This flavorful, juicy Instant Pot Meatloaf is one of my family’s favorite easy instant pot dinners! The meatloaf is made with ground beef (or a combination of ground beef and ground turkey), breadcrumbs, spices, and eggs, and I usually add potatoes to the bottom of the instant pot to make mashed potatoes at the same time, for an all-in-one meal!

This easy meatloaf recipe made in the Instant pot turns out just as flavorful and delicious as any other cooking method (and if you don’t have an instant pot, I’ve included alternate cooking methods). Learn all of my instant pot tips and tricks! Serve meatloaf with a Classic Wedge Salad or my favorite Baked Mac and Cheese. I’m confident your family is going to love it!

A loaf of meatloaf on a white plate with sauce on top and two slices cut from it, with fresh parsley in the background.

Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

My family absolutely loves meatloaf, but before the instant pot emerged I usually made mini meatloafs in a muffin tin. Now this instant pot meatloaf and mashed potatoes dinner is my go-to.

One of the things I love is that you can prepare the meatloaf in advance and refrigerate it until you’re ready to cook dinner. Be sure to cover it well with plastic wrap, or store it in an air-tight container. The meatloaf sauce can also be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.

How do you make meatloaf in the instant pot?
  • Add all of the meatloaf ingredients to a bowl and mix everything to combine. Be careful not to over-mix the meat, which can result in a tougher loaf.
  • Place the meat on one or two pieces of aluminum foil and shape it into a round loaf that will fit inside your instant pot.
  • Fold the sides of the aluminum foil up to make a nest for the meatloaf, making sure the sides of the tinfoil are tall enough that grease wont be able to leak out.

A collage of four process photos with the steps for making meatloaf including a glass bowl with all of the meatloaf ingredients, the meatloaf mixed together, the meatloaf formed into a round loaf on top of tinfoil, and the sides of the tinfoil folded up to make a nest for the meatloaf.

  • Add one cup of water to the bottom of the instant pot, followed by a wire trivet and then place the meatloaf on top.
  • Secure the lid and close the pressure release valve.
  • Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.  When the timer beeps allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes.
  • While the meatloaf is cooking, mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.  You may choose to warm the sauce in the microwave for serving.
  • When the meatloaf is finished cooking, carefully pull up on the sides of the aluminum foil to remove it from the pot.
  • Spoon the sauce over the meatloaf and allow it to rest for a few minutes before cutting it into slices.

Side by side photos of meatloaf with sauce being poured over it and then the meatloaf on a white plate with two pieces sliced from it.

How to make mashed potatoes in the instant pot with the meatloaf:

Cut the potatoes into quarters and add them to the bottom of the instant pot along with water and salt.  Place a wire trivet on top of the potatoes. Set the meatloaf on top of the potatoes. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.  When the timer beeps allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes.

Overhead photo of an instant pot with cut yellow potatoes in the bottom and a wire trivet on top of them, next to another photo of meatloaf inside tinfoil placed on top of the trivet.

Remove the meatloaf and wire trivet. Add milk, butter, sour cream, bouillon paste and salt and pepper to the potatoes and mash them to your desired consistency. Be careful not to over-mash the potatoes because the more you mix them, the more likely they are to get gluey and starchy.

An overhead photo of the inside of an instant pot with cooked yellow potatoes, butter, sour cream, chicken buollion, and milk, next to another overhead photo of the mixture being mashed with a potato masher.

Add more seasonings or milk as needed, to taste. Serve them immediately with the meatloaf.

Mashed potatoes inside an instant pot with a wooden spoon lifting a spoonful of potatoes from the pot.

Meatloaf sauce:

This meatloaf sauce only requires four simple ingredients: ketchup, brown sugar, dijon mustard, and nutmeg.

A photo of the ingredients for meatloaf sauce, including ketchup, brown sugar, dijon mustard and nutmeg, next to another photo of a glass bowl with the meatloaf sauce mixed together with a spoon.

Combine the sauce ingredients together in a bowl and stir until smooth. Meatloaf sauce can be made up to one week ahead of time, stored in the fridge.

What kind of meat is best for meatloaf?

You can use any type of ground meat to make meatloaf, including ground beef, ground turkey, and ground pork. High fat meat, like ground chuck, makes a more tender meatloaf. I like a blend of half ground beef and half ground turkey or pork, but you can use 100% ground beef or other ground meat if you’d like.

How long should I cook meatloaf in the instant pot?

Cook the meatloaf on high pressure for 25 minutes and allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes before opening the lid.

If you want to double check the temperature, an instant read thermometer should register about 160 degrees at the center of the meatloaf. If for some reason the meatloaf has not cooked to your liking you can finish cooking it in the oven at 375 degrees.

Can I make this meatloaf recipe in the oven?

If you don’t have an instant pot you can easily adapt this recipe to bake the meatloaf in the oven. Mold the meatloaf into a 9×4 inch loaf and place it in the same tinfoil nest. Place it on a baking sheet, spread with half of the sauce and bake at 375 degrees F for about 45-50 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reaches 160 degrees F in the center of the meatloaf.

Tent the meatloaf with foil and allow it to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. Spoon the remaining sauce on top.

Can I make meatloaf in the slow cooker?

Yes, you can use this same recipe to make the meatloaf in your slow cooker or crock pot.  Line the bottom of your slow cooker with tinfoil and place the meatloaf on top. Add the sauce on top, reserving some of it for after it’s cooked, if you’d like.

