Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

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Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (1)

I just made the most amazing pressure cooker meatloaf ever!! That’s what my husband says anyway. This is one of my favorite pressure cooker recipes.

I am in love with my new Instant Pot Electric Pressure cooker. I only wished I had bought it sooner. I’m so excited to make new recipes with it. Today I attempted to make a full meal in one pot. On the menu were meatloaf, potatoes, and carrots. The challenge… to see if I could make it all in one pot at the same time. I am happy to report it was successful and we will be making this again often!

The Best Pressure Cooker Meatloaf

I’m going to list out all of the recipe instructions and then I will have a printable version of this recipe at the very bottom of this article.

Oh, and before I forget… there is one more recipe that has topped the charts as a favorite! It’s our super fast Beef and Broccoli recipe made in the pressure cooker! The whole family has requested that recipe on the weekly menu too! It’s a must try!!! Easy Pressure Cooker Beef and Broccoli Recipe.

Easy Pressure Cooker Recipes

We just updated the website with a brand new recipe!! Check out the Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe! It’s absolutely amazing. It’s loaded with flavor and super easy to make!

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (2)

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs hamburger
  • 1 1/2 cups of bread crumbs (any kind will do – I prefer the Panko)
  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (fresh)
  • 1 tsp of your favorite seasoning (I used McCormick’s Montreal Steak Seasoning)
  • salt and pepper to taste (I usually put a teaspoon of each)
  • 1 cup beef broth (or water) THIS DOES NOT GO IN THE MEATLOAF MIXTURE – it goes in the bottom of the pressure cooker to create the steam required for cooking

Red Meatloaf Sauce Ingredients:

  • 5 tsp brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup of ketchup
  • 1 tbs dry mustard
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

MAKE IT KETO AND LOW CARB FRIENDLY!

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Instructions:

Add all of your meatloaf ingredients in a bowl and mix it together with your hands.

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (3)

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (4)

In a separate bowl, mix together the red topping sauce ingredients. Make sure you mix this thoroughly so that all the brown sugar incorporates into the rest of the ingredients.

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (5)

Add 1 cupof liquid to the pressure cooker. The liquid is what creates the steam to cook your meal. I like to use beef broth in this recipe but you can also use vegetable broth or even just plain water too.

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (6)

I used a vegetable steamer rack to place my meatloaf on in between the potatoes and carrots. The key is to not submerge the meatloaf in the water/broth at the bottom of the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. You don’t want a soggy meatloaf.

You can use tin foil if you don’t have a steamer rack. I really like to use this steamer rack though because it holds the meat secure in place while it’s cooking. It creates a cradle around the meat and holds it in place nicely. I also used tin foil but that was mainly to have handles that came up along the edges so that I could grab the meatloaf out of the pressure cooker when it was done.

Update:

I’ve made this recipe so many times since I first wrote this post. Here’s a few updated photos of the process.

This photo shows me using the rack that came with the pressure cooker and very small baby red potatoes. They were so small I didn’t have to cut them. Easy!

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Spread about half of the red topping sauce on top of the meatloaf before you cook it and reserve the other half for after it’s done.

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (8)

Here’s what the steamer rack looks like placed inside the pressure cooker before I added the meatloaf.

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Here’s where I added the meatloaf. It was important to shape it in the size of the pressure cooker with a little bit of room on the sides. I started off by using a large sheet of tin foil to create a bowl for the meatloaf as seen here:

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (10)

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (11)

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (12)

See how there’s some room left of the sides of the pressure cooker.

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (13)

Now turn on the manual button and add 35 minutes so this will steam on high. Be sure your vent is set to seal on top of the machine. When the timer is up you will want todo a quick release of the steam button. The reason you don’t want to do a natural release is because you don’t want to over cook your meat.

After all the steam has released, carefully remove the lid and check to make sure your meatloaf is done. I usually use a knife to see the center but you can also use a meat thermometer too. It will need to hit 155°Fto be done. If it did not reach that temperature, simply put it back in the pressure cooker for another 5 minutes.

The cooking time could be different for you because of the amount of meat you made it with. Meat packaging isn’t always the same when I make it. I try to get as close to 2 lbs as possible so the more meat you have in the recipe the longer it could take to cook it. The shape could also play a part in the cooking time. If you make it really small in diameter and it’s taller than mine, it could take longer to cook. This is the reason I say to add another 5 minutes if you find yours isn’t cooked all the way in the center.

This is a photo of the meatloaf that’s done in the pressure cooker. I like the red meatloaf topping to be a bit sticky and gooey so I add the remaining sauce to the top of the meatloaf and then I place it on a baking sheet and broil it for about 5 minutes. That’s just enough time to caramelize the topping to make it taste amazing! This is the same technique we use when making our Honey BBQ Chicken Wings Pressure Cooker recipeand they always come out amazing! You would also use the technique if you were cooking this in a crockpot. You can see our Crockpot Ribs Recipe as it uses this technique also.

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Be careful when removing the steamer rack because it’s too hot to touch.

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These potatoes and carrots come out amazing with lots of flavor from the beef broth and juices from the meatloaf too.

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (16)

Here’s a photo of the finished meatloaf with the topping caramelized on top! Oh my word it’s SO GOOD!

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (17)

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (18)

When you make meatloaf in the pressure cooker it’s shaped tall and wide. Most of these pieces in the center of the meatloaf can be cut into thirds.

My family does not care for the topping to be blackened a bit. I do, but they don’t. If you like a little bit of blackened topping just let it broil a bit longer until you get it just the way you like. It won’t take long at all. A minute or two could make it so watch it closely.

