Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipe with Potatoes and Carrots

This Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipe with Potatoes and Carrots is the perfect easy comfort food. Meatloaf sometimes gets a bad wrap, but this recipe proves it can be a delicious and underrated dish that deserves a spot at your table. It is a comfort food classic for good reason.

Family dinner is so simple and delicious with a crockpot meatloaf. It is topped with a sweet and tangy glaze and the side dishes are right in the pot!

If you’re searching for a classic comfort food that’s both easy to prepare and satisfying, this slow cooker meatloaf recipe is just what you need. By combining ground beef, pork, bread crumbs, and a blend of savory seasonings, you’ll create a moist and flavorful meatloaf that’s sure to become a family favorite. The beauty of using a slow cooker is that it takes the stress out of cooking; just mix, shape, and let the crockpot do the work while you go about your day. With hearty potatoes and sweet carrots cooked right alongside the meatloaf, this recipe delivers a complete meal with minimal effort. You can use baby potatoes, russet potatoes, or even sweet potatoes as alternatives for a different flavor and texture. If you are set on having mashed potatoes with your meatloaf, then add extra carrots, parsnips, cabbage or onions to the slow cooker in place of the potatoes to serve as veggie sides.

Crockpot Meatloaf

Yes, you can cook a meatloaf in a slow cooker or crockpot. Making meatloaf in the slow cooker is as simple as shaping the meat mixture into a loaf and placing it alongside seasoned potatoes for a classic comfort food meal you can set and forget. This easy Slow Cooker Meatloaf and potatoes with carrots is soon to be a favorite with your family. It is a simple set it and forget it kind of meal that is perfect for busy families. For an even more comforting and balanced Sunday dinner, try adding more veggies like cabbage, green beans or other hearty vegetables to the slow cooker.

How to make the Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipe

Here is how to make meatloaf in a slow cooker. Full recipe below.

Ingredients for Crock Pot Meat loaf

This is all you need to make the meatloaf:

Crock Pot Meatloaf

• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ pound ground pork
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup milk
• ⅔ cup bread crumbs plain
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 2 tsp minced dry onions
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• ¼ tsp garlic powder optional

Barbecue Sauce Glaze

• ¼ cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce

Vegetables

• 1 ½ pound potatoes peeled and chopped (baby potatoes, russet potatoes, Yukon gold, or sweet potatoes can be used)
• 1 pound carrots peeled and chopped (Yes, you can swap in baby carrots if you prefer.)

Instructions

Start by coating the interior of the crock pot with cooking spray for easier clean-up.

Optional: Line the bottom of the slow cooker with prepared foil or a crock pot liner to prevent soggy meat and make cleanup easier.

Then baste the top of the meatloaf with the BBQ sauce recipe and leave in the slow cooker for another half hour on high.

Serve and enjoy!

Tips for Crockpot Meatloaf

Here are a few tips to help with making crockpot meatloaf and potatoes.

Cooking the meatloaf in foil rather than directly in the slow cooker base will allow the foil to catch the majority of the grease, making cleanup easier. This is less necessary with the potatoes in the slow cooker as they will cook in the fat, but it can still be helpful to those looking to reduce fat.

Choosing Ground Meat

While it may be tempting to get very lean meat for less grease, it is not the best meat for meatloaf. Having some fat in the meatloaf mixture helps it maintain moisture. I prefer an 80% ground chuck, but any ground beef at about 80/20 will work. Using a mixture of two or more ground meats is a classic trick for great meatloaf. In the recipe I’m sharing a blend of beef and pork is used.  Many markets have meatloaf mix already ground by the butcher, which is convenient.

Making tender meatloaf with leaner meats is possible, but it will require the addition of some fatty meat or some minced vegetables to avoid dry results. Avoid overmixing the meat mixture, this keeps the texture tender.

Best Potatoes for Slow Cooking

While any potato you have on hand will work in this meatloaf crockpot recipe, waxy potatoes are best suited for crock pot cooking. Yukon gold are my go to, but red potatoes or baby potatoes are also wonderful choices. Russet potatoes will work, but tend to break apart more.

Recommended Kitchen Tools

• 6-8 Quart slow cooker: The star of this recipe, a large slow cooker (ideally a 6-quart to 8-quart oval-shaped slow cooker) ensures the meatloaf and potatoes cook evenly and stay moist. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a hands-off approach to a classic comfort food.
• Digital thermometer: Use a digital thermometer to make sure your slow cooker meatloaf is perfectly cooked, check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F this is especially important when using ground beef or ground turkey.

How Long to Cook Meatloaf in the Crockpot

Timing will vary by several factors. The crock pot meatloaf with potatoes and carrots I’m sharing here with you will take longer than a loaf by itself. Varying the size of the meatloaf will of course effect cooking time as well. Temperature will also change this time required. This crockpot meatloaf recipe is cooked at a low temperature. One set to cook on high will be done sooner.

For best results, use a watch or timer to keep track of the cooking time and ensure your meatloaf is cooked perfectly. Compared to traditional oven-baked meatloaf, the slow cooker method usually takes longer, so be sure to adjust your timing if you decide to use an oven.

How to Know if Crock Pot Meatloaf is Done

Regardless of how you choose to cook your crockpot meatloaf a meat thermometer is important to have on hand. Your meatloaf is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. This ensures bacteria are killed, while not drying out the meat.

Rest the Meatloaf

Don’t forget to allow the meat to rest before serving. This is less of a concern with a meatloaf cooked on low like the recipe below, but even it benefits from a short rest before cutting. This avoids the juices running out.

Storing Meatloaf

When cooking ahead for meal prep or storing leftovers, simply wrap leftover meatloaf, potatoes, and carrots in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, or place the cooled meatloaf in a covered airtight container. Cooked leftover meatloaf, potatoes, and carrots stored in the refrigerator should be consumed within 3-4 days according to the USDA.

Leftover meatloaf can be frozen for up to 3 months when stored in an airtight freezer container. Thaw frozen meatloaf in the fridge overnight before reheating.

To reheat leftover meatloaf, use the microwave, toaster oven, or standard oven for best results.

What to serve with Crock Pot Meatloaf

The crock pot meatloaf already has carrots and potatoes with it, but maybe serve a nice green salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing first. You can also add extra veggies like green beans or peas to the meal for more variety and nutrition. Why not make a batch of Pretzel Rolls or buy some Hawaiian rolls and you can make meatloaf sliders out of leftovers.

If you care for a green veggie with the meal I suggest broccoli au gratin, broccoli rabe or some baked asparagus.

Try some Strawberry Fluff, Coconut Bars or Million Dollar Pie for dessert.

I hope you find cooking meatloaf in a crockpot it be a convenient and delicious solution for family dinner.