Boston Market Meatloaf

Boston Market Meatloaf is a delicious meatloaf. One of my favorite characteristics of the Boston Market meatloaf is the sweet sauce on top that is made of a sweet tomato sauce. Boston Market meatloaf also tastes very good the next day in sandwiches.

So why not enjoy some Boston Market meatloaf tonight? I bet if you make this Boston Market meatloaf copycat recipe everyone will wonder if you bought this at Boston Market. But you know you made it at home.

What is Boston Market Meatloaf?

Boston Market Meatloaf is a classic-style meatloaf with a bit of surprise. The sweet tomato glaze on top adds traditional sweetness, but the diced tomatoes mixed into the meatloaf are unique. Diced tomatoes add some flavor and help to keep the meatloaf juicy. 

Is Boston Market Meatloaf Good?

There must be hundreds of ways to make meatloaf, with some recipes calling for a long list of ingredients. However, it is often the simplest recipes that are the best. This version of meatloaf is nothing fancy, but it is inexpensive and easy to make and sure tastes great.

What Kind of Meat is in Meatloaf?

Ground beef is perfect for meatloaf. It’s versatile and inexpensive. Ground chuck is what I use in my recipe – it’s ideal for meatloaf and holds its shape well during cooking. The cooked meat should be moist, juicy and slightly firm.

Mixing Meats

You can also mix meats in a meatloaf. For example, a mixture of ground beef and pork is popular. In fact, you can use any combination of beef, veal, pork, or lamb.

However, if you use very lean meat, it should be blended with approximately thirty percent ground pork. The fattier pork will keep the meatloaf moist and tender.

The American Meatloaf

The first recipe we know about is from late 1870s New England where the cook was instructed to finely chop “whatever cold meat you have.” The meat was very likely beef because cows were typically killed before winter set in.

Meatloaf was a way to use up every last bit of the meat. To the finely-chopped beef was added salt, pepper, onion, slices of bread soaked in milk, and egg. These are still the basic ingredients of many a meatloaf recipe today.

But back then, they didn’t eat meatloaf for dinner – it was for breakfast!

The Depression

Meatloaf became a staple of many Americans’ diets during the Depression. It was a way to extend precious protein and feed more people with less meat. Also, by then meat grinders were common and made meat grinding easier.

In the 1940s, meatloaf was also a hallmark of wartime cooking ingenuity. By the 1950s, meatloaf was here to stay.

Meatloaf is now so American that it’s often placed alongside hamburgers and hot dogs as iconic American comfort food. You can read more about the history of meatloaf.

Boston Market Meatloaf Ingredients

To make this copycat Boston Market meatloaf recipe, here’s a list of what you need:

• Ground beef chuck
• Onion
• Garlic salt
• Canned diced tomatoes
• Plain breadcrumbs
• Egg
• Tomato sauce
• Sugar

How to Make Boston Market Meatloaf

Here are the steps for this recipe:

1. Mix ground beef, chopped onions, garlic salt, diced tomatoes, breadcrumbs, and egg together until well blended.
2. Place the beef mixture in a lightly greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
3. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and drain excess grease from the pan.
4. Mix tomato sauce and sugar together and pour over the meatloaf.
5. Place the meatloaf back in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

What to Serve with Boston Market Meat Loaf

When it comes to meatloaf, just about any side dish is fair game. Here are some of the classics:

• Mac and Cheese
• Homemade Mashed Potatoes
• Green Beans
• Creamed Corn
• Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

How to Store, Freeze and Reheat Meatloaf

You can keep any leftover meatloaf in the fridge for three to four days, or you can freeze it for up to four months.

Whether you plan to store meatloaf in the fridge or freezer, you need to let it cool to room temperature and cover it well in plastic wrap.

If you want to freeze the meatloaf, add a layer of aluminum foil on top of the plastic wrap for extra protection.

You can reheat thawed meatloaf in the oven, air fryer, or microwave. Cut the meatloaf into two-inch slices before using any reheating method. 

• In the oven. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Drizzle a teaspoon of water or beef broth onto the meatloaf and wrap in aluminum foil. Place directly on the middle rack and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until warm.
• In the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees and cook for about 6 minutes, turning once. 
• In the microwave. Sprinkle the top of the meatloaf slice with water or beef stock and cook covered in the microwave for one minute on high. Carefully flip the meatloaf, recover and cook for another minute. Let the meatloaf rest for a few minutes before eating. 

Boston Market Meatloaf Recipe FAQs

Love Boston Market? Try these copycat recipes!

• Boston Market Macaroni and Cheese
• Boston Market Sweet Potato Casserole
• Boston Market Garlic Dill Potato Wedges
• Boston Market Creamed Spinach

Favorite Comfort Food Recipes

• Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
• Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes
• Chicken Cacciatore
• Chicken Casserole
• Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole
• Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
• Old Fashioned Tuna Casserole
• Pan Fried Potatoes

Check out more of my easy comfort food recipes and the best fast food recipes here on CopyKat!