The Best Copycat Boston Market Meatloaf Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

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Boston Market Meatloaf is a delicious meatloaf. One of my favorite characteristics of the Boston Market meatloaf is the sweet sauce on top that is made of a sweet tomato sauce. Boston Market meatloaf also tastes very good the next day in sandwiches.

So why not enjoy some Boston Market meatloaf tonight? I bet if you make this Boston Market meatloaf copycat recipe everyone will wonder if you bought this at Boston Market. But you know you made it at home.

The Best Copycat Boston Market Meatloaf Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (1)

Table of Contents

What is Boston Market Meatloaf?

Boston Market Meatloaf is a classic-style meatloaf with a bit of surprise. The sweet tomato glaze on top adds traditional sweetness, but the diced tomatoes mixed into the meatloaf are unique. Diced tomatoes add some flavor and help to keep the meatloaf juicy.

Is Boston Market Meatloaf Good?

There must be hundreds of ways to make meatloaf, with some recipes calling for a long list of ingredients. However, it is often the simplest recipes that are the best. This version of meatloaf is nothing fancy, but it is inexpensive and easy to make and sure tastes great.

What Kind of Meat is in Meatloaf?

Ground beef is perfect for meatloaf. It’s versatile and inexpensive. Ground chuck is what I use in my recipe – it’s ideal for meatloaf and holds its shape well during cooking. The cooked meat should be moist, juicy and slightly firm.

Mixing Meats

You can also mix meats in a meatloaf. For example, a mixture of ground beef and pork is popular. In fact, you can use any combination of beef, veal, pork, or lamb.

However, if you use very lean meat, it should be blended with approximately thirty percent ground pork. The fattier pork will keep the meatloaf moist and tender.

The American Meatloaf

The first recipe we know about is from late 1870s New England where the cook was instructed to finely chop “whatever cold meat you have.” The meat was very likely beef because cows were typically killed before winter set in.

Meatloaf was a way to use up every last bit of the meat. To the finely-chopped beef was added salt, pepper, onion, slices of bread soaked in milk, and egg. These are still the basic ingredients of many a meatloaf recipe today.

But back then, they didn’t eat meatloaf for dinner – it was for breakfast!

The Depression

Meatloaf became a staple of many Americans’ diets during the Depression. It was a way to extend precious protein and feed more people with less meat. Also, by then meat grinders were common and made meat grinding easier.

In the 1940s, meatloaf was also a hallmark of wartime cooking ingenuity. By the 1950s, meatloaf was here to stay.

Meatloaf is now so American that it’s often placed alongside hamburgers and hot dogs as iconic American comfort food. You can read more about the history of meatloaf.

Boston Market Meatloaf Ingredients

To make this copycat Boston Market meatloaf recipe, here’s a list of what you need:

  • Ground beef chuck
  • Onion
  • Garlic salt
  • Canned diced tomatoes
  • Plain breadcrumbs
  • Egg
  • Tomato sauce
  • Sugar
The Best Copycat Boston Market Meatloaf Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (2)

How to Make Boston Market Meatloaf

Here are the steps for this recipe:

  1. Mix ground beef, chopped onions, garlic salt, diced tomatoes, breadcrumbs, and egg together until well blended.
  2. Place the beef mixture in a lightly greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
  3. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and drain excess grease from the pan.
  4. Mix tomato sauce and sugar together and pour over the meatloaf.
  5. Place the meatloaf back in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
The Best Copycat Boston Market Meatloaf Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (3)

What to Serve with Boston Market Meat Loaf

When it comes to meatloaf, just about any side dish is fair game. Here are some of the classics:

  • Mac and Cheese
  • Homemade Mashed Potatoes
  • Green Beans
  • Creamed Corn
  • Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

How to Store, Freeze and Reheat Meatloaf

You can keep any leftover meatloaf in the fridge for three to four days, or you can freeze it for up to four months.

Whether you plan to store meatloaf in the fridge or freezer, you need to let it cool to room temperature and cover it well in plastic wrap.

If you want to freeze the meatloaf, add a layer of aluminum foil on top of the plastic wrap for extra protection.

You can reheat thawed meatloaf in the oven, air fryer, or microwave. Cut the meatloaf into two-inch slices before using any reheating method.

  • In the oven.Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Drizzle a teaspoon of water or beef broth onto the meatloaf and wrap in aluminum foil. Place directly on the middle rack and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until warm.
  • In the air fryer.Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees and cook for about 6 minutes, turning once.
  • In the microwave.Sprinkle the top of the meatloaf slice with water or beef stock andcook covered in the microwave for one minute on high. Carefully flip the meatloaf, recover and cook for another minute. Let the meatloaf rest for a few minutes before eating.

Boston Market Meatloaf Recipe FAQs

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart?

Binders. There are many different types of binders that you can use, but this recipe uses breadcrumbs and eggs. Other standard binders include oatmeal and cracker crumbs.

Is the meatloaf at Boston Market beef?

Yes, Boston Market serves an all-beef meatloaf, but there isn’t any reason you can’t use a mixture of beef and pork or even ground turkey when you make Boston Market-style meatloaf at home.

Are there onions in Boston Market meatloaf?

