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
- Ingredient Ratios
- Average Weight of Ingredients
- eggs - 90%
- pepper - 85%
- black pepper
- salt - 80%
- onion - 80%
- ketchup - 70%
- beef - 60%
- milk - 35%
- whole milk
- breadcrumbs - 35%
- panko breadcrumbs
- garlic - 35%
- worcestershire sauce - 30%
- brown sugar - 30%
- tomatoes - 30%
- tomato sauce
- bread - 30%
- parsley - 20%
- Other Ingredients
- 8 Meatloaf Recipes (ingredients only)
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% |
|
milk |
1 cup (244 g) |
0.93 cup (226 g) |
32% |
|
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
Potential substitutions for pepper in meatloaf:
- thyme
- ginger
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
Potential substitutions for milk in meatloaf:
- whole milk
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
Potential substitutions for breadcrumbs in meatloaf:
- bread
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
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
Potential substitutions for tomatoes in meatloaf:
- parsley
- tomato sauce
- shallots
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%
Select Recipes for meatloaf (Ingredients Only)
- - 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- - ½ cup crushed buttery round crackers
- - ¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- - 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
- - 2 eggs, beaten
- - ¼ cup ketchup
- - 2 tablespoons steak sauce
- - 2 pounds ground turkey
- - 1 cup milk
- - 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- - 2 eggs
- - 1 teaspoon salt
- - ¼ teaspoon pepper
- - ¾ pound Colby cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- - ½ cup ketchup
- - ½ cup ketchup
- - ⅓ cup brown sugar
- - ¼ cup lemon juice, divided
- - 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- - 2 pounds ground beef
- - 3 slices bread, broken up into small pieces
- - ¼ cup chopped onion
- - 1 egg, beaten
- - 1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
- - 2 pounds ground beef
- - ¾ cup fresh bread crumbs
- - ½ cup minced onion
- - 2 eggs, beaten
- - 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- - 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
- - 3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- - 5 pounds ground beef
- - 4 eggs
- - 1 large package stuffing mix
- - 1 tablespoon grated garlic
- - 1 cup chopped onion
- - One 20-ounce can tomato juice
- - 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
- - 2 tablespoons salt
- - 1 cup ketchup
- - 2 eggs, beaten
- - 3/4 cup milk
- - 3/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
- - 1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
- - 2 lbs lean ground beef
- - 1 (16 ounce) carton cottage cheese
- - 4 eggs, beaten
- - 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- - 1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
- - 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
- - 1 1/2-2 1/2 cups corn flakes (I use Special K Whole Grain)
- - 1/4 cup chopped onion
- - 2/3 cup dried breadcrumbs, soaked in
- - 1 cup milk
- - 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- - 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- - 1/4 cup chopped onion
- - 1 teaspoon salt
- - 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- - 1/2 teaspoon sage
- - 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- - 1/4 cup ketchup