This recipe for easy skillet meatloaf lets you make this suppertime favorite faster and more easily by trading the loaf pan for a skillet!
This recipe for easy skillet meatloaf was born by virtue of the fact that I recently got myself a new cast iron skillet. In my house, any new kitchen item needs to be inaugurated with a seriously good recipe, and when you are welcoming something as substantially important as a cast iron skillet, that is even more important. As much as I love cooking up a mess of eggs in a frying pan, I needed something more dramatic. More beloved. More memorable.
And so I took my favorite meatloaf recipe, which is filled with a mixture of beef and pork and veal and carrots and scallions and parsley and other good things, and I did a skillet version. And oh my goodness. Let’s just say that the new skillet was successfully inaugurated, and I may never go back to the loaf pan version again, for multiple reasons. Want to know what those reasons are? Let’s make it!
Reason #1: Skillet meatloaf takes about half the time of regular meatloaf. Yep, we are talking about less than half an hour of total cooking time, as opposed to the hour or so regular meatloaf tends to take in the oven. And we all know that sometimes it is SO hard to wait.
Especially when meatloaf is involved. This one bakes for about 20 minutes in the oven, and then finishes off under the broiler for another 5 minutes or so.
Reason #2: Lots of crispy crunchiness. We all know that one of the best parts of the meatloaf is the crispy edge, and in the loaf version there is just not enough crispy edge to go around. Here the entire top is a marvel of crispiness, with tender and veggie-filled meatloaf underneath. Happiness!
Reason #3: This is basically meatloaf in pie form, so instead of struggling to cut slices of the loaf without things falling apart on you, you simply cut out wedges, slide your trusty spatula underneath them and voila! Dinner is served.
Thank you, brand new cast iron frying pan. I see lots of skillet meatloaf in your future!
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Easy Skillet Meatloaf
Prep Time: 10 minutes- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
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Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 pounds meatloaf mix (pork, beef and veal) or you can use all ground beef
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Ketchup for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. Add oil to an oven-safe skillet and spread with a paper towel so the bottom is coated,
- Combine all remaining ingredients except for the ketchup until well mixed. Pat them into a pie shape in the skillet. Drizzle ketchup over the top in a cross-hatch pattern (or really in any pattern you like!)
- Bake for 20 minutes until the meatloaf is firm. Change the oven to broil, and broil for about 5 minutes until everything is nice and crispy on top.
- Cool for about 5 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve.
Wohoo on the official inauguration of the cast iron! :) You can’t tell, but I’m tooting, like, all of the horns right now. Love that you cooked up an extra awesome recipe to welcome the skillet to your home. That ketchup drizzle is just… beyond. Thanks for sharing another droolworthy recipe Kate! Have a great weekend. :)
You always make me smile – you have the best weekend too! I’m making your blueberry pancakes!!
What a good idea Kate! going to try
Thanks Josie! Hope you love it.
Ooooh! What a great idea. I have never cooked a meatloaf in a skillet. I lOVE my skillet. I’m going to try this very soon!
I love my skillet too! I’m going to do a week’s worth of skillet cooking next week – the husband is SO happy.
Congratulations on official inauguration of iron skillet. This meatloaf is just the perfect way to inaugurate it! Love all the reasons, can’t wait to try this. :)
I’m head over heels for my skillet!
Brilliant! I’ve never thought of baking a meatloaf in anything other than a loaf pan. I’ll be trying this soon.
It’s my new favorite way to make meatloaf!
Never thought of making a meatloaf in my cast iron pan Kate! Genius idea! Need to try your recipe! Meatloaf is my husband Tom’s favorite! Thanks for sharing!
Same for my husband – he was one happy camper when he saw this on the recipe testing list!
Gosh, I can’t remember the last time I made meatloaf, and now I’m craving it like a mad woman! Love that you made it in a skillet!
I don’t think I can ever go back to my poor, lonely loaf pan now!
What size is your skillet that you use for this? I have several and I love them!!!
I have the Lodge 10.25 skillet – love it SO much! Here’s a link: http://amzn.to/1REq247
great way to break in your new toy! i love my cast iron skillet but i’ve never made meatloaf in it, didn’t even know that was a thing! yum. :)
I think it is now officially a thing!
This is a really great idea! I love my cast iron skillets….I have several. Meatloaf does take so long to bake and getting dinner on the table quick is often a priority! My husband is the meatloaf maker in our house. I’m going to have him try your method!
I bet he loves it, if he is anything like my meatloaf-loving husband! :)
This is pretty close to my recipe, but I add 2 T of Balsamic vinegar to the mix. I love the idea of using cast iron. I’ll do that next week.
And I am going to try with balsamic next time – great idea!
BTW, there is a new startup company that is making old style, brand new cast iron skillets. The company is Field and it’s on KickStart for another few days. It’s interesting reading even if you don’t want a new piece of cast iron.
Definitely going to check this out!
I really need to get one of those cast iron skillet pans, I love all the things you can make in one. I love meatloaf, I had no idea that you could make that it one, your recipe looks delish!
You DO!! I am head over heels for my cast iron skillet.
Interesting idea dear. Looks so beautiful and delicious!
Thank you so much!
I’ve never made a meatloaf in the skillet, it looks really good, I have to try this.
Once you try it you won’t want to go back! :)