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Cozy Honey Garlic Meatloaf with Brown Sugar Glaze

honey garlic meatloaf - featured image
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A sticky, caramelized meatloaf with a honey garlic glaze and brown sugar finish that’s tender, juicy, and perfect for cozy nights or impressing a crowd.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-style)
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ½ cup milk (whole or 2%)
  • 1 small onion, finely diced (about ½ cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (for glaze)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (low-sodium or tamari)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup (for brown sugar finish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or line a baking sheet with parchment for free-form.
  2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, 4 minced garlic cloves, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk and simmer 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and set aside. Reserve half for serving.
  3. In a small skillet over medium heat, add a splash of oil and cook diced onion 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook 30 seconds. Let cool.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten eggs, milk, sautéed onion and garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and 2 tablespoons ketchup. Mix gently with hands until just combined.
  5. Transfer mixture to prepared pan and shape into an even loaf. Bake for 45 minutes.
  6. After 45 minutes, brush half of the honey garlic glaze over the top and sides. Return to oven and bake 15 minutes.
  7. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar with 1 tablespoon ketchup to form a thick paste. After 60 minutes total, spread paste over the top. Bake 10-15 minutes more until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
  8. Let meatloaf rest 10 minutes before slicing. Slice into 1-inch pieces and drizzle with reserved glaze.

Notes

Use 80/20 ground beef for juiciest results. Don’t skip the milk—it adds tenderness. Let meatloaf rest 10 minutes before slicing to prevent crumbling. If glaze starts to burn, tent with foil. For gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari. For dairy-free, use unsweetened almond or oat milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: meatloaf, honey garlic, brown sugar glaze, comfort food, easy dinner, ground beef

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/cozy-honey-garlic-meatloaf-with-brown-sugar-glaze/