Meatloaf seasonings vary widely from region to region and even within the same region.
For this reason, it’s difficult to find one exact set of instructions that works well with every meatloaf.
If you want to try something new though, here’s how to make an easy homemade meatloaf seasoning mix that’ll bring out all the flavors of any type or brand of meatloaf.
What Are The Ingredients In A Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe?
The best meatloaf seasoning recipes have these basic components:
- Herbs and spices – These include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary, sage, cayenne pepper, chili powder, turmeric, curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
- Sugar – This ingredient brings out the sweetness of meats like pork chops, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, duck, rabbit, and venison. It also helps tenderize tough cuts of meat.
- Oils and vinegars – Beef stock, olive oil, vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, and red wine vinegar help enhance the flavor and texture of meatloaves made with different types of protein.
- Mixed vegetables – You can use fresh vegetables such as carrots, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers when making meatloaf.
- Onion soup mix – Onion soup mix adds depth of flavor to many dishes including meatloaves. The mix contains flour, cornstarch, sugar, water, and dill weed.
- Pineapple chunks – Pineapple chunks add moisture and sweet taste to meatloaves.
- Canned beans – Beans give meatloaves extra nutrition without adding too much bulk.
Add more herbs and spice
You may be wondering what makes up a good meatloaf seasoning recipe.
While there isn’t a formula for creating the perfect blend of herbs and spices, some general guidelines can provide inspiration for creating your own unique recipe.
For example, if you prefer spicy food, look for recipes that contain lots of hot sauces or peppers.
If you enjoy savory foods, consider using dried herbs like rosemary, marjoram, sage, thyme, and bay leaves.
Similarly, think about whether you would like to use milder herbs like mint or coriander instead of stronger-flavored ones.
Most importantly, don’t forget to balance the flavors by mixing in sweeteners with both savory and spicy spices.
Spices and herbs aren’t meant to overpower each other, but rather work together harmoniously to deliver a balanced meal.
With these tips in mind, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients used in this delicious homemade meatloaf seasoning recipe.
How Do You Make A Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe?
You won’t need much in order to get started on making your own meatloaf seasoning mix.
All you really need is some salt, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, paprika, and a couple other spices such as oregano, thyme, sage, basil, marjoram, dill weed, parsley, celery seed, and mustard seeds.
Once you have these basic ingredients ready, follow along below so we can show you exactly what to do!
- Combine 1/4 cup salt, 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon dried basil, and 1 teaspoon celery seeds together in a bowl.
- Add 5 cloves minced garlic and ¼ cup olive oil and stir until combined.
- Stir in ½ tablespoon paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder.
- Mix in 1 pound ground beef and combine thoroughly using hands or spoon (you don’t want to overmix).
- Shape into small loaf shape and place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes then increase temperature to 400°F and bake for another 15-20 minutes.
What Is The Best Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe?
The best meatloaf seasoning recipe doesn’t have to be anything fancy.
It only needs to work as a base for other recipes so they taste more like the original product.
The following ingredients do exactly that.
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
This basic mix can then be used in countless ways to add flavor to any kind of meatloaf.
You can use it on its own or combine it with other spices to create a variety of different mixes.
What Are Some Tips For Making A Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe?
The secret to creating a great meatloaf seasoning mix is in the ratios.
The right combination of spices will take your meatloaf from good to great.
- Start by adding 2 tablespoons salt per pound of lean ground beef (1/4 teaspoon per ounce).
- Add 1 tablespoon garlic powder per pound of lean ground beef (3 teaspoons per 3 ounces).
- Next, add 1 tablespoon onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and thyme per pound of lean ground beef (5 teaspoons each, plus additional if desired).
- Now, add 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper per pound of lean ground beef (plus another amount as needed).
- Finally, add 1 tablespoon chili powder per pound of lean ground beef (add more if necessary).
How Do You Know When A Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe Is Done?
With most recipes, there’s no need to worry about overcooking anything because they generally call for cooking in the oven for at least 30 minutes.
When baking a meatloaf, however, the temperature of the oven plays a big role in determining whether or not the loaf comes out right.
The ideal temperature for baking a meatloaf depends on what kind of meatloaf you’re using.
If you’re using ground beef, then you should bake your meatloaf at around 350 F (177 C).
Beef loaves baked at this temperature usually come out tender and juicy.
Ground turkey can be cooked at a lower temperature, so if you plan on serving turkey meatloaf, 375 F (190 C) might be the best bet.
You also have to consider the thickness of your meatloaf.