Onions show up in the tomato puree used in the dish, but they are not added separately to the Boston Market Meatloaf according to thelist of ingredients.

Love Boston Market? Try these copycat recipes!

  • Boston Market Macaroni and Cheese
  • Boston Market Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Boston Market Garlic Dill Potato Wedges
  • Boston Market Creamed Spinach

Favorite Comfort Food Recipes

  • Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
  • Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes
  • Chicken Cacciatore
  • Chicken Casserole
  • Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole
  • Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
  • Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole
  • Pan Fried Potatoes

Check out more of my easy comfort food recipes and the best fast food recipes here on CopyKat!

Boston Market Meatloaf

You can make Boston Market Meatloaf at home.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate Add to Collection

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Boston Market Recipes, Meatloaf

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Calories: 231kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
  • 1/2 cup onions minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 3/4 cup drained diced tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 3/4 cup tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  • Mix together all ingredients except tomato sauce and sugar.

  • Place the mixture in a lightly greased loaf pan.

  • Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

  • Remove the meatloaf from the oven and drain excess grease from the pan.

  • Mix tomato sauce and sugar together and pour it over the meatloaf.

  • Place the meatloaf back in the oven to finish baking until done, about 30 minutes depending on the oven.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 325mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 125IU | Vitamin C: 3.5mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2.1mg

The Best Copycat Boston Market Meatloaf Recipe - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

The Best Copycat Boston Market Meatloaf Recipe - CopyKat Recipes? ›

Use high-fat meat.

The leaner the meat, the dryer and grainier the meatloaf. For an all-beef meatloaf, always use a higher-fat cut, at least 15 percent. For a meatloaf made with a leaner beef or turkey, consider mixing in some ground pork and/or veal in order to achieve a moist, tender meatloaf.

What is the secret to good meatloaf? ›

Use high-fat meat.

The leaner the meat, the dryer and grainier the meatloaf. For an all-beef meatloaf, always use a higher-fat cut, at least 15 percent. For a meatloaf made with a leaner beef or turkey, consider mixing in some ground pork and/or veal in order to achieve a moist, tender meatloaf.

What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

The Basic Meatloaf Formula

All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

To help your meatloaf stay together add things such as eggs, bread, crushed croutons, oatmeal, crackers, and breadcrumbs, these are all key ingredients that help meat stick together. I hope that this helps to answer your question. What are the secrets to a firm, sliceable meatloaf that slices and won't fall apart?

Why do you put milk in meatloaf? ›

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

How to make a Bobby Flay meatloaf? ›

directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. ...
  3. Whisk together the eggs and herbs in a large bowl. ...
  4. Whisk together the remaining ketchup and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl then brush the mixture over the entire loaf.
  5. Bake the meatloaf for approximately 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Should you bake meatloaf covered or uncovered? ›

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

Is it better to bake meatloaf on a sheet pan or loaf pan? ›

While both are great options for cooking your meatloaf, each has its own advantages and you will get slightly different results. Sheet pans have more surface area which exposes more of the dish's surface area to the oven's direct heat to create a crunchier crust that's nicely browned.

What can I add to meatloaf for flavor? ›

Herbs: Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley can bring a burst of flavor to your meatloaf.

Is it better to cook meatloaf at 350 or 375? ›

The oven temperature is typically set at 350 degrees F for making meatloaf. That's the temperature you want to be sure to use so the meatloaf cooks and doesn't dry out. Too high, and the outer crust will burn before the interior is cooked all the way, too low and you don't get that delicious crust.

What is the best binder for meatloaf? ›

The most traditional meatloaf binder is probably torn up bread soaked in milk, but you can also use bread crumbs, Panko, dehydrated potato (instant mashed potatoes), or just about any other grain.

What is traditional meatloaf made of? ›

No bells and whistles - just a few ingredients including beef, egg, bread crumbs and a simple tomato-based topping. Use a gentle touch with ground beef. Over-mixing will result in burgers, meatballs or meatloaves with a firm texture.

What happens if you put too many eggs in meatloaf? ›

Eggs bind the mixture, add flavor and increase browning, but too much egg will make a meat loaf tough and rubbery. Use about one egg per pound of meat. If using pork sausage, skip the egg. Milk adds flavor and moisture and helps distribute the seasoning throughout the mass.

What can you put under meatloaf to soak up grease? ›

A neat trick to soak up the grease under your meatloaf is to line the bottom of the pan with bread slices. The bread soaks up the grease as the loaf bakes. When the meatloaf is done, you can either throw out the bread or bake it to make some truly indulgent toast.

How can you mess up meatloaf? ›

8 Common Mistakes That Will Leave You With Subpar Meatloaf
  1. You're Not Sufficiently Seasoning the Meat.
  2. You're Using Lean Meats.
  3. You're Not Adding a Sweet Component.
  4. You're Not Adding a Starch.
  5. You're Adding Raw Vegetables to the Meat.
  6. You're Slicing Into the Loaf Too Early.
  7. You're Not Doubling the Batch.
Aug 25, 2021

Why put ketchup in meatloaf? ›

More than a condiment

All Recipes explains that having a sweet element in your meatloaf like ketchup is critical to creating a delicious dish. The reason? It balances out the flavors.

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