Crock-Pot Brown Sugar Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

Meatloaf:

• 3 Pounds Extra Lean Ground Beef
• 1 ¼ Cups Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
• 1 Cup Milk
• 4 Large Eggs
• 2 Packets Onion Soup Mix (or homemade)
• 2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
• ½ Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• ½ Teaspoon Ground Ginger

Topping:

• 2 Cups Ketchup
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar (light or dark)
• 2 Teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce

• Line an oval shaped 6 quart or larger with a slow cooker liner (optional but makes the removal of the cooked meatloaf easier as well as aids in clean up). If you do not use a liner spray the slow cooker insert with non-stick cooking spray.

• In a large mixing bowl combine together with clean hands the ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, onion soup mix, salt, pepper and ground ginger.

• Add the meatloaf mixture to the bottom of prepared slow cooker pressing and shaping it into a loaf shape keeping it away from the sides of the slow cooker.

• Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted in the center reads 160° F when inserted into the middle of the meatloaf.

• About 1/2 hour before the meatloaf is done cooking mix together the ketchup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce in a small mixing bowl and evenly spread the mixture over the top of the meatloaf. Finish cooking.

• Carefully remove the meatloaf from the slow cooker by either pulling the liner with the meatloaf inside or using two spatulas to lift the meatloaf up and out of the slow cooker. Place on a serving platter if desired.

Freezer Meal Instructions:

1. 1. Follow instruction #2 and mix the meatloaf mixture together in a large bowl.
   2. Transfer mixture into a 1 gallon size zippered freezer bag OR FoodSaver bag. and flatten the meatloaf mixture as much as possible inside the bag.
   3. In a smaller quart sized freezer bag add the topping mixture and mix in the bag before sealing. Place this smaller bag inside the bag with the meatloaf and seal the larger bag closed by handOR use your FoodSaver sealing system to vacuum seal the bag closed.
   4. Label bag with date prepared, name of recipe, ingredients and cooking instructions.
   5. Lay bag flat in freezer and allow to freeze for several hours. At that point you can stand the bags upright in your freezer if desired.

To Thaw And Cook Freezer Meal:

1. The contents of the freezer meal must be allowed to thaw completely. So, remove freezer meal from freezer and place in the refrigerator until completely thawed (about 24 hours).
2. Remove topping bag and set aside on a plate in the refrigerator until needed.
3. Remove meatloaf mixture from freezer bag and put in slow cooker. Follow the remaining directions from the instructions in the recipe.