Cook on LOW for 6 hours, or HIGH for 3 hours or until an instant-read thermometer reaches 160 degrees F in the center of the meatloaf.

If you want to try cooking potatoes in the slow cooker at the same time as the meatloaf (I haven’t tried this myself, but think it will work), put the meatloaf in foil to separate it from the potatoes. Cut the potatoes into chunks and add to the slow cooker with 1 cup of vegetable or chicken broth, and salt. Cook for 6 hours on LOW or 3 hours on HIGH. Make the mashed potatoes according to recipe.

A white plate with mashed potatoes and a slice of meatloaf that were made in the instant pot and a side of green beans.

CONSIDER SERVING MEATLOAF WITH:

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Recipe

A loaf of meatloaf on a white plate with sauce on top and two slices cut from it, with fresh parsley in the background.
Prep 25 minutes
Cook 1 hour
Total 1 hour 25 minutes
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Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the Meatloaf:

  • 2 pounds ground beef (or ground turkey, ground pork or a combination)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 Tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauces
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced (or 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1/2 cup sweet onion , diced (or 3 teaspoons dried minced onion
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Meatloaf sauce:

For the Mashed Potatoes:

  • 3 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes , quartered
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon bouillon paste (I love 'Better than Bouillon)

Instructions
 

  • Add all of the meatloaf ingredients to a large bowl and gently mix everything to combine (without over-working the meat).
  • Form the meat mixture into a round loaf that will fit into your instant pot.
  • Place the loaf on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold the edges up to make a secure nest for the meatloaf to rest in. (You want the edges high enough that grease from the loaf wont spill out onto the potatoes while cooking.)
  • Add the quartered potatoes, water, and salt to the bottom of the instant pot. 
  • Lay the IP wire rack on top of the potatoes. Place the aluminum foil "nest" with the meatloaf on top of the rack. 
  • Secure the lid on the pot and close the pressure release valve. Select manual/High pressure and cook at high pressure for 25 minutes*.  When the timer beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. 
  • While the meatloaf cooks, make the sauce by combining all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl. 
  • Remove the IP lid, and carefully remove the meatloaf. Discard the aluminum foil and drippings. Spoon the meatloaf sauce over the top and cut into slices.
  • Drain any remaining water from the pot. Add the milk, sour cream, butter, bouillon paste, and salt and pepper to the bottom of the instant pot with the mashed potatoes. Mash to combine (but don't over-mash the potatoes).  Taste and adjust seasonings, as needed. 

Notes

*I tested this recipe with my 6qt Instant Pot Duo 7 in 1 and the meatloaf cooks for me in 25 minutes.  If you want to you can test it when it's done cooking for internal temperature of 155 degrees F. If it’s still not cooked in the center, you can remove it to an oven safe dish and finish it in the oven at 350 degrees.
Make Ahead Instructions:
You can make meatloaf one day in advance and store it the fridge (uncooked) and covered well. 
To freeze meatloaf:
Place uncooked meatloaf in a loaf pan or freezer safe container and cover well. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the meatloaf in the fridge overnight, and then bake as directed. 

Nutrition

Calories: 546kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 27gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 845mgPotassium: 1186mgFiber: 4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 335IUVitamin C: 21.8mgCalcium: 121mgIron: 8.7mg

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 4 stars
    taste great but to get it done in the center I have to cook it for 42 min then a quick release comes out perfect every time.

  2. 4 stars
    I have a 6 quart which I just purchased and I had it on for 25 minutes. Instead of one cup of water, I put one and a half as I didn’t want to take the risk of the burn feature. I found that the ingredients used for lean found beef, was a tad moist after cooking. It as totally done at 25 min. I did add Italian seasoning to the mix for bonus as the panko is as homemade. I mixed the meat with the mashed potatoes and the sauce. Like others suggested, did not use 6 tablespoons of sugar. I used 2 tbsp and a touch of honey. One must remember that there is sugar in ketchup…
    All in all it worked out fine. I would suggest to double the sauce recipe and stick with dijon if you can.

  3. 3 stars
    It wasn’t “bad”, just not to my liking. The meatloaf fell apart, the sauce was too sweet. I prefer savory. I think I will stick to the oven and a more traditional savory topping.

  4. 4 stars
    This was the first meal I made in my new Instant Pot Duo Plus. I skipped the potatoes and only made the meatloaf. After reading the comments, I changed a few minor things and it turned out great!

    First the 25 mins cook + 10 mins natural release only got the meatloaf to 152.8F, so after brushing it with the sauce, I popped it into the oven at 400F for 10 minutes.

    I modified the sauce by cutting the brown sugar to 2T, then added 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce, 1tsp of Worcestershire sauce, 1T yellow mustard (not dijon), 1T honey to the 1/2 cup ketchup. I used half the sauce to brush on the meatloaf before popping into the oven, and used the rest when serving.

    For someone whose last cooking experience was in 2012, I’m happy to report that not only was this meal edible, but it was delicious! It was a great & easy way to break in my new IP.

  5. 5 stars
    This was an excellent quick meal !!
    My kids loved it and they usually don’t like meatloaf
    The cooking time was perfect
    The ingredients were great too
    I didn’t have any Dijon mustard on hand so I replaced it with regular mustard.
    I am sharing this recipe for family and friends to try!
    Love my IP!
    Thank you for such a tasty recipe!

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