Common Ingredients in meatloaf Recipes

We researched the most common ingredients in over twenty popular meatloaf recipes and found the top 15 ingredients.

The most common ingredient in meatloaf dishes is eggs.

Onion, ketchup, beef, milk, breadcrumbs, garlic, worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, tomatoes and bread are also common ingredients in meatloaf recipes. Variations include:

• bread in place of breadcrumbs
• onion soup mix in place of worcestershire sauce
• parsley, tomato sauce and shallots in place of tomatoes

Salt is in 80% of meatloaf recipes and pepper, 85%.

The average meatloaf recipe has about 13.7 ingredients, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 41.

In terms of directions, meatloaf recipes have about 6 steps on average, ranging from 1 to 13 instructions.

Ratios of Common Ingredients in Meatloaf

For 2 eggs (112 g), the median and average amounts of other significant ingredients are below. Some ingredients are potential substitutes for others, meaning they almost never exist together in a single meatloaf recipe, and are marked below.

Ingredient	Median	Average	% of recipes with eggs	Potential subsitutions
onion	1.8 small (123 g)	2.2 small (157 g)	84%
ketchup	0.56 cup (134 g)	0.79 cup (190 g)	68%
beef	2 pound (907 g)	2.1 pound (966 g)	65%
garlic	2.2 clove (7 g)	4.6 clove (14 g)	35%
brown sugar	4.5 tablespoon (43 g)	7.2 tablespoon (69 g)	35%
worcestershire sauce	6.6 teaspoon (38 g)	10 teaspoon (58 g)	32%	onion soup mix
milk	1 cup (244 g)	0.93 cup (226 g)	32%	whole milk
bread	1 cup (113 g)	1.2 cup (126 g)	32%
parsley	2.2 tablespoon (9 g)	4.6 tablespoon (18 g)	26%

Ingredients by Average Weight in Meatloaf

We also found the average content of the significant ingredients by weight in meatloaf recipes. This would be: 52% beef, 10% onion, 10% ketchup, 10% eggs, 7% milk, 3% breadcrumbs, 3% bread and 2% brown sugar.

Here are the top ingredients, listed in order of popularity.

eggs

Eggs is the most popular ingredient in meatloaf dishes. In fact, over 90% of meatloaf recipes contain eggs.

Eggs is often included in meatloaf dishes in amounts of 2 eggs, 1 eggs or 2 larges.

In meatloaf recipes that contain eggs, it is on average, 6% by weight.

For meatloaf recipes, eggs is frequently used with onion, salt, ketchup, beef and black pepper.

pepper

Another popular ingredient in meatloaf is pepper. From the recipes we've sampled for meatloaf, over 85% have pepper.

Variations of pepper include:

• black pepper: 61% of recipes

In recipes for meatloaf, pepper is often used with ketchup, eggs, salt, onion and beef.

Potential substitutions for pepper in meatloaf:

• thyme
• ginger

Also, pepper is not often used with onion soup mix and whole milk.

black pepper

Another popular ingredient in meatloaf is black pepper. From the recipes we've sampled for meatloaf, over 60% have black pepper.

Ground is a frequent preparation for black pepper in meatloaf dishes.

Common quantities for black pepper in meatloaf dishes include a quarter teaspoon or 1 teaspoon.

In meatloaf recipes that contain black pepper, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

Salt, eggs, onion, ketchup and beef are commonly used together with black pepper in meatloaf dishes. Conversely, black pepper is not often used with tomato sauce and onion soup mix.

salt

Salt is another common ingredient in meatloaf dishes. In fact, over 80% of meatloaf recipes contain salt.

Common quantities for salt in meatloaf dishes include 1 teaspoon, 1.5 teaspoons or 1.25 teaspoons.

In meatloaf recipes that contain salt, it is on average, 0.5% by weight.

Eggs, onion, ketchup, black pepper and beef are commonly used together with salt in meatloaf dishes. Conversely, salt is not often used with onion soup mix.

onion

Another popular ingredient in meatloaf is onion. From the recipes we've sampled for meatloaf, over 80% have onion.

Chopped, minced and diced are frequent preparations for onion in meatloaf dishes.

Onion is often included in meatloaf dishes in amounts of 1 small, 1 onion or a quarter cup.

In meatloaf recipes that contain onion, it is on average, 7% by weight.

For meatloaf recipes, onion is frequently used with eggs, salt, ketchup, beef and black pepper.

ketchup

Ketchup is another common ingredient in meatloaf dishes. In fact, over 70% of meatloaf recipes contain ketchup.

Ketchup is often included in meatloaf dishes in amounts of half a cup, a quarter cup or three quarters of a cup.

In meatloaf recipes that contain ketchup, it is on average, 8% by weight.

In recipes for meatloaf, ketchup is often used with eggs, salt, onion, black pepper and beef.

beef

Beef is another common ingredient in meatloaf dishes. In fact, over 60% of meatloaf recipes contain beef.

