How To Make An Old Fashioned Cast Iron Skillet Meatloaf
This recipe for cast iron skillet meatloaf is perfect for those days when you are craving comfort food! It’s simple and easy to make, and will definitely become a favorite at your dinner table.
Cooking a perfectly blended meatloaf mixture, in a cast iron skillet, results in a dish that has a juicy texture on the inside and a delightfully crispy edge on the outside.
It also makes clean up a breeze! And that’s a good thing!
What should I put in my cast iron skillet meatloaf?
There are many different ways to put together a cast iron skillet meatloaf recipe. And I’ll share all of the variations of this dish that I know with you in this post.
But the very best meatloaf recipe, in my opinion, will be shared in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.
It’s important that you use a meat mixture of beef and another ground meat when making this dish. I like to use lean ground beef and ground pork, because I think it makes the best meatloaf.
But you can replace the pork with either ground chicken or ground turkey if you like. Some people like to put ground veal in their blend as well.
Almost all meatloaf recipes include bread crumbs, onions, eggs, and milk (or some other liquid). Some add in things like brown sugar, barbecue sauce, tomato sauce, worcestershire sauce, cheddar cheese, or parmesan cheese.
Seasonings are an important part of this dish as well. I like to use fresh garlic, black pepper, and paprika. If there is no fresh garlic in the house, a little garlic powder will do the trick.
The truth is you can put just about any blend of savory seasonings in a meatloaf and end up with a great dish.
It is not unheard of to skip the individual seasonings and toss in a packet of dry onion soup mix either. It’s an easy way to go and it’s pretty tasty to, but the salt content is off the charts, so be aware of that going in!
How to make meatloaf moist
Most old fashioned country style meatloaf recipes will call for whole milk. This ingredient serves as one of the moistening agents for the dish.
It is also quite common to see tomato juice, tomato soup, bbq sauce, or ketchup used, at least partially, in place of the milk.
Laying a few slices of bacon over the top of your meatloaf as it cooks is another way to make it juicy, and it really enhances the other hearty flavors in the dish!
A thick layer of ketchup spread under the bacon is a very nice touch. For me, the perfect meatloaf cannot be made without a topping of homemade ketchup and farm fresh bacon.
Can leftover meatloaf be frozen?
This dish is perfect for freezing. Simply slice it into serving size pieces, wrap it in parchment paper or wax paper, then place it in a plastic baggie. Be sure to remove as much air as possible from the baggie before putting it in the freezer.
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And just like that, you’ve got a few great slices of old fashioned meatloaf waiting for the leftover meatloaf sandwich mood to strike you.
The best way to thaw your leftover meatloaf out is to put it in the fridge the day before you plan to eat it. The next day it will be thawed and ready to go.
What to make with leftover cast iron skillet meatloaf
The simplest way to eat leftover meatloaf is to heat it in a cast iron skillet with a little bit of oil or butter, it can then be served with your favorite sides. Can anyone say mashed potatoes and green beans?!?! YUM!
Or you can heat it the same way and make a great meatloaf sandwich with it. Serve it on a roll with raw onion, lettuce, and tomato, or with sauteed onions and bell peppers. Add your choice of mayonnaise, ketchup, ground mustard, or bbq sauce, and you will be delighted at how tasty it is.
You can also try chunking your leftover meatloaf and serving it tossed with noodles or rice and topped with gravy. Or you can make a shepard’s pie with it, a meatloaf and potato hash, or a quesadilla.
How to make cast iron skillet meatloaf
Gather all of the ingredients and chop the onions.
Place all of the ingredients, except the ketchup and bacon, into a large mixing bowl.
Mix them together well. It is easiest to do this by hand.
Press the mixture into a cast iron skillet. Top it with a layer of ketchup. And top that with a layer of bacon. Bake until done and enjoy!
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Cast Iron Skillet Meatloaf
Equipment
- 10.5-inch Cast iron skillet
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 1 1/2 lbs ground pork
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbls worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 6 slices bacon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the meat mixture: In a large mixing bowl, break up the ground beef and ground pork.
- Add the seasonings: To the meat, add the chopped onion, panko breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, whole milk, large eggs, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, ground black pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Mix well: Using your hands, thoroughly combine all the ingredients until well mixed.
- Shape the meatloaf: Transfer the meat mixture into a 10.5-inch cast iron skillet. Press the mixture down gently to fit the pan. Press the edges of the loaf a little lower than the center, creating a slight mound.
- Add the ketchup: Spread a thin, even layer of ketchup over the top of the meatloaf to add flavor and moisture during baking.
- Top with bacon: Layer the bacon strips on top of the ketchup, covering the entire surface of the meatloaf.
- Bake the meatloaf: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Keep an eye on it and avoid overcooking, as it can dry out the meatloaf.
- Rest the meatloaf: Once done, remove the skillet from the oven and let the meatloaf rest for 15 minutes. This helps retain the juices and makes it easier to slice.
- Slice and serve: After resting, slice the meatloaf and serve.
Notes
- Rest the Meatloaf: Allowing the meatloaf to rest for 15 minutes after baking helps the juices redistribute, keeping it moist when slicing.
- Avoid Overmixing: Overmixing the meat mixture can lead to a dense, tough meatloaf. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Check the Temperature: To ensure the meatloaf is fully cooked, use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 160°F for safety.
- Customize the Seasoning: Feel free to adjust the seasoning to your taste. Add extra smoked paprika for a bolder flavor or a touch of cayenne pepper for some heat.
I’m transported to my own Grandmother’s Kitchen just reading this. The smells and the smiles are filling my heart. I am comforted at the thoughts of this at our dinner table. Food is the continuous thread woven through the family narrative and this is sure to become part of our tapestry. Thank you Diane Gail! I will update after we make this.
You are quite welcome! Reading the words you’ve written warms my heart. What a gift. Thank you! I can’t wait to hear how you and your family enjoy this good ‘ol classic main dish!
This reminds me of how my mom made meatloaf! Reminds me of a Sunday after church lunch:) It looks delicious. Thanks for sharing!
So welcome! It’s so nice that it took you back in time <3
Diane, I have never cooked meatloaf in a cast iron pan but I have made other things in it. I think this meatloaf is going to taste wonderful. I will post after my family and I try this tonight. Thank you for the info.
Can’t wait to hear how you like it! Enjoy!
Thank you so much for checking out this cast iron skillet meatloaf recipe! I hope you give it a try – it’s a delicious and easy way to make a comforting classic. If you do, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a review below to share your thoughts, and feel free to ask any questions in the comments. I’m happy to help! ENJOY!