Meatloaf With Sausage

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/15/24
Tested by
Danielle Centoni
Danielle Centoni
Tested by Danielle Centoni

Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Sliced meatloaf with shiny ketchup glaze on a wooden board

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

Prep: 12 mins
Cook: 68 mins
Rest Time: 25 mins
Total: 105 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 meatloaf (8 slices)

When you want to give classic meatloaf a flavorful twist, simply swap some of the ground beef for sausage. Any variety of bulk Italian sausage works well, either sweet or hot. A bit of fresh garlic and Italian seasoning also make this twist on meatloaf unique and delicious.

Serve meatloaf with sausage with mashed or baked potatoes and a green veggie like green beans or asparagus. Leftovers taste great, too.

Do You Have To Put Eggs in Meatloaf?

Eggs act as a binder and help meatloaf to keep its shape. You can leave eggs out and still make meatloaf, however, it likely won't slice in neat slices and will fall apart. If you don't eat eggs, you can try using a substitute.

Should You Cover Meatloaf With Foil When Baking?

Most meatloaf recipes call for the loaf to be baked covered for part of the time and then for the foil to be removed at the end of the baking time. This helps the meatloaf cook through and stay moist while still developing a nice crust on top.

Tips for Making Meatloaf with Sausage

  • Don't overmix - When making meatloaf, do not overmix or overwork the meat, otherwise, the final product can become tough and dry.
  • No loaf pan, no problem - Meatloaves can be baked in a loaf pan or on a rimmed baking sheet covered with foil. Ones prepared in a loaf pan have a uniform shape and look beautiful when sliced. However, you might need to drain off excess grease that may accumulate while the meat is cooking. Freeform meatloaves are shaped by hand and cooked on a baking sheet. This option allows the grease to flow from the meat while it is cooking.
  • DIY meatloaf pan - It is possible to make your own DIY meatloaf pan. Buy an inexpensive loaf pan (metal or foil) and use a sharp tool to punch several holes in the bottom (about 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart). Take the meatloaf in the pan with holes and place it in a baking pan. This way, excess fat will drain into the outer pan.
What You'll Need to Make This Meatloaf with Sausage Recipe
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A Great Garlic Press
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A Sturdy Loaf Pan
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An Accurate Instant Read Thermometer

"A hefty helping of spicy Italian sausage adds great flavor to this fairly traditional meatloaf. Sauteed onions, carrots, celery, and garlic also contributed great flavor and moisture, while a topping of ketchup and brown sugar added a bright, piquant flavor and sweetness, which was a great foil to the rich meat." —Danielle Centoni

Meatloaf With Sausage Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 cup finely chopped onion

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot

  • 1/3 cup finely chopped celery

  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic

  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck

  • 1/2 pound Italian sausage (hot or sweet)

  • 1 1/4 cups fresh breadcrumbs

  • 3 eggs

  • 1 cup ketchup, divided

  • 1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

    Ingredient for meatloaf with sausage recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  2. Melt the 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet. Add the 1 cup finely chopped onion, 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot, 1/3 cup finely chopped celery, and 1 tablespoon minced garlic. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

    Onion, carrot, celery, and garlic with melted butter in a frying pan

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  3. Add the 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine. Set aside for about 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle.

    Seasonings added to vegetable mixture in the frying pan

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  4. In a large bowl, combine the 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck, 1/2 pound Italian sausage, 1 1/4 cups fresh breadcrumbs, cooled vegetables, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley (chopped), 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce. Use your hands to mix together until everything is evenly distributed. Do not overwork.

    Ground beef, sausage, breadcrumbs, vegetables, eggs, parsley, and condiments in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  5. Press evenly into a 9x5-inch loaf pan.

    Meatloaf mixture evenly filling a loaf pan

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  6. In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of ketchup with the 2 tablespoons brown sugar.

    Ketchup and light brown sugar in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  7. Spread about 2/3 of this glaze over the top of the meatloaf, spreading it all the way to the edges. Bake for 30 minutes.

    Ketchup glaze being spread on top of meatloaf in loaf pan

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  8. Remove from the oven and spread the remaining glaze over the top of the meatloaf. Bake for another 25-35 minutes, until an instant read thermometer inserted in the center registers 160 F. 

    Baked meatloaf with sausage and shiny ketchup glaze

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  9. Remove from the oven and let the meatloaf rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

    Meatloaf with sausage and ketchup glaze in loaf pan on a wire rack

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • Any sausage! - Sweet Italian or spicy Italian sausage works well for this recipe.
  • All beef is okay - Use lean (about 85/15) ground beef in the recipe. If you'd like to use all ground beef in the meatloaf (and exclude the sausage), an 80/20 ratio is best.

How To Store Meatloaf with Sausage

Leftover meatloaf will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days.


Nutrition Facts (per serving)
513 Calories
28g Fat
30g Carbs
34g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 513
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 36%
Saturated Fat 11g 56%
Cholesterol 169mg 56%
Sodium 1396mg 61%
Total Carbohydrate 30g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 34g
Vitamin C 7mg 36%
Calcium 106mg 8%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 686mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)