On a weeknight when the oven is the most honest thing in the house, I reach for the boxed stuffing and ground beef and make a loaf that feeds the family and the leftovers. Meatloaf With Stove Top Stuffing is the kind of supper that feels like a win after a busy day, a reliable dish my partner and I slice into while the kids do homework, warm and saucy and easy to pull together.
Why You’ll Love It
This recipe is fast, forgiving, and fills the kitchen with steady, homey smells. It works when you need a hands-off dinner that still tastes like care, and it stretches a small grocery run into several meals. Kids and adults both tend to like the soft texture from the stuffing, and the quick glaze makes the top glossy and sliceable without fuss.
Serves 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes |
Cook Time: 60 minutes |
Total Time: 75 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef 80 20
- 1 box 6 ounce Stove Top stuffing mix dry
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 2 cups milk divided use 1 4 cup to hydrate stuffing and 1 4 cup for mixing
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped about 3 4 cup
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons ketchup for mix
- 3 tablespoons ketchup for glaze
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter for sautéing onions
Instructions
- 1 Preheat oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet or use a loaf pan lightly greased.
- 2 In a small bowl combine the stuffing mix and 1 4 cup milk and let sit two minutes until slightly moistened.
- 3 Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion until soft about five minutes add garlic and cook thirty seconds then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- 4 In a large bowl combine ground beef moistened stuffing mix sautéed onion and garlic beaten egg remaining 1 4 cup milk ketchup Worcestershire salt pepper and parsley if using. Mix gently with hands or a spoon until just combined do not overwork.
- 5 Shape the mixture into a loaf on the prepared baking sheet or press into the loaf pan smoothing the top.
- 6 Spread the three tablespoons ketchup over the top to make a glaze.
- 7 Bake for 55 to 65 minutes until an instant read thermometer in the center reads 160 F and juices run clear.
- 8 Let rest ten minutes before slicing to keep slices firm and warm. Serve with pan drippings spooned sparingly over slices if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Turkey and Herb Swap use ground turkey instead of beef and add 1 teaspoon dried thyme for a lighter loaf.
- Cheesy Center press a strip of cheddar or mozzarella into the center before baking for a melty core.
- Low Sodium use a reduced sodium stuffing mix and skip the added salt adjust glaze to low sodium ketchup.
- Spicy Kick mix in 1 2 teaspoon cayenne or a few dashes of hot sauce and use pepper jack cheese for a bolder loaf.
Make Ahead: You can mix the meat mixture up to one day ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator shaped in the pan or bowl. Alternatively prepare the stuffed dry mix and sautéed onions up to two days ahead and assemble before baking. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to four days in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use pre prepared Stove Top stuffing instead of the dry mix
It is best to use the dry mix as written because it helps bind the loaf when moistened if you use prepared stuffing reduce added milk and squeeze out excess moisture first
How do I prevent the meatloaf from drying out
Use 80 20 ground beef or add a little grated onion or a splash more milk the stuffing also helps retain moisture and do not overbake use a thermometer for accuracy
Can I freeze this meatloaf
Yes wrap the cooled whole loaf tightly in plastic and foil or freeze sliced portions for up to three months thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating
Is there a vegetarian option using stuffing
For a vegetarian version use a meatless ground substitute or a lentil and mushroom mix combined with the stuffing and a binder like flax egg or regular egg if not vegan
Meatloaf With Stove Top Stuffing
This recipe is fast, forgiving, and fills the kitchen with steady, homey smells. It works when you need a hands-off dinner that still tastes like care, and it stretches a small grocery run into several meals. Kids and adults both tend to like the soft texture from the stuffing, and the quick glaze makes the top glossy and sliceable without fuss.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef 80 20
- 1 box 6 ounce Stove Top stuffing mix dry
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 2 cups milk divided use 1 4 cup to hydrate stuffing and 1 4 cup for mixing
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped about 3 4 cup
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons ketchup for mix
- 3 tablespoons ketchup for glaze
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley optional
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter for sautéing onions
Instructions
- 1 Preheat oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet or use a loaf pan lightly greased.
- 2 In a small bowl combine the stuffing mix and 1 4 cup milk and let sit two minutes until slightly moistened.
- 3 Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion until soft about five minutes add garlic and cook thirty seconds then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- 4 In a large bowl combine ground beef moistened stuffing mix sautéed onion and garlic beaten egg remaining 1 4 cup milk ketchup Worcestershire salt pepper and parsley if using. Mix gently with hands or a spoon until just combined do not overwork.
- 5 Shape the mixture into a loaf on the prepared baking sheet or press into the loaf pan smoothing the top.
- 6 Spread the three tablespoons ketchup over the top to make a glaze.
- 7 Bake for 55 to 65 minutes until an instant read thermometer in the center reads 160 F and juices run clear.
- 8 Let rest ten minutes before slicing to keep slices firm and warm. Serve with pan drippings spooned sparingly over slices if desired.
Conclusion
This Meatloaf With Stove Top Stuffing is designed for the nights when time is short but you still want a meal that feels like home. It is straightforward to assemble, forgiving in texture, and easy to customize. Trust the simple steps and the stuffing to keep the loaf tender, and feel free to tweak the seasonings to match your family tastes. Make it once and you will have a go to weeknight recipe that makes leftovers welcome and cooking low stress.
