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Grandma's 4-Ingredient Meatloaf

4 ingredient meatloaf that’s simple and beginner-friendly: a tender, old-fashioned loaf baked until juicy with a sticky, shiny ketchup glaze. Ground beef, onion soup mix, eggs, and ketchup come together quickly for an easy meatloaf dinner with caramelized topping.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
rest 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meatloaf
  • 2 lb ground beef
  • 1 can (1 oz) onion soup mix
  • 2 eggs
  • 0.25 cup ketchup divided; use 1/4 cup in the loaf and 1/4 cup for the glaze
Seasoning
  • 0.1 salt and pepper to taste use to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan.
  2. Combine ground beef, onion soup mix, eggs, and 1/4 cup ketchup until just mixed—do not overwork.
  3. Press the mixture into the loaf pan and smooth the top.
  4. Spread the remaining 1/4 cup ketchup over the top for an even glaze.
Bake
  1. Bake 55–65 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 160°F and the glaze looks caramelized and shiny.
Rest and slice
  1. Rest the meatloaf for 10 minutes before slicing so the juices settle and the slices hold their shape.

Notes

For best texture, mix only until the ingredients disappear—overworking can make the loaf dense. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days; freeze slices for up to 2 months. For a lower-sodium option, use a reduced-sodium onion soup mix while keeping the same method and glaze ratio.