This Southern style Air Fryer Meatloaf recipe is juicy and flavorful. It’s topped with a sweet and tangy full flavored tomato glaze. If you don’t have an air fryer no worries, the oven instructions are included, too!

Easy Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe

We are true meatloaf fans at our house. We love it freshly made or cold as a sandwich or meatloaf slider. It’s among those comfort food favorites that can be made in many forms and seems to be a real family pleaser regardless of the flavor profile. How to make Southern Air Fryer meatloaf: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

Prepare Air Fryer – Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Spray basket with cooking spray.
Combine Meatloaf – In a medium size mixing bowl mix together, ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, peppers, ketchup, buttermilk, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic, black pepper and beaten eggs. Mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
Shape into Two Loaves – Using your hands, shape into 2 even size loaves. Place into air fryer without touching.
Air Fry – Cook at 350°F per the recipe, then open and brush or spoon the glaze onto the meatloaves on all sides.
Cook – Continue to cook until an internal temperature of 160°-165°F is reached.
Let Stand – Remove basket from air fryer and let stand in basket for 5 minutes.
Transfer to a platter, slice and serve with your favorite side dishes garnished with parsley.

How to Make the Best Air Fryer Meatloaf Recipe

What goes with meatloaf? Trust me, I’ve got more options in the recipe index than you’ve got time! Here are just a few side dishes you may like to serve with homemade air fryer meatloaf: Creamy Buttermilk Ranch Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Potatoes, Double Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese, Sweet Pea Salad, Southern Deviled Eggs, Cole Slaw and homemade 3 Ingredient Biscuits or No Knead Yeast Rolls.

Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Air Fryer Meatloaf: Two pounds 80/20 ground beef, diced onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, ketchup, buttermilk, yellow mustard, worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, granulated garlic or garlic pepper and large eggs.
For the tomato glaze you’ll need: Ketchup, brown sugar, yellow mustard, cider vinegar plus chopped fresh parsley for garnishing after baking.
When chopping the onion and bell peppers think small or finely diced pieces. This will ensure they soften and cook to o the task of adding flavor to the meatloaf while it’s cooking.
Kitchen gadgets you’ll need: A large air fryer, mixing bowls and spoons for mixing the ingredients and glaze, measuring cups and spoons, a sharp knife and chopping board, a silicone pastry brush and cooking thermometer.
The size of the loaves is reflective of the space available in an air fryer. When making meatloaf in the oven, this recipe will make one full sized loaf. You can center it on a foil lined pan sprayed with cooking spray and form into an oblong loaf with your hands.
Air Fryers cook can cook differently just like slow cookers and ovens. In light of this, it’s helpful to use a cooking thermometer to test the center and ensure that the meatloaf is thoroughly cooked without over cooking it or it can become dry.
Store leftover Air Fryer Meatloaf chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in single servings in the microwave or enjoy cold as a sandwich.

How to Make Southern Style Meatloaf in the Oven

I always like to give you options when sharing a comfort food recipe like this one in case you don’t have an air fryer. You can always bake this in the oven. This is what you do:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet or a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Prepare the meatloaf mixture and glaze ingredients per the recipe.
Pat the meat loaf into an oblong loaf shape approximately 2 ½ inches thick. It’s important to make the loaf proportional so it will cook evenly. Pour half of the glaze over the top.
Bake for 55 minutes. Remove from the oven drizzle with remaining glaze.
Return the meat loaf to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear.
Rest on the counter for 15 minutes before serving.

More Southern Style Air Fryer Recipes to Make

I have come to love my air fryer for many reasons. It reheats and crisps food in minutes and doesn’t heat up the oven for smaller batch items and meals. More air fryer recipes you may like to try:

Air Fryer Pork Chops are coated with a panko Parmesan breading.
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes can be loaded up with your favorite toppings.
Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken Breasts are sweet and sticky perfect for serving as your main dish or on toasted kaiser rolls as a sandwich.
Cajun seasoned Air Fryer Salmon is packed with flavor.
Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken is a lighter take on our iconic Southern fried chicken.
You may also like this recipe for Air Fryer Taco Calzones from The Creative Bite.

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