Meatloaf With Brown Gravy

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This meatloaf with brown gravy recipe is the perfect comfort food. Made with a classic meatloaf base, and then drizzled with savory brown gravy just before serving. Make your own brown gravy from scratch or use a store-bought package to save time. This rich brown gravy just adds an extra layer of indulgence to an already delicious meal.

Perfectly paired with mashed potatoes, green beans and steamed vegetables, meatloaf with brown gravy is a timeless recipe that the whole family is sure to love.

Traditional meatloaf can sometimes be boring which is why we like to change up the flavor with more meatloaf recipes including our six easy meatloaf recipes. From Italian meatloaf to spicy taco meatloaf to stove top stuffing meatloaf, we’ve got you covered with the best meatloaf in a variety of flavors!

Meatloaf Recipe With Brown Gravy

Everyone needs a good meatloaf recipe and this one certainly doesn’t disappoint! With a simple base similar to our best meatloaf recipe and brown gravy drizzled overtop. Serve it with mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort food.

• CHEAP – Cheap meals that will feed a hungry family are always the best way to go. I like to serve meatloaf often for this reason.
• CONVENIENT – This recipe couldn’t be easier to make. Just dump all the meatloaf ingredients into a large bowl and mix together then bake!
• FLAVORFUL – Brown gravy drizzled over top of meatloaf is incredibly delicious.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s an overview of the ingredients you’ll need. The full recipe details are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post:

GROUND BEEF – This classic meatloaf recipe uses 1 1/2 lbs of lean ground beef or beef/pork blend. I recommend lean beef (not extra lean beef) because a bit of fat content in the meat mixture helps to hold the meatloaf together.

BREAD CRUMBS – Bread crumbs are needed in making meatloaf because they act as a binder and filler. They help to keep the fat from the meat in the loaf so that it won’t run out while cooking. You’ll need ¾ cup of Italian-style bread crumbs or panko crumbs.

DICED ONIONS – 1 cup of finely chopped onion. A key tip to success is to dice the onion into small pieces. If you leave the chunks bigger, they will create larger spaces which can cause the meatloaf to fall apart.

EGGS – Two eggs are an important ingredient in meatloaf recipes. They add moisture to the meat mixture and act like glue to hold the meat together.

SPICES – This brown gravy meatloaf recipe uses spices to add flavor. For it, you will need 1 Tbsp minced onion, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, and 1 tsp dried parsley.

MILK – ⅓ cup of Milk is also important because the bread crumbs soak up the milk for needed moisture. This results in the perfect meatloaf texture. If you don’t want to use meatloaf you can swap it with beef or chicken broth, plant-based milk, or even water.

BROWN GRAVY MIX – A packet of brown gravy mix from the grocery store is easy to prepare. It can be drizzled on top of the meatloaf right before serving. Feel free to swap out with homemade brown gravy if preferred.

Helpful Tip: Want to save money on ground beef? Use a can of lentils and half of the ground beef that’s called for in this recipe. This will stretch out your ground beef for more meals. I do this all the time with my budget-friendly meatballs.

Variations

• Bread Crumb Substitutions – Bread crumbs are an essential ingredient for keeping the meatloaf together. But you don’t need to use bread crumbs specifically. You can swap them for rolled oats, crushed Ritz crackers, tortilla chips, gluten-free bread, or even cooked quinoa. If you want your meatloaf to be entirely without breadcrumbs, see my recipe here.
• Milk Substitutions – Meatloaf does require a liquid to be absorbed by the bread crumbs. However, you can skip the milk and swap it for beef broth, water, tomato sauce, or ketchup.
• Ground Beef Substitutions – I used a ground pork/beef mixture for this recipe because it’s cheaper and tastes just as amazing. But you can also swap with ground chicken or ground turkey. The consistency will be slightly dryer but it will still work. Also, you can even make a salmon loaf using canned salmon!
• More Flavor – Add some Worcestershire sauce, fresh thyme, ketchup or barbecue sauce to the meatloaf mixture.
• Add More Vegetables – Sautéed mushrooms, onions, and green peppers can be added if they’re diced small. Or add frozen peas or corn straight to the ground beef mixture.

How To Make Brown Gravy Meatloaf

Here’s an overview of how to make this delicious brown gravy and meatloaf recipe with full detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom.

1. PREP – Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. MIX – Add lean ground beef, chopped onion, bread crumbs, milk, eggs, tomato paste, minced onion, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley to a large bowl. Use a large wooden spoon to mix together thoroughly.
3. BAKE – Place the meatloaf mixture on the prepared baking sheet and form it into a loaf shape. Bake uncovered and without the gravy for 40-50 minutes.
4. SAUCE – While the meatloaf is cooking, prepare the gravy using the instructions on the side of the package. Once the meatloaf is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes. Next, pour the gravy on top, slice, and serve with mashed potatoes or french fries.

Helpful Tip: Make two meatloaves at the same time on one baking sheet. Cook at the same temperature for the same amount of time. If you make two, let it cool and freeze it for a future meal.

Storing Leftovers

Leftover meatloaf can be stored in the fridge or freezer. Here’s how to do it:

• REFRIGERATE – Allow the baked meatloaf to cool fully before placing it in an airtight container or plastic wrap. Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days.
• MICROWAVE – Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.
• FREEZE – This meatloaf freezes well! Consider making two and freezing one for later. Once the meatloaf has cooled, wrap it in foil and then plastic wrap or inside a freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Frozen meatloaf can be stored for up to 6 months.
• REHEAT FROM FROZEN – You can thaw the meatloaf in the fridge overnight or bake in the oven straight from frozen. Bake at 350°F for about 30-40 minutes wrapped in foil, or until it’s heated through. Drizzle fresh gravy on top just before serving.

Important Tip: If you’re planning on freezing meatloaf for a future meal, do not add the gravy yet. Instead, add the gravy, after you have re-heated the meatloaf in the oven, then slice and serve.

Recipe Tips

• Cook on a baking sheet – If you cook on a baking sheet, you’ll get a crispy top and sides. Cooking in a loaf pan causes the meatloaf to steam while it bakes.
• Dice Onion Small – Dice the onion very small so the loaf sticks together evenly.
• Use lean ground beef – Lean ground beef has enough fat to produce a moist and tender meatloaf. Extra lean ground beef may create a dryer loaf and I don’t recommend it.
• Mix Evenly – Be sure to stir evenly so that all ingredients have evenly coated the ground beef.
• Use a meat thermometer – The easiest way to tell when meatloaf is done is a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 160°F.
• Let cooked meatloaf rest – Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes to allow the internal juices to distribute evenly before slicing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Overall, meatloaf with brown gravy is classic comfort food with a flavorful twist. With just a few simple ingredients and brown gravy, you’ll have a delicious meal the whole family will enjoy.

More Ground Beef Recipes

We love using ground beef in our recipes because it’s cheap and easy. Here are a few other ideas for you to try.

• Beef Cabbage Roll Casserole
• One Pot Spaghetti
• Hamburger Casserole
• Homemade Cheap Chili
• Pizza Sloppy Joes
• Crockpot Hamburger Soup
• Sweet and Sour Meatballs

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