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This air fryer meatloaf recipe is delicious comfort food, with crispy edges and a moist inside. You can cook meatloaf in air fryer faster than in the oven, making it the perfect weeknight dinner idea. Get the directions (including air fryer meatloaf time and temp) to make a 1 pound or 2 pound meatloaf in air fryer. You’ll also learn how to make this classic meatloaf recipe keto-friendly, get reheating tips, and more!
Have you made meatloaf in the air fryer yet? With this air fried meatloaf recipe, grease drips off the beef instead of soaking into the meatloaf in a loaf pan. The result is a tasty and faster way to make meatloaf without sacrificing flavor.
Meatloaf is typically a cold weather comfort food, reserved for when you don’t mind heating the house with the oven. But when you air fry meatloaf, you can enjoy meatloaf all year long. Have that leftover cold meatloaf sandwich whenever you’re in the mood!
⭐ How to Cook Meatloaf in Air Fryer
We’re making a 1 lb air fryer meatloaf in this recipe. If your air fryer has the space, feel free to double the recipe and make two 1 lb meatloaves instead. Making mini meatloaves is the best way to ensure the center of the meatloaf gets fully cooked without burning the outside.
Air Fryer Meatloaf Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you need to make an easy air fryer meatloaf:
- 1 pound lean ground beef (454g)
- 1 large egg (use your favorite egg replacer, like flax gel, to make it no egg)
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs (seasoned or unseasoned, your choice)
- 1/3 cup onion, finely chopped
- ½ tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- ½ tablespoon dried basil
- ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and ground black pepper, to taste (optional)
- 3-5 tablespoons ketchup or BBQ sauce (for meatloaf topping)
Get a printable recipe card below!
85% lean ground beef is perfect for this recipe, and what I recommend. 80/20 ground beef sheds a lot of oil, and the meatloaf shrinks a lot. 90% or 93% lean beef may get too dry in the air fryer.
Chef’s tip: You can place a slice of bread in the air fryer drip pan to absorb the oil if your air fryer is smoking from the fat.
You’ll also need an air fryer, meat thermometer, and a pastry brush to make this recipe. You can make air fryer meatloaf in a Ninja Foodi, Philips, Nuwave, Pampered Chef, Actifry, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, Breville, or another air fryer. However, you may need to adjust the cook time and temp depending on the air fryer you use.
How to Make Air Fryer Meatloaf
Here are the step-by-step instructions to make the best air fryer meatloaf:
- Mix all of the ingredients together with clean hands in a large bowl EXCEPT the meatloaf topping (ketchup or BBQ). Shape the mixture into a small loaf. Place the meatloaf in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry meatloaf for 20-25 minutes at 375F (190C). Make sure it has reached an internal temp of 120-130F (49-54C) using a meat thermometer. If it hasn’t, carefully flip the meatloaf over and air fry for 5 more minutes at 375F (190C).
Chef’s tip: If your meatloaf is browning too quickly on the outside, you can cover it with foil. If your meatloaf is not reaching a safe temp fast enough, make the meatloaf flatter and thinner. This will help it cook more quickly in the center.
- Brush about 3 tablespoons of meatloaf topping (ketchup or BBQ sauce) over the top and sides of the meatloaf. Then air fry the meatloaf for 8-10 minutes more at 400F (200C). This meatloaf is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 160F (71C) using a meat thermometer.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. I like to brush the meatloaf with an additional 2 tablespoons of topping before serving.
How Long to Cook Meatloaf in Air Fryer
How long to cook 1lb meatloaf in air fryer? What temp to cook meatloaf in air fryer? Air fryer meatloaf cooks for 20-30 minutes at 375F (190C), and then an additional 8-10 minutes at 400F (200C) after topping.
Remember that how long to air fry meatloaf ultimately depends on your particular air fryer and how you shaped the meatloaf.
Leftover meatloaf freezes well, or you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. (Hello, cold meatloaf sandwiches! I love you so much. Haha)
Reheat Meatloaf in Air Fryer
To reheat meatloaf in air fryer, slice and reheat the slices at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177C) for about 2-3 minutes. If it’s not warmed to your liking, air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.
Alternatively, reheat meatloaf in the microwave for 1-2 minutes on high.
Meatloaf Air Fryer Recipe Tips
- Make mini meatloaves in air fryer: Making mini meatloaves helps the meatloaf cook more evenly. Large meatloaves can become overly dry on the outside when air frying, so keep them small!
- Don’t add the topping right away: Make sure to add the meatloaf glaze towards the end of cooking. Otherwise, it will burn!
- Let your meatloaf rest: Letting your meat loaf rest for about 10 minutes after baking gives it time to firm up. This should make it much easier to slice.
