The Best Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe For One

This Crockpot Meatloaf is tender and juicy and so easy to make! Made with onions, garlic, spices and topped with a sweet and tangy sauce. This simple recipe makes the perfect amount to serve one or two people. Included in the recipe are instructions for converting a Crockpot or Crockpot style slow cooker into a single serving slow cooker.

I love a good meatloaf recipe. To me, it’s the ultimate comfort food. When meatloaf is simple, full of flavor and perfectly tender and juicy, it’s a winner. We’ve got a wonderful Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf For One recipe here at One Dish Kitchen and trust me, it’s fabulous. This particular meatloaf is cheesy, filled with bacon and reminds me of a bacon cheeseburger without the bun. But if you’re looking for a meatloaf recipe that’s a little more traditional and not at all cheesy, then this Crockpot Meatloaf For One recipe is one you’ll love.

Meatloaf In A Crockpot

You might wonder why someone would cook a meatloaf in a Crockpot or slow cooker when it could easily be cooked in the oven. Well, cooking a meatloaf in an oven is of course, a great idea. But what if you’re busy all day and would love to come home to a home cooked meal already prepared and waiting for you. That’s where a Crockpot meatloaf is the perfect meal.

Cooking a meatloaf in a slow cooker can sometimes cause the meatloaf to be a little dry. That’s certainly not the case with this recipe. I’ve discovered a way to keep the meatloaf super tender and juicy and not at all dry. My method involves a quick and easy extra step and is so worth it.

RELATED – 8 Healthy Home Cooked Single Serving Meals

How To Cook Meatloaf In A Crockpot

Step 1

Cut a 1-foot length of foil in half lengthwise. Fold each strip in half lengthwise to form two long strips. Place the foil strips in the bottom of the Crockpot in a cross pattern. Trim them so that they are even with the rim or below the rim so that they don’t get in the way of the Crockpot lid. Spray the foil and slow cooker with nonstick spray.

Pro Tip: The reason I use foil is so that the meatloaf can easily be lifted from the bowl, leaving the oil behind.

Step 2

Cook chopped onions and a clove of garlic in a little butter in a small skillet. When the onions begin to soften, add in dried thyme, salt and black pepper.

Pro Tip: Cooking the vegetables in butter is the secret to a moist and juicy meatloaf.

Step 3

Pour the cooked onions and garlic into a large bowl and add in 1/2 pound of ground beef. To the beef, add a little Worcestershire sauce, an egg and either bread crumbs, almond flour or oat flour to help hold it all together.

Mix the ingredients together, form the meat into a round or oval shape and place the meatloaf in your slow cooker.

Step 4

Cook the meatloaf on a low setting for 6 hours.

Step 5

When you have about 30 minutes left of cooking time, mix together 1/4 cup of ketchup combined with 1 tablespoon of molasses and spoon the mixture over the top of the meatloaf. Put the lid back on the slow cooker and cook for an additional 30 minutes.

Instead of using a Crockpot or a slow cooker, this recipe can also be made in an 350 degree F (177 degree C) oven and cooked for 50 minutes (see recipe notes).

RELATED – 40 Easy Recipes For Busy College Students

Best Size Crockpot To Use To Make Meatloaf For One

The best size slow cooker to use to make a single serving meatloaf is a small, 1.5 to 3-quart slow cooker.

If you only have a large slow cooker, that’s fine too. You can easily transform your large slow cooker into a small one by placing an oven safe bowl inside of the bowl of your slow cooker. This absolutely works and I’ve done it many times.

After the meatloaf has cooked, cover it and allow it to rest for five minutes before cutting into it. This will give the juices time to settle. If you cut into the meatloaf too soon, the juices release and will make the meatloaf dry.

This Crockpot Meatloaf recipe will yield enough for one or two servings.

Enjoy!

For this meatloaf recipe, I used a 1.5-quart slow cooker.

If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.

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Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe For One

Slow Cooker Meatloaf For One

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

5 minutes

Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Main Dish

Keyword: meatloaf

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 419kcal

Author: Joanie Zisk

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 ounces chopped onions (1/4 of a large onion)
• 1 clove garlic , chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs (instead of breadcrumbs, you can substitute 3 tablespoons of oat flour or almond flour or use 4 tablespoons of old-fashioned rolled oats)
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon molasses

Instructions

• Melt the butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook for 2 minutes. 
• Add in the chopped garlic, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally for an additional 2 minutes. Remove skillet from the heat and set aside.
• Place the ground beef in a medium-sized bowl. Pour the onion/garlic/butter mixture over the meat. Add in the Worcestershire sauce, the egg and the breadcrumbs. Using a large spoon or your hands, mix the meat and all of the ingredients together until fully combined. Shape into an oval.
• Cut a 1-foot length of foil in half lengthwise. Fold each strip in half lengthwise to form two long strips. Place the foil strips in the bottom of the slow cooker in a cross pattern. Trim them so that they are even with the rim or below the rim so that they don't get in the way of the slow cooker lid.
• Spray the foil and slow cooker with nonstick spray. 
• Place the meatloaf on top of the foil lining the slow cooker. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 5 1/2 hours.
• Stir together the ketchup and molasses in a small bowl. Remove the lid from the slow cooker and spoon the sauce over the meatloaf. Cover the slow cooker again and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
• Carefully grasp the ends of the foil strips to lift out the meatloaf. Transfer to a plate and cover with aluminum foil. Let the meatloaf rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.

Notes

To cook the meatloaf in an oven instead of a slow cooker, bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Remove meatloaf from the oven and add sauce over the top. Place meatloaf back in the oven and cook for an additional 20 minutes more.

 

This recipe yields approximately a 1/2 pound meatloaf. The nutritional information is calculated based on the typical serving size of a meatloaf when side dishes are served along with it.

Nutrition

Serving: 113grams | Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 170mg | Sodium: 1139mg | Potassium: 706mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 9% | Vitamin C: 4.6% | Calcium: 9% | Iron: 27%

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The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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