This tasty Brown Sugar Meatloaf flavored lightly with ginger, has a sweet brown sugar and ketchup glaze. It’s the BEST meatloaf EVER!

Brown Sugar Meatloaf sliced and on a platter with glaze drizzled over the top with sweet potato medalions.

Recipe Review–“I didn’t like meatloaf until I made this recipe, now it’s a staple in our dinner rotation, my fiancé and I can’t get enough!”– HA

Updated: January 27, 2025

Looking to elevate your classic meatloaf recipe? Look no further than this mouthwatering Brown Sugar Meatloaf! Packed with savory flavors and a hint of sweetness, this recipe is a true comfort food delight.

Growing up, Meatloaf made a pretty regular appearance on our family dinner table. I wasn’t a huge fan of Mom’s meatloaf. I’m lying… I hated Mom’s meatloaf!

My Mom could follow any recipe. She was a great baker! However, dinner wasn’t her strong suit! She joked around, when I was growing up, that she needed a recipe for P.B.& J and to boil an egg. I don’t think I’d go that far! (Well…the egg maybe! Lol)

My memories of meatloaf were not “happy” memories… So I never made it for my family. That’s one perk of being the “head cook” in your own kitchen. If there’s a childhood dish you didn’t like…ya don’t make it! For my Mom it was Grandma’s Liver and Onions! (Praise the LORD!!!)

Brown Sugar Meatloaf sliced and ready to serve.

Table of Contents

History of Meatloaf

One day I was reading a wonderful WWII series and became intrigued with the notion that the women of that era, because of food rations, began adding ingredients to their ground beef to make it stretch.

Now I know “meat loaves” have been around for centuries, but I was so impressed with the thriftiness of these women during a really difficult time in our country’s history, that I was determined to find a GREAT meatloaf recipe and give it another try.

This meatloaf recipe would make our ancestors proud. It is dense and meaty! Then it’s coated in a drool worthy glaze that is created during baking. It is truly the BEST meatloaf I’ve ever had… in my entire life.

Ingredients Needed

½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup ketchup
1½ pounds ground beef – I recommend 90/10 or 80/20 fat
¾ cup milk
2 eggs
1½ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1 small onion, chopped or ¼ cup dried minced onion
¾ cup dried bread crumbs

How to Make Brown Sugar Meatloaf

Preheat the oven to 350°(F). Line a 9.5 x 5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Do not use a “meatloaf” pan with a drainage pan at the bottom. It does not work with this recipe, which creates a wonderful glaze.

Preparing the Brown Sugar Glaze

On the bottom of your parchment-lined baking loaf pan, place the ¼ cup of packed brown sugar. Gently pat it down, but not too tightly. It needs to mix with the ketchup during baking to create that luscious sauce.

Add a ½ cup of ketchup on top of the brown sugar. Using a spoon or spatula, spread the ketchup on top of the brown sugar.

Note I do not cook the meatloaf with the “clips” holding the parchment paper. Once the meatloaf is in the pan, the clips are not needed.

Meatloaf Mixture

In a large bowl, combine the following ingredients…1½ pounds of lean ground beef, salt, pepper, and ginger.

Please, please, please…leave that ginger in the recipe! You’re just going to have to trust me on this one!

To the ground beef and seasonings, add ¾ cup of milk, 2 eggs, 1 small onion, chopped or ¼ cup dried onion flakes, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ¾ cup regular breadcrumbs.

I know the “milk” seems a bit strange. It’s okay. The milk helps to bind everything together beautifully. Don’t worry if it seems a little “wet” to you. It will all combine without any issues.

Combine all the ingredients together. I like to just dig in with my hands…but you can use a heavy-duty spoon.

Forming the Meatloaf

There are a couple of ways to shape the meatloaf before placing it in the pan. Because there is a “wet” layer on the bottom of the loaf pan, I do NOT recommend shaping it inside the pan. It is better to form the loaf before placing it in the pan.

You can simply shape the loaf into an oblong shape the size of the pan and carefully place it on the bottom of the pan.

I like to place it on a large piece of parchment paper and then roll the ground beef, pressing the end of the paper inwards to create a nice loaf. When ready to place it in the pan, unroll and carefully place on the bottom of the pan.

Meatloaf shaped inside a large piece of parchment paper.

Baking Meatloaf Instructions

Place your meat loaf mixture into your prepared loaf pan. If you do not have parchment paper, you can just spray the bottom of the pan with non-stick cooking spray!

Bake in the preheated oven for one hour, until the juices run clear, and the internal temperature reaches 160°. Allow the meatloaf to sit for 10 minutes.

Lift the meatloaf out of the pan if using parchment paper, and carefully place bottom side up.

TIP: If you have not lined your baking pan with parchment paper, the easiest way to remove this meatloaf from the pan, is to carefully place a plate larger than the loaf pan, on top of the meatloaf, and carefully invert it on to the dish.

PLEASE do this carefully, so the hot glaze does not get on you.

Look at all that “glazey” goodness! (Okay, so “Glazey” isn’t a real word…it is here at Norine’s Nest! Lol) Go ahead and smack your lips together. It’s perfectly acceptable where this dish is concerned.

The sauce that is created between the brown sugar, ketchup, and the meat juices is just OUT OF THIS WORLD! (If you’re drooling you should be!)

Meatloaf with brown sugar glaze over the top.

How To Serve Brown Sugar Meatloaf

I cut my meatloaf into nice thick slices. Everyone is going to fight over the ends. (May the force be with you! I’ll be praying for ya!)

What to serve with Meatloaf

I serve this dish with a big green garden salad, baked potato, and a nice dinner roll or muffin! My homemade baking soda biscuits go beautifully with this meatloaf!

I really love this recipe! It’s simple to make and beyond delicious! Your family will love this recipe as much as mine does. It was such a fantastic family dinner! No more meatloaf boycotts!

Let’s bring Meatloaf back to the dinner table!!! Make those thrifty women of WWII proud of us for stretching our family budgets, even in times of plenty!

Other Ground Beef Recipes

As you slice into this Brown Sugar Meatloaf, prepare for a symphony of flavors that will satisfy everyone at the table. The combination of savory ground beef, aromatic spices, and a caramelized brown sugar glaze creates a dish that’s both comforting and memorable.

Thanks for visiting my nest today! Have a great week.

Happy Nesting Friends!

Printable Recipe

Brown Sugar Meatloaf

This tasty meatloaf flavored lightly with ginger, has a sweet brown sugar and ketchup glaze. It's the BEST meatloaf EVER!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 1

Inactive Time 10

Total Time 1 30

Servings servings

Calories 333 kcal

Ingredients

½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup ketchup
1½ pounds lean ground beef
¾ cup milk
2 eggs
1½ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 small onion chopped OR ¼ cup dried onion flakes
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¾ cup regular bread crumbs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° degrees F. Lightly grease a 5 x 9.5 inch loaf pan, or line with parchment paper.
Press the brown sugar on the bottom of the prepared loaf pan and spread the ketchup over the sugar.
In a mixing bowl, mix thoroughly all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf. Place on top of the ketchup.
Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour or until the juices are clear.
Invert the meatloaf onto a serving platter and slice into 1 inch thick slices.
Be careful of the hot glaze when inverting.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 333kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 28gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 713mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17g

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

About the Author

Meet The Author

Photo Credit: Jenelle Lacy Photography

Hi! I'm Norine, the cook, baker, and recipe creator behind Norine's Nest. I love sharing and creating recipes that invite family, friends, and neighbors to gather around the dinner table. Sharing good food and creating memories with those we love brings me happiness. Thanks for stopping by my Nest!