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.

cooked meatloaf in a cast iron skillet

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.

ingredients for meatloaf set out on a table

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.

sliced meatloaf in a cast iron skillet

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.

meatloaf and mashed potatoes on a plate

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!

meatloaf cut in a skillet

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.

chopped onions on a cutting board with a knife

Place all of the ingredients, except the ketchup and bacon, into a large mixing bowl.

ingredients for meatloaf in a mixing bowl

Mix them together well. It is easiest to do this by hand.

mixed raw ingredients for meatloaf in a mixing bowl

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!

uncooked meatloaf in a cast iron pan
cast iron skillet meatloaf pinnable image

If you try this recipe and love it, please give it 5 stars! It supports my work more than you may realize, and I appreciate that a great deal!

You can also show your support by tagging me on Facebook @sustainableslowliving or Instagram @slowlivingbydianegail when you post a pic of your finished dish.

cooked meatloaf in a cast iron skillet
Yield: 10 servings

CAST IRON SKILLET MEATLOAF RECIPE

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Hearty and delicious cast iron skillet meatloaf recipe that the whole family will love. Eat it tonight and enjoy leftover meatloaf sandwiches later in the week.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (grass fed)
  • 1 1/2 lbs ground pork (organic)
  • 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, crushed
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • ketchup
  • 6 slices bacon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Break up ground beef and ground pork and place them in a large mixing bowl
  3. Add all of the other ingredients except the ketchup and bacon.
  4. Mix well using your hands (wear gloves if you like).
  5. Press the mixture into a 10.5 inch cast iron skillet. Press the edges of the mixture just a bit lower than the rest, so that the loaf mounds slightly towards the center.
  6. Spread a thin layer of ketchup over the mixture.
  7. Layer bacon on top of the ketchup.
  8. Place in the oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Do not overcook, as it will dry out your meatloaf.
  9. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 15 minutes.
  10. Slice and serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 550Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 176mgSodium: 555mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 45g

Nutritional data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 3/18/2021. Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

6 Comments

  1. 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.

    1. 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!

  2. 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.

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