A thinner loaf may take longer than a thicker one to cook through, especially if you’ve added additional ingredients like breadcrumbs or vegetables.
It’s always helpful to pay attention to these factors so that you don’t end up wasting time by overcooking your meatloaf.
When you’re ready to start thinking about how much time has elapsed during the cooking process, use a digital thermometer to check the internal temperature of your meatloaf as soon as possible after removing it from the oven.
The USDA recommends checking the center of your loaf at 165 F (74 C), but if you’d rather err on the side of caution, aim for 175 F (79 C).
Can You Freeze A Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe?
You may be wondering if there’s anything wrong with freezing meatloaf seasoning recipes.
While they won’t last as long in the freezer as their fresh counterparts, frozen meats have been shown to retain most of their nutritional value after thawing.
You also shouldn’t expect them to taste exactly like the original batch either.
However, you should still follow the instructions on your package carefully before using them.
When making a large quantity of a particular meatloaf seasoning recipe, I suggest dividing it into smaller portions so that you don’t end up throwing away too much.
That way, you’re less likely to waste what you didn’t use.
Plus, you can store these small amounts of meatloaf seasoning in containers that fit better inside your refrigerator or freezer.
This method makes it easier to get rid of excess seasoning once you no longer need it and prevents you from wasting it altogether.
For example, let’s say you made 5 cups of beef stock powder and divided it evenly among 10 different 1-cup containers.
Then, you froze those individual servings in ziploc bags.
When you were ready to start cooking, you could simply take one bag out at a time and add it directly into whatever kind of broth you needed.
No more wasted batches!
Of course, since you’ve already used the recipe, you might not actually need to keep any leftovers around.
Just remember to label each container clearly with its contents so that you don’t accidentally run out again.
What Are Some Common Mistakes People Make When Making A Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe?
The most important thing to remember about making a meatloaf seasoning recipe is not to overdo it.
Too much salt in a meatloaf seasoning recipe will only ruin the flavor.
When creating a meatloaf seasoning recipe, start by adding enough salt so that the meat has a nice savory taste but not too salty.
If you add more than 1/4 teaspoon per pound of meat, you may need to reduce the amount of other seasonings as well.
For example, if you use a beef mixture, add 1/8 teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder to help balance out the saltiness.
You could also consider using less soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce since they contain sodium.
Adding too many herbs or spices at once is another way to overwhelm your meatloaf seasoning recipe.
Start small and work your way up until you get the right combination.
Another mistake people often make when trying to figure out what to put into their meatloaf seasoning recipe is taking too long to cook it.
Using frozen meats won’t be nearly as tasty as cooking them yourself.
The best way to ensure the meat cooks evenly is to thaw it completely before putting it in the oven.
It’ll take longer, sure, but the results will pay off in the end.
How Can You Change Up A Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe?
There are many different types of meatloaf recipes.
Some prefer thick meatloaves while others like their loaves thinner.
Meatloaf recipes also differ in terms of what they contain, such as whether they include cheese, onions, potatoes, etc.
To start off, let’s go through a basic meatloaf seasoning recipe first.
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) paprika
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) salt
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) onion powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) black pepper
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) dried thyme
- ¼teaspoon (1.25 ml) ground sage
- ⅛ teaspoon (0.25 ml) celery seed
- ⅛ teaspoon (0.25 ml) cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) brown sugar
- ¾ cup (175 ml) water
- 1 egg
- 1 pound (500 g) lean ground beef (or other ground meats)
(Note: If you don’t have a food processor, place everything except the fat-free milk into a large bowl and stir until mixed together well.)
What Are Some Creative Ways To Use A Meatloaf Seasoning Recipe?
The best part about making your own meatloaf seasoning is that there aren’t many rules when using it in recipes.
You could add it to anything — from casseroles to soups to salads—and it should work fine!
Here’s what we recommend adding it to:
- Casserole dishes like lasagna, macaroni and cheese, and mac & cheese (with added bacon).
- Soups, such as tomato soup, chili, and spaghetti sauce.
- Salads, such as potato salad, coleslaw, and Greek salad.
- Baked goods, including muffins, bread pudding, and scones.
You can also experiment by putting it on top of chicken nuggets, fish sticks, or fries.
We bet they won’t know the difference!
Equipment
- Bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Ground Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Basil
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Dried Thyme
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients by stirring.
- Use to make a two-pound meatloaf or store for later use in an airtight container.
- Reminder: When combining the ground meat for the meatloaf, add the seasoning combination.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.