The Easiest Instant Pot Meatloaf made with a secret ingredient that makes it extra flavorful and delicious! The prep time is effortless and the instant pot does the rest of the work to cook the meatloaf perfectly, it couldn’t be easier!
This Instant Pot Meatloaf is super comforting and easy to make. If you love making easy dinners in the instant pot then you are going to love this recipe! In just over half an hour the meatloaf is ready to be served with your favorite sides.
The Secret Ingredient to Making Instant Pot Meatloaf
The idea for this meatloaf came about one afternoon when I was halfway into making meatloaf and discovered that I didn’t have enough breadcrumbs.
Ack! A frantic search of my pantry revealed nothing but a bag of fried onions—you know, the kind that go on top of a green bean
casserole?
A lightbulb went off in my head. Why not? The results were even better than I hoped…extra savory and delicious. And they work perfectly in this Instant Pot recipe, which is done before you could get back from the grocery store with more breadcrumbs!
How to Make Instant Pot Meatloaf
- Grind the fried onions until finely ground, set aside.
- Saute the fresh onion and garlic then add to a mixing bowl with the rest of meatloaf ingredients.
- Mix everything together and place in a springform pan.
- Cook in the instant pot then brush with the ketchup mix and broil until glossy.
Can You Freeze this Meatloaf?
Yes, you can freeze the whole cooked meatloaf or any leftovers you may have. Just make sure to store it in a suitable container then thaw completely before reheating,
What to Serve it With
Serve this meatloaf with creamy mashed potatoes, roast potatoes or any veggies you like. You could also serve it with a side salad or some mac and cheese for the ultimate comforting dinner.
Top Tips for Making Instant Pot Meatloaf;
- Although you may typically prefer a fattier blend of beef, like ground chuck, lower fat beef is better for this recipe, since the meatloaf bakes in an enclosed pan.
- Springform pans are easy to find online, or at your local home goods discount store.
- For extra flavor, use a blend of meats, such as beef and veal, or beef and ground pork.
- Substitute regular or Italian breadcrumbs for the panko, if desired.
- Store-bought fried onions are pretty crispy; a food processor is the best tool to grind them.
- If you don’t have a food processor, place the fried onions in a ziplock bag, and pound them with a rolling pin until finely crushed.
- The meatloaf releases from the pan easily, but for extra insurance, line the bottom and sides of
the pan with aluminum foil before adding the beef mixture.
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes You Might Like;
Instant Pot Whole Chicken with Lemon Pepper
Zesty Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
Instant Pot Meatloaf
The easiest Instant Pot Meatloaf that's not only effortless but incredibly delicious. Check out the step by step photos and helpful tips above.
Ingredients
MEATLOAF:
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
- 2 lbs ground sirloin or lean ground beef
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup fried onions such as French’s
- ½ cup panko Japanese breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup chopped green onions plus additional, for garnish
- 3 Tbsp. ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. whole grain mustard
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
TOPPING:
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. whole grain mustard
- 1 Tbsp. molasses or brown sugar
Instructions
In a food processor, pulse 1 cup fried onions until finely ground (should yield about ½ cup), set aside.
- Set a 6-quart Instant Pot to saute; add olive oil.
- When oil is hot, add onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute more. Press “Cancel” to stop cooking process. Let cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, add beef, cooked onion mixture, eggs, ground fried onions, panko, green onions, ketchup, mustard, salt, and pepper. Gently stir together until well combined, but not overmixed.
Transfer mixture into a 7 to 8” springform pan. Gently press mixture to fill pan without packing it too tightly.
Add 1/2 cup water to Instant Pot; place trivet in Instant Pot. Place springform pan on trivet inside Instant Pot.
Place top on Instant Pot; twist to seal and lock. Turn Steam Release Valve to “sealing.” Set Instant Pot to cook at High Pressure for 25 minutes.
After cooking is complete, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. After that, manually release the pressure by turning the Steam Release Valve to “venting.”
Carefully open Instant Pot lid to avoid dripping condensation on top of meatloaf. Carefully remove meatloaf from Instant Pot.
Preheat oven to Broil. Remove meatloaf from pan; place meatloaf on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
In a small bowl, stir together ketchup, mustard, and molasses for topping. Spoon ketchup mixture on top of meatloaf; broil until glossy, about 5 minutes.
- Garnish with green onions, and or fried onions, if desired.
Recipe Notes
- Although you may typically prefer a fattier blend of beef, like ground chuck, lower fat beef is better for this recipe, since the meatloaf bakes in an enclosed pan.
- Springform pans are easy to find online, or at your local home goods discount store.
- For extra flavor, use a blend of meats, such as beef and veal, or beef and ground pork.
- Substitute regular or Italian breadcrumbs for the panko, if desired.
- Store-bought fried onions are pretty crispy; a food processor is the best tool to grind them.
- If you don’t have a food processor, place the fried onions in a ziplock bag, and pound them with a rolling pin until finely crushed.
- The meatloaf releases from the pan easily, but for extra insurance, line the bottom and sides of the pan with aluminum foil before adding the beef mixture.
Wonderful meatloaf recipe! It’s so easy and practical to make it in an Instant Pot!