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This mini slow cooker meatloaf is a classic version of a longtime favorite. Made with ground beef, simple ingredients, and a flavorful glaze, it’s tender, moist, and cooked to perfection in the slow cooker.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Ingredients: Made with simple, everyday items.
- Quick Prep: Minimal prep and hands-off cooking.
- Adaptable: Use ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat.
- Perfectly Portioned: The perfect meatloaf for two.
I love this recipe because it brings all the comfort of classic meatloaf—moist, tender, and full of flavor—without the extras you don’t need. It’s a nod to tradition, made for one or two, with simple ingredients and slow-cooked to perfection. It reminds me that good food doesn’t have to be complicated to be deeply satisfying.
Looking for more single serving meatloaf recipes? Try our Oven Baked Meatloaf, Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf, and Turkey Meatloaf.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this Crockpot meatloaf recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Butter: Use 1 tablespoon to cook the onions and garlic.
- Onions and Garlic: These are key for adding flavor—don’t leave them out.
- Seasonings: Dried thyme, salt, and black pepper season the meatloaf.
- Ground Beef: Use ½ pound of ground beef. You can substitute with ground turkey, chicken, or a plant-based option. Extra beef? Use it in Beef Tacos or Lasagna Soup.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds bold, savory flavor.
- Egg: One large egg binds the ingredients and adds richness.
- Breadcrumbs: Use store-bought or homemade breadcrumbs. You can also substitute with 3 tablespoons of oat flour or almond flour, or 4 tablespoons of old-fashioned oats.
- Ketchup and Molasses: Combined for a flavorful topping. BBQ sauce is a great substitute if preferred.
How To Make Meatloaf In A Crockpot
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
Line the bottom of a small slow cooker with two long strips of foil arranged in a cross to help lift the meatloaf out later. Make sure the strips don’t extend past the rim, then spray the foil and slow cooker insert with nonstick spray.
In a small skillet, cook chopped onions and garlic in butter until the onions are soft. Season with dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, an egg, and your choice of breadcrumbs, oat flour, or almond flour. Mix well, shape into a loaf, and place it on top of the foil strips in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. About 30 minutes before it’s done, stir together ketchup and molasses, spoon over the meatloaf, and cook for the remaining time.
Expert Tips
- Foil Lining: Use foil strips in the slow cooker to easily lift out the meatloaf and keep it from sitting in excess grease.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Cooking the onions and garlic in butter before adding them to the meat mixture adds flavor and helps keep the meatloaf moist.
- Oven Option: No slow cooker? Bake the meatloaf at 350°F (177°C) for 50 minutes.
- Let It Rest: After cooking, cover and let the meatloaf rest for 5 minutes before slicing to keep it juicy.
Serving Suggestions
This slow cooker meatloaf pairs well with classic sides. Try serving it with Mashed Potatoes, Buttered Noodles, Sautéed Green Beans, Mac and Cheese, or a Tomato Salad for a complete and comforting meal.
RELATED – 40 Easy Recipes For Busy College Students
Frequently Asked Questions
A 1.5 to 3-quart slow cooker slow cooker works best for this recipe.
Yes, you can shape the loaf and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before cooking.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
Yes, you can! If you don’t have a small slow cooker, place an oven-safe bowl inside your large one to create a smaller cooking space. See our step-by-step guide in How To Cook Small Meals In A Large Slow Cooker.
More Single Serving Slow Cooker Recipes
If you like this small slow cooker meatloaf recipe, you might also like to try these slow cooker recipes:
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this Crockpot Meatloaf recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Mini Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- ¼ cup chopped onions (about 2-ounces or ¼ of a large onion)
- 1 clove garlic -chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ½ pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon molasses
Instructions
- Cook the Aromatics: In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add chopped onions and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper; cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
- Make the Meatloaf Mixture: In a bowl, combine the ground beef, onion mixture, Worcestershire sauce, egg, and breadcrumbs. Mix well and shape into an oval.
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Cut a 12-inch piece of foil in half lengthwise and fold each piece again to make two long strips. Lay them in a cross shape in the bottom of the slow cooker. Trim the ends so they don’t stick out. Spray the foil and slow cooker insert with nonstick spray.
- Cook the Meatloaf: Place the meatloaf on the foil. Cover and cook on low for 5½ hours.
- Add the Glaze: Stir together ketchup and molasses. Spoon over the meatloaf and cook, covered, for another 30 minutes.
- Rest and Serve: Use the foil strips to lift the meatloaf out. Cover with foil and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Foil Lining: Use foil strips in the slow cooker to easily lift out the meatloaf and keep it from sitting in excess grease.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Cooking the onions and garlic in butter before adding them to the meat mixture adds flavor and helps keep the meatloaf moist.
- Oven Option: No slow cooker? Bake the meatloaf at 350°F (177°C) for 50 minutes.
- Let It Rest: After cooking, cover and let the meatloaf rest for 5 minutes before slicing to keep it juicy.
Nutrition
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.
Thanks for a great base recipe! I modified it a bit, but it turned out fantastic. Will be making again.
Scaled recipe since I was making it for two people. Sautéed diced green peppers with onions. In addition to thyme, incorporated dry mustard, basil, and Greek seasoning (from Penzey’s). Along with the Worcestershire sauce, egg, and bread crumbs (used seasoned Panko), added a dash of hot sauce and 1/3 cup of catsup. Blended mixture and formed on foil.
Instead of using a Crock-pot, placed in my Instant Pot on Slow Cook mode at high temperature for 5 hours. Covered with a glass lid. If it isn’t done, you can place in oven for 10-15 minutes. Covered with a Sweet and Sour sauce from another recipe and baked for 10 min. Moist and delicious!
Best ever 2 person FAMILY crockpot meatloaf
Hi Joanie, Love the meatloaf. The nutritional values listed carbs, calories etc. Would that be for the entire meatloaf?? I do have to watch my carbs. Thanks for all the fabulous recipes.
Hi Cindy, I’m so glad you love the meatloaf. The nutrition information is for two servings.
If I doubled this for two people with, hopefully, lunch for one the next day, how much longer would I cook it?
Hi Tricia,
Cook the meatloaf for the same amount of time (about 6 hours on low). If you would like to check doneness with a thermometer, you will know that the meatloaf is fully cooked when it reaches a temperature of 165 degrees F when a thermometer is inserted in the center of the meatloaf.
Can you cook it on high for 4 hours
Yes, you can.
I love this meatloaf so much! Thank you for all the wonderful recipes. I didn’t have molasses so I used real maple and it was still wonderful.
I made this and it was awesome! I used meatloaf mix meat and it was moist, flavorful and so easy.
Tillia,
Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed the recipe. It makes my day!
have a wonderful week.
Joanie
This is genius! I love the flavors of the beef but it was the ketchup and molasses that puts it over the top for me, delicious. PLUS! Love your method for cooking the meatloaf inside the ramekin, I have never even thought of that.
This recipe for slow cooker meatloaf for one is AMAZING! So glad to have this up my sleeve for when my husband is away for the week or weekend!
I would never have thought to do this! I totally see this as an easy lunch in my future 😀
Meatloaf is a favorite of mine. My husband? Not so much. This is perfect, especially when a craving strikes me!
I absolutely LOVE this! I personally have a big family, but this would be an absolutely perfect option for my in-laws. The recipe sounds divine too! Passing this one along!