Air Fryer Meatloaf

A plate with two slices of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

5 from 1 vote

Using an air fryer is a great way to cook meatloaf if you’re looking for something quick, easy, and delicious! The meatloaf is juicy and tender on the inside, with a crisp exterior, and a perfectly caramelized topping.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Julia Foerster

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

¼ cup plain breadcrumbs
1 large egg
¼ cup minced onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 ½ pounds ground beef
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup bbq sauce
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Add the breadcrumbs, egg, onion, parsley, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning to a large bowl and mix to combine.
Next, add the ground beef and gently mix it to combine– you don’t want to compact the meat so make sure to mix gently.
Shape the beef mixture into a log approximately 8” long, 3” wide, and 2” thick, and place it in your air fryer basket.
Cook the meatloaf at 350F for 18 minutes.
In a small bowl, stir together the ketchup, bbq sauce, and vinegar. Spread the mixture over the meatloaf and then cook for another 5-7 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 dgrees F.
Use a large spatula to remove the meatloaf from the air fryer and then cut it into 1” thick slices.
Enjoy immediately with your favorite sides.

Notes

Mince the onion. No, I don’t just mean chop it into kinda tiny pieces. I mean, mince it! We want it to be small enough that the flavor is incorporated evenly all throughout the meatloaf. No big chunks here!
Mix gently. We want to combine everything but avoid compacting the meat. If it’s too compact, it won’t cook properly and you won’t get that tender texture.
Don’t over-mix. Over-mixed meat can become dry and tough, which is exactly what we’re trying to avoid. Mix only until everything is combined and no longer.
Use another meat. Feel free to swap some of the ground beef out for ground pork, ground turkey, or veal if preferred.
Meat thermometer. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the meatloaf is fully cooked through. Ground beef is fully cooked when the internal temperature is 160 degrees F.
Lining the basket. I prefer to just spray the basket with oil before cooking the meatloaf because I like it crispy all around but feel free to place the loaf on a cut-to-size piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil. Make sure the air can still circulate for the best result.
Preheating the Air Fryer. Depending on your Air Fryer you might have to preheat it for a few minutes. Preheating also helps with preventing the meatloaf from sticking to the basket.

Nutrition