Ground is a frequent preparation for beef in meatloaf dishes.

Beef is often included in meatloaf dishes in amounts of 1.5 pounds or 2 pounds.

In meatloaf recipes that contain beef, it is on average, 47% by weight.

For meatloaf recipes, beef is frequently used with eggs, onion, salt, ketchup and black pepper. However, turkey is almost never used together with beef in meatloaf dishes.

milk

Another popular ingredient in meatloaf is milk. From the recipes we've sampled for meatloaf, over 35% have milk.

Variations of milk include:

• whole milk: 9% of recipes

In recipes for meatloaf, milk is often used with eggs, salt, onion, beef and ketchup.

Potential substitutions for milk in meatloaf:

• whole milk

Also, milk is not often used with thyme, pork, panko breadcrumbs, tomato sauce and tomatoes.

breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs is another common ingredient in meatloaf dishes. In fact, over 35% of meatloaf recipes contain breadcrumbs.

Variations of breadcrumbs include:

• panko breadcrumbs: 12% of recipes

Salt, eggs, onion, ketchup and worcestershire sauce are commonly used together with breadcrumbs in meatloaf dishes.

Potential substitutions for breadcrumbs in meatloaf:

• bread

Also, breadcrumbs is not often used with pork, panko breadcrumbs, whole milk and tomatoes.

garlic

Another popular ingredient in meatloaf is garlic. From the recipes we've sampled for meatloaf, over 35% have garlic.

Grated, chopped and minced are frequent preparations for garlic in meatloaf dishes.

Garlic is often included in meatloaf dishes in amounts of 2 cloves or 1 clove.

In meatloaf recipes that contain garlic, it is on average, 0.6% by weight.

For meatloaf recipes, garlic is frequently used with onion, salt, eggs, black pepper and ketchup. However, tomato sauce and onion soup mix are almost never used together with garlic in meatloaf dishes.

worcestershire sauce

Worcestershire sauce is another common ingredient in meatloaf dishes. In fact, over 30% of meatloaf recipes contain worcestershire sauce.

Worcestershire sauce is often included in meatloaf dishes in amounts of 2 teaspoons, 1 tablespoon or a third of a cup.

In meatloaf recipes that contain worcestershire sauce, it is on average, 1.7% by weight.

In recipes for meatloaf, worcestershire sauce is often used with salt, eggs, onion, ketchup and black pepper.

Potential substitutions for worcestershire sauce in meatloaf:

• onion soup mix

Also, worcestershire sauce is not often used with ginger.

brown sugar

Another popular ingredient in meatloaf is brown sugar. From the recipes we've sampled for meatloaf, over 30% have brown sugar.

Packed is a frequent preparation for brown sugar in meatloaf dishes.

Common quantities for brown sugar in meatloaf dishes include 2 tablespoons, half a cup or a third of a cup.

In meatloaf recipes that contain brown sugar, it is on average, 3% by weight.

Eggs, beef, onion, salt and ketchup are commonly used together with brown sugar in meatloaf dishes. Conversely, brown sugar is not often used with thyme, onion soup mix and tomatoes.

tomatoes

Tomatoes is another common ingredient in meatloaf dishes. In fact, over 30% of meatloaf recipes contain tomatoes.

Variations of tomatoes include:

• tomato sauce: 9% of recipes

For meatloaf recipes, tomatoes is frequently used with black pepper, onion, salt, eggs and worcestershire sauce.

Potential substitutions for tomatoes in meatloaf:

• parsley
• tomato sauce
• shallots

Also, tomatoes is not often used with bread, garlic powder, pork, butter, onion soup mix, whole milk and ginger.

bread

Another popular ingredient in meatloaf is bread. From the recipes we've sampled for meatloaf, over 30% have bread.

Bread is often included in meatloaf dishes in amounts of 1 cup or 3 slices.

In meatloaf recipes that contain bread, it is on average, 5% by weight.

In recipes for meatloaf, bread is often used with eggs, onion, salt, beef and ketchup. On the other hand, bread is almost never used with garlic powder, panko breadcrumbs, tomato sauce, onion soup mix and ginger.

parsley

Parsley is another common ingredient in meatloaf dishes. In fact, over 20% of meatloaf recipes contain parsley.

Chopped is a frequent preparation for parsley in meatloaf dishes.

Common quantities for parsley in meatloaf dishes include 1 tablespoon or 2 tablespoons.

In meatloaf recipes that contain parsley, it is on average, 0.8% by weight.

Eggs, onion, salt, garlic and beef are commonly used together with parsley in meatloaf dishes. Conversely, parsley is not often used with turkey, panko breadcrumbs and onion soup mix.

Other meatloaf Ingredients

Other significant ingredients used in meatloaf recipes include:

• olive oil - 20%
• mustard - 15%
• sage - 15%
• thyme - 15%
• turkey - 15%
• garlic powder - 15%
• pork - 10%
• butter - 10%
• onion soup mix - 5%
• shallots - 5%
• ginger - 5%

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