- Try meatloaf variations: Air fryer meatloaf with bacon? Air fryer meatloaf with chorizo? Using pumpkin BBQ sauce or marinara sauce for topping? Throwing a little Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, or brown sugar in there? All of these are possible (and more), so don’t be shy about experimenting!
How to Serve Meat Loaf in Air Fryer
I like to serve meatloaf with mashed sweet potatoes and a large accompaniment salad. However, there are many other delicious foods to use as side dishes for meatloaf! Here are some ideas:
- Mashed potatoes
- Rice
- Air fryer frozen french fries
- Air fryer radishes (a low-carb potato substitute!)
- Peas
- Cooked broccoli or cauliflower
- Air fryer butternut squash
- Roasted mixed vegetables (Use what you have! Roasted red potatoes, onions, turnips, and fennel are a lovely combination.)
- Air fryer garlic bread
- Air fryer Mexican cornbread
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe (Meatloaf in Air Fryer)
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef 454g
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup onion, finely chopped
- ½ tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- ½ tablespoon dried basil
- ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste (optional)
- 3-5 tablespoons ketchup or BBQ sauce for meatloaf topping
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients together with clean hands in a large bowl EXCEPT the meatloaf topping (ketchup or BBQ). Shape the mixture into a small loaf. Place the meatloaf in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry meatloaf for 20-25 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Make sure it has reached an internal temp of 120-130°F (49-54°C) using a meat thermometer. If it hasn’t, carefully flip the meatloaf over and air fry for 5 more minutes at 375°F (190°C). Chef’s tips: If your meatloaf is browning too quickly on the outside, you can cover it with foil. If your meatloaf is not reaching a safe temp fast enough, make the meatloaf flatter and thinner. This will help it cook more quickly in the center.
- Brush about 3 tablespoons of meatloaf topping (ketchup or BBQ sauce) over the top and sides of the meatloaf. Then air fry the meatloaf for 8-10 minutes more at 400°F (200°C). This meatloaf is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) using a meat thermometer.
- Let the meatloaf rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. I like to brush the meatloaf with an additional 2 tablespoons of topping before serving.
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 2 recipe (transition or weight maintenance). Meatloaf made with lean ground beef is a nice moderate calorie main course for your meal. It is an excellent source of animal-based heme iron, the type of iron your body absorbs more efficiently. Iron deficiency is fairly common and can leave you feeling run down. Ensuring you are getting adequate iron in your diet is one simple way you can help support your health. The beef in meatloaf also provides high quality protein and essential vitamins and minerals such as zinc. You’re welcome to use a mixture of ground pork, ground turkey, and/or ground chicken if you don’t eat beef. Serve it with low oil non-starchy vegetables to make a lighter meal that’s supportive of a weight loss goal. Nutrition information is for one serving.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
FAQs
Do you cover meatloaf when baking?
No, you don’t generally cover meatloaf when baking. However, you can cover the meatloaf with foil on the outside if it’s browning too quickly before adding the topping.
At what temperature do I cook meatloaf?
Cook meatloaf at 375F (190C) in the air fryer or 400F (200C) in the oven. This follows the general air fryer to oven conversion of air frying foods at 25 degrees less than you’d oven bake them.
Can I put frozen meatloaf in air fryer?
Yes! To air fry frozen meatloaf (such as making Stouffer’s frozen meatloaf in air fryer), follow my directions for air fryer ready meals. Frozen meatloaf takes about 35-50 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 375F (190C). Make sure to remove any plastic packaging or trays that are not oven safe before air frying.
At what temperature is meatloaf fully cooked?
Meatloaf made with ground beef should be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA). Check the temperature of the center of your meatloaf after cooking with a meat thermometer. The meatloaf should reach 160F (71C) regardless of whether it was air fried or baked in the oven.
How to make air fryer keto meatloaf?
To make low carb keto meatloaf in the air fryer, make it with no breadcrumbs. Use binder with low carbohydrates instead, such as almond flour. You’ll also need to use a sugar free ketchup or sugar free BBQ sauce for the meatloaf topping.
How can I keep meatloaf from falling apart?
Keep meatloaf together with binding agents! Eggs, flour or breadcrumbs, and flax seed gel can help the other ingredients in meatloaf to stick together. After baking and letting it cool for a bit, your meatloaf should slice nicely with minimal crumbling.
👩🍳 More Meat Air Fryer Recipes
Are you here for air fryer recipes using meat and poultry? If so, don’t leave without checking these out:
- Air Fryer Stuffed Burgers with Cheese
- Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken Recipe
- Air Fryer Turkey Burgers (No Breadcrumbs)
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