Easy, juicy, and delicious Crockpot Meatloaf stuffed with melty cheese and prepared in the slow cooker!
When life is too hectic and your classic Easy Meatloaf Recipe can’t do the job, it’s time for a slow cooked version. ✌️
WHAT IS CROCKPOT MEATLOAF
Crockpot Meatloaf is a perfectly tender and cheesy Meatloaf cooked in the Crock Pot and topped with a lip-smacking Honey Sriracha glaze. It’s SO GOOD! If you are looking for an amazing Meatloaf recipe, your search may be over.
Even your pickiest eater will be raving about this recipe for several reasons, including; meatloaf cooked in the crockpot will never turn out dry or tough because a slow cooked meat results in a tender and super juicy meal.
Besides, doesn’t everyone love a classic recipe that you can cook in the slow cooker? Put it together in the morning, set it in the slow cooker, and come home to a cheesy Meatloaf ready to be devoured. YES, please!
HOW TO MAKE MEATLOAF IN THE CROCKPOT
Making meatloaf has never been easier than with this crock pot method. It holds together when slicing and it tastes so darn good, thanks to the cheese!
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, seasonings, onions, sauces, eggs, and milk; mix until thoroughly combined. Use your hands – it’s the easiest according to …me. 😃 And Alton Brown.
- In the meantime, line a slow cooker with aluminum foil and grease it with cooking spray.
- Transfer half of the meat mixture to the slow cooker and press it down.
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and add the rest of the meat mixture over the cheese.
- Using your hands, shape the meat into a loaf. If you want, grease hands with cooking spray so it’s less of a sticky situation. If you’d rather shape it outside of the slow cooker, and then transfer shaped meat into the slow cooker – please, by all means, go ahead. Whatever is easier for you. ✔️
- Top meat with half of the glaze; cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours. You can also cook it on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Meatloaf is done when temperature reaches 160˚F on an Instant Read Thermometer.
- Lift out the meatloaf by holding onto the foil; transfer to a baking dish and top with the rest of the glaze.
- Pop it under the broiler for 4 minutes, or until browned.
- Garnish with parsley, rest for 10 minutes, then serve.
LOW CARB VARIATIONS
- You can use almond flour/almond meal in place of bread crumbs
- Use heavy cream in place of milk.
- Try this delicious Low Carb Barbecue Sauce for the glaze.
CAN I MAKE THIS MEATLOAF IN THE OVEN?
- Yes! ✔️ Prepare as directed and shape the meatloaf.
- Transfer meatloaf to a greased or foil-lined baking dish and spread with half of the glaze.
- Bake at 350˚F for 55 to 65 minutes.
- When finished baking, spread the rest of the glaze over the Meatloaf and continue to cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until glaze is nicely browned.
- Remove from oven; let rest for 10 minutes and serve.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH MEATLOAF
ENJOY!
TOOLS USED IN THIS RECIPE
Mozzarella Stuffed Crockpot Meatloaf
Ingredients
FOR THE MEATLOAF
- 1.5 pounds 80% to 85% lean ground beef
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 small yellow onion, shredded (use the large holes on a cheese grater to shred the onion)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 8 ounces part skim shredded mozzarella cheese
FOR THE GLAZE
- 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons sugar free ketchup
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Line a 6-quart slow cooker (or a bigger slow cooker) with a large sheet of aluminum foil. Grease with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, onions, garlic, Italian Seasoning, salt, pepper, ground mustard, egg, milk, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix with your hands until combined, but DO NOT overmix.
- Divide meat in half.
- Press one half of the meat into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Spread shredded mozzarella down the center, leaving about 1/2 inch space around the sides.
- Top with remaining meat and shape it into a loaf, and press around to seal the edges. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, ketchup, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and Sriracha sauce.
- Brush half of the glaze over the meatloaf. Reserve the remaining half for later.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Meatloaf is done when temperature reaches 160˚F on an Instant Read Thermometer.
