serving for me. Maybe your family are bigger meat eaters (joke). (For those who don’t know, Biggles blog is called Meathenge.) For me, I would eat one piece. (Remember, when figuring nutritional amounts, a piece of meat the size of a deck of cards is considered a serving. Trust me, I teach about this stuff.)
We shall call this exchange “the great meat loaf debate.”
10 Servings? For MICE !!
A standard loaf, that fits in a standard loaf pan, like for bread, feeds 3 of us, once. Maybe a slice for 1 little sammich on the leftover side. Heh.
10 Servings. I got that out of an 18 pound turkey and a 7 pound duck for Thnaksgiving.
I can’t imagine serving a 1 or 2 mm slice on meatloaf.
I’ll do the 2 lb loaf with mashed taters rubbed over all and baked till crispy, golden brown, for 3 people, 4 if I stretch it.
Oh great, now I need to do one. Cripes. Sigh, okay, I can handle it.
Biggles
Biggles, relax. This is at least 10 SERVINGS of meatloaf, maybe more. I’ll tell you what, you are allowed to use low sodium soup if you insist.
xoxo
(For the record, as near as I can calculate it’s about 430 mg. of sodium per serving.)
Hey Kalyn,
AAAiiiieee !!! Just for grins & giggles, head out to the trash and dig up the package and the can to see what the sodium total is. I’m guessing around 3000 mg. I thought you liked me! You’re going to kill with sodium levels like that.
Waaaah.
Biggles
wow that looks fabulous, and i love your idea of keeping it simple. i hope to try this soon!
I LOVE meatloaf. This looks great. Looks perfect. Reading your recipe, it sounds similar to one I have used and liked. I even have a meatloaf cookbook. Have to admit we do put ketchup on ours and even strips of bacon on the top. Will definitely try your recipe. Thanks!
Heavens, please don’t apologize for meatloaf! My bookmark list includes a special folder just for meatloaf, right along with there with goulash, lasagna, pot roast and pad thai! PS Love the lower-carb tips. Alanna
Kalyn, it’s also the best looking meatloaf in the world. Thanks for sharing and hey… there’s nothing wrong if you like meatloaf. Fiance and I love meatloaf too. he he.