This air fryer meatloaf is moist and juicy, packed with garlic and herbs, and topped with a delicious ketchup topping. Once you make meatloaf in the air fryer, you won’t want to go back to the oven method!

picture of a slice of meatloaf on a white plate on a table next to a fork

At Ajpal, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Easy Fryer Meatloaf

When I first got my air fryer I made everything in it. It’s such an amazing kitchen appliance and turns out, it makes an epic meatloaf. After playing around with it a bit I was able to figure out how to make it come out perfectly moist and delicious every time. Don’t forget to check out the tips and tricks below for helpful hints with this delicious dish.

Meatloaf has been around since at least medieval times in Europe. Of course that was before meat could be grinded as finely as it can be today which made for a chewier slice but still one packed with spices, flavor, and protein. This recipe is a modern air fryer twist on an ancient classic.

hand touching plate with meatloaf, potatoes, and green beans

Air Fryer Meatloaf Ingredients

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

Plain breadcrumbs – use any plain breadcrumbs for this recipe. You can make your own by putting day-old stale bread into a food processor and pulsing till its all crumbs.
Egg – egg is essential here to bring the meatloaf together and help it hold its shape.
Milk – I use the milk to soak the bread crumbs and soften them so you don’t get a bite of dry breadcrumbs. Use whole milk.
Minced onion – Onion adds an earthy bite to the meatloaf. I like to mince the onion so I don’t end up with big chunks of onion that can overpower the meatloaf. I use yellow onion but white onion would work well too.
Parsley – I use fresh parsley for an aromatic fresh flavor in your meatloaf.
Minced garlic – use fresh minced garlic for a fresh intense bite. If you don’t have fresh garlic, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder will work too.
Worcestershire sauce – Worcestershire sauce enhances the rich meaty flavor of the meatloaf.
Kosher salt – I use a fine grain kosher salt here to season the meat well.
Cracked black pepper – pepper gives a little heat to this meatloaf, you can add more if you want your meatloaf a little spicy.
Dried Italian seasoning – Italian seasoning is basically a mix of equal parts thyme, rosemary, oregano, and basil. If you don’t have any pre-mixed on hand just make your own.
Ground beef – this is a meatloaf so we need beef. I like using beef because it is so rich in flavor and has a good amount of fat that will make the meatloaf moist.
Ground pork – pork has an even higher fat content than beef so I like to add some to make a juicier meatloaf. If you don’t want to use pork you can use more beef in an equal amount.
Ketchup – ketchup is the perfect flavor base to help bring the meatloaf together and to make the sauce that will slather the top.
BBQ sauce – BBQ sauce adds a bit of tanginess and sweetness to the topping. You can use any bbq sauce you want.

How to Make Meatloaf in the Air Fryer

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following method:

Step 1 – Mix the breadcrumbs, milk, and egg in a large mixing bowl. Let it soak for a minute then add the onion, parsley, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix until well combined.
Step 2 – Add the ground beef and pork gently mix to incorporate the seasonings into the meat well. I usually use my hands for this. Shape the meat into a log that’s about 8 inches long and 3 inches thick and place in the air fryer.
Step 3 – Cook the meatloaf in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. While it’s cooking, in a small bowl mix the ketchup and bbq sauce together.
Step 4 – After 20 minutes, spread the mixture over the meatloaf and cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165?.
Step 5 – Remove the meatloaf from the air fryer and slice to serve, enjoy!

Tips for Meatloaf in Air Fryer

Check out these tips and tricks for a killer air fryer meatloaf.

Wrap it in Bacon. Everything tastes better with bacon. You can wrap your air fryer meatloaf in bacon before cooking for some extra protein and to make it extra delicious.

Make sure the air fryer is preheated. To use an air fryer effectively you need to be sure to preheat it before putting the meatloaf in. Be careful setting it in there too since the tray will be hot.

How to store Air Fryer Meatloaf

Store any leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

FAQs

Can I substitute turkey for beef? – Turkey has a lot less fat than beef. If you substitute ground turkey for the ground beef I would definitely include some ground pork for added fat, moisture, and richness. It will also cook for a few minutes less.