- Lift out the meatloaf by holding onto the foil; transfer to a baking dish and top with the rest of the glaze.
- Pop it under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes, or until browned.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
- Use Fat-Free Shredded Mozzarella and lower points down to 10.
- Stored cooked AND completely cooled meatloaf in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- To FREEZE: cut Meatloaf into slices and freeze it in covered airtight containers OR heavy-duty freezer bags.
Scrumptious!
By Far, the easiest meatloaf dish … I am a beginner with cooking and badabing!
I didn’t put it under the broiler and totally delish!
Thank you for sharing your recipe!
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This is by far the best meatloaf recipe I have tried! The glaze is phenomenal! But all the cheese ran out of the side 😭 How can I prevent this next time?!
20 stars!! My family will not eat any other meatloaf!! It is amazing! I cook it in the oven too and it turns out perfect! Thank you!!
If I could give this 10 stars, I would… hands down best meatloaf recipe I’ve ever had, let alone cooked – sent it to like 20 people today… amazing amazing amazing!!
THANK YOU! I am very happy you enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
I stuck a potato behind the foil for each person. Using the high setting, potatoes and meatloaf were done in 3 hours. Easy peasy!
I am very happy you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Do you need to put it under the broiler? I wanted something easy for my kids to eat when I travel for work.
Hi! No, you don’t have to because the meatloaf will be cooked through, but I do put it under the broiler just to get that bit of browning on top.
I & my hubby prefer gravy with meatloaf. Is there a slow cooker recipe for meatloaf with gravy?
By honey do you mean bee honey? Or what kind of honey are we talking about? LOL I don’t cook at all and I’m making this for Xmas dinner. Thanks in advance!
Hi!
Yep, that’s the honey you can buy at the store… it’s always in the aisle with the bread, jellies, and jams. 🙂
What other kinds of honey is there? 🤔
Could you double the recipe?
Can I cook slower for 8hours??
Hi! You could try, but during my test run of this recipe, the cheese melted completely when I cooked it for 8 hours – when I cut into it, it’s like I never added the cheese – and the meat was overcooked.
Could I leave out the aluminum foil in the crockpot? Could I use parchment paper instead? Can’t wait to try this !!!!
Hi!
Yep, you can definitely use parchment paper.
When I make meatloaf in the crockpot, I take aluminum foil and make it into balls to place under to meatloaf. Then the meatloaf isn’t sitting in grease while it’s cooking.
That’s a wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Can I pressure cook this?
Looking forward to making this soon! I bet it would be good to serve company. Thank you.
What could I use as a bread crumbs substitute? I’m Keto and this would be great!! I have substitutes for the glaze.
Hi!
Pork rinds (crushed) as a sub for breadcrumbs work very well in meatloaf recipes. Almond flour is also great! I have a recipe right here for Keto Meatloaf — https://diethood.com/easy-meatloaf-recipe/
Hope that helps. 🙂
Thank you so much!!
This was so rich in flavor; my family said this was the best meatloaf they have ever tasted! Delicious!
This looks heavenly! I never thought to add cheese with the meatloaf but now I have to try it!
Meatloaf is one of my favorite comfort foods…this is being made next time it’s up on rotation.
Looks delicious and so easy to make! So perfect! Definitely a must try!
Wow! This looks amazing! I’ve never thought to make meatloaf (one of my favorite things!) in the crockpot. How cool!
I didn’t think meatloaf could get any easier until this recipe! Excellent!!!
This is my new go-to crockpot recipe!!! It’s so delicious!!!
Thanks for the recipe! I’m always looking for good Crockpot recipes since my son doesn’t give me much time to cook!
oh this is such a great weeknight dinner
Love that I can use my slow cooker for this. So perfect for during the summer and it’s too hot to turn on the oven.
Love everything about this! So yummy and that cheese in the middle takes it over the top.