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Cranberry Glazed Meatloaf

Cranberry Glazed Meatloaf

This Cranberry Glazed Meatloaf takes comfort food to the next level with a tangy, slightly sweet glaze that perfectly complements the savory, juicy loaf. It’s a festive spin on the traditional meatloaf—ideal for holiday dinners, cozy weeknights, or anytime you crave a hearty meal with a little flair.
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Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • For the Meatloaf:
  • 1 ½ lbs ground beef or a mix of beef and pork; ground turkey works too
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs panko or regular
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 small onion finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • For the Cranberry Glaze:
  • 1 cup cranberry sauce homemade or canned whole-berry
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Substitutions & Alternatives:
  • Use rolled oats instead of breadcrumbs for a gluten-free version.
  • Swap milk with unsweetened almond or oat milk for dairy-free.
  • Add finely chopped carrots celery, or bell pepper to the meat mixture for extra veggies.
  • If you don’t have cranberry sauce mix cherry preserves or pomegranate jelly with ketchup as a substitute.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven: Heat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a loaf pan or line with parchment.
  • Mix breadcrumbs and milk: In a large bowl, stir breadcrumbs with milk and let sit for 5 minutes until softened.
  • Prepare meatloaf mixture: Add ground meat, egg, onion, garlic, parsley, thyme, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with hands or a spoon until just combined—avoid overmixing to keep the meatloaf tender.
  • Shape & transfer: Shape mixture into a loaf and place in the prepared pan (or on a parchment-lined baking sheet for a free-form loaf).
  • Make the glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberry sauce, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and vinegar. Cook for 3–5 minutes, stirring, until smooth and glossy.
  • Bake with glaze: Spread half the glaze over the meatloaf. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven, spread remaining glaze on top, and return to bake another 15–20 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
  • Rest & serve: Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with extra glaze on the side.
Keyword Cranberry Glazed Meatloaf
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