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (19)

We have a brand new Pinterest board that is dedicated to Pressure cooker recipes found here. You may want to follow it because we have TONS of recipes coming up. Next up will be easy pressure cooker apple sauce. Once you try it, you probably won’t ever buy pre-made applesauce ever again.

Feel Free to Pin It on Pinterest with this photo for later:

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (20)

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Nutrition

Serves 8

Calories 468, Total C 33.7g, Fiber 1.9g, Sugars 12g, Fat 14g, Protein 48.7g

Printable Version of Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe:

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (21)

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe

Amazing one pot meal idea using an electric pressure cooker.

4.59 from 81 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings 8 servings

Calories 468

Ingredients

Meatloaf Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds hamburger
  • 1 1/2 cups of bread crumbs any kind will do - I prefer the Panko
  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic fresh
  • 1 teaspoon of your favorite seasoning I used McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste I usually put a teaspoon of each
  • 1 cup beef broth DO NOT put this in the meatloaf mixture, pour it in the bottom of the pressure cooker because this creates the steam it needs to cook

Meatloaf Sauce Ingredients:

Instructions

  • Add all of your meatloaf ingredients in a bowl and mix it together with your hands.

  • In a separate bowl, mix together the red topping sauce ingredients. Make sure you mix this thoroughly so that all the brown sugar incorporates into the rest of the ingredients.

  • Add your potatoes and carrots (I used about 10 small potatoes cut into quarters and one small bag of carrots) with a little bit of salt and pepper.

  • Now add about 1 cup of beef broth (or water).

  • Use the rack that came with the pressure cooker or use a vegetable steamer rack to place the meatloaf on top of the potatoes and carrots. You can use tin foil if you don't have a steamer rack. Make sure to leave room on the sides to allow the steam to reach the top of the pot.

  • Spread about half of the red topping sauce on top of the meatloaf before you cook it and reserve the other half for after it's done.

  • It was important to shape it in the size of the pressure cooker with a little bit of room on the sides.

  • Now turn on the manual button and add 35 minutes so this will steam on high. Be sure your vent is set to seal on top of the machine. When the timer is up you can do a quick release of the steam button. After all the steam has released, carefully remove the lid and check to make sure your meatloaf is done. If it's not done, simply put it back in the pressure cooker and add another 5 minutes.

  • Add the remaining sauce to the top of the meatloaf and then I place it on a baking sheet and broil it for about 5 minutes to caramelize the topping.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 468 | Carbohydrates: 33.7g | Protein: 48.7g | Fat: 14g | Fiber: 1.9g | Sugar: 12g | Net Carbs: 31.8g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy.

Tried this recipe? Mention @ISaveA2Z or tag #KetoFriendlyRecipes!

Pressure Cooker Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you cover meatloaf when you cook it? ›

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

How to know when meatloaf is done? ›

As noted above, the most reliable way to tell when meatloaf is done is by checking the internal temperature of the meatloaf with an instant-read thermometer, inserting it into the center of the meatloaf. Meatloaf is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

What is the best binder for meatloaf? ›

If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes! However, bread is still the best choice of all the potential options.

Why milk instead of water in meatloaf? ›

The only way to guarantee tender meat is not to overcook it. And that's a simple matter of using a thermometer when you bake the meatloaf. Milk does, on the other hand, add moisture and fat and is worth including for that fact alone.

What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

The Basic Meatloaf Formula

All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

Should you cook onions before putting in meatloaf? ›

I later learned how I could avoid this problem and make a fully smooth meatloaf by pre-cooking any vegetables, especially the onion, before adding them to the ground meat. This way the meatloaf gets the flavor without the rawness -- a method from the smart people at Cook's Illustrated.

How to tell when meatloaf is done without a thermometer? ›

How to know when meatloaf is done without a thermometer - Quora. You just have to make sure it's piping hot all the way through. I usually prick food to the centre with a fork, and leave it there for 30 seconds or so. If it's burning hot on the back of my hand when I pull it out, then it's safe to eat.

Is it better to cook meatloaf at 350 or 375? ›

The best temperature to cook the meatloaf at is 350°F and it requires about 1 hour, give or take a few minutes, depending on size and shape.

Is it okay if meatloaf is a little pink? ›

If the meatloaf is over 160°F, or 165°F if you used chicken or turkey, it's fully cooked and safe to consume even if it's still pink inside. The reason your meatloaf may still be pink in the middle when fully cooked is nitrates.

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

Bread crumbs serve as a binding agent for the loaf, helping it not crumble after it's cooked.

What makes meatloaf fall apart? ›

In meatloaf, this is most commonly the eggs and breadcrumbs. Your binding ingredient is only second to the meat itself in your recipe and the reason why meatloaf crumbles. When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs.

What does adding an extra egg to meatloaf do? ›

Sure, egg yolks add some rich flavor to a meatloaf, but the real reason we need eggs is for structure—to help bind the meatloaf together. This is especially important since we're making a free-form meatloaf, or one that you shape by hand, versus using a loaf pan.

How to make a Bobby Flay meatloaf? ›

directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. ...
  3. Whisk together the eggs and herbs in a large bowl. ...
  4. Whisk together the remaining ketchup and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl then brush the mixture over the entire loaf.
  5. Bake the meatloaf for approximately 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Is it better to cook meatloaf at 350 or 400? ›

Cooking your meatloaf at 350°F creates a tender and moist result. This lower temperature allows the meat to cook gradually, preserving its natural juices and flavors.

How long and at what temperature do I cook a 2 lb meatloaf? ›

The cooking time for a meatloaf can vary depending on the size, shape, and composition of the meat mixture. As a general guideline, the cooking time for a meatloaf is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour per pound at a temperature of 350°F (175°C).

Why does my meatloaf fall apart when I cook it? ›

When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs.

References

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