Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes | Swanky Recipes (2024)

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Classic moist, juicy one-pot meatloaf and mashed potatoes made in the Instant Pot pressure cooker in just 35 minutes! A quick and easy ground beef meatloaf recipe with classic seasoning, crackers, parmesan cheese, and ketchup that’s shaped into a loaf with basic aluminum foil and cooked with quartered potatoes in the IP. This Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes recipe features a secret tip to making the moistest recipe around.

Glazed meatloaf and potatoes are classic midwestern comfort foods. Tasty ground beef with classic seasonings and ketchup are the star ingredients of this recipe. Grated parmesan cheese and crumbled Ritz crackers add deep flavors and make this the BEST meatloaf recipe around town.

How to Make Instant Pot Meatloaf

1. Peel, wash, halve potatoes. Place into insert with 1½ cup water. Place folded trivet on top of potatoes.
2. Mix ground beef with bread/cracker crumbs, seasonings, cheese, eggs, and ketchup.
3. Make a meatloaf tinfoil pan with aluminum foil. Detailed instructions on that below.
4. Add meat packet to top of the trivet. Brush with ketchup.
5. Pressure cook meatloaf and potatoes for 35 minutes. Quick-release steam. Remove excess liquid from the packet with a turkey baster.
6. Drain potatoes and mix with seasoning, butter, milk.
7. Serve meatloaf with hot mashed potatoes.

Tasty Meatloaf Ingredients

• GROUND BEEF: The leaner the better as far as excess oil in the packet goes, however, as long as you have a turkey baster to remove the liquid once it cooks, it doesn’t matter if it’s lean or not.
• CRACKERS: Ritz crackers or plain breadcrumbs are best. My mom has been making old fashioned meatloaf with crushed Ritz crackers for decades and we love it!
• SEASONING: Classic seasoning and herbs like onion and garlic powder, salt, pepper, dried parsley, red pepper flakes elevate the taste.
• CHEESE: Grated parmesan cheese in the green can is perfect for this recipe. The cheese adds flavor and plenty of salt.
• EGGS: Add eggs to the meat mixture to bind and hold the ingredients together.
• KETCHUP: Ketchup is added to the meat mixture AND to the top to glaze the meatloaf. Looking to add more flavor, swap out 1/2 cup ketchup for 1/2 cup thousand island dressing to use in the meat mixture. Still use a generous amount of ketchup as a topping sauce for the meatloaf

How to Make a Foil Loaf “Pan” for the Pressure Cooker

To make Instant Pot Meatloaf you’ll need a pan for the pressure cooker. One can be made at home, but here are some more ideas that work, too.

• MEATLOAF PAN OPTIONS SUITABLE FOR AN ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER
• Quick homemade “loaf pan” made out of tinfoil, see below
• Disposable aluminum mini loaf pans
• Metal loaf pans
• DO NOT use glass or porcelain baking pans

DIY ALUMINUM FOIL LOAF PAN DIRECTIONS

1. Cut two large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
2. Criss-cross the foil in the center so one is horizontal and one is vertical.
3. Dump the meat onto the foil in the center.
4. Shape it by pressing down and making it into a rectangle that will fit into the pressure cooker. TIP: I shape it, fold the sides up then lift it to the pot to make sure it will fit. If it’s too big, simply squeeze the foil and meat up so that it fits.
5. Fold the sides up just like you’d fold corners when wrapping a present.
6. Fold the steamer rack onto its self. With the potatoes in the bottom, place the folded rack so that the arms are overlapping in position and the nubs on the bottom are facing towards the potatoes. Again, I don’t use the rack in a normal position with the arms turned outwards for this recipe. Instead, the rack is collapsed so that the arms are declining into each other. Position the metal steamer rack onto the potatoes then place the meatloaf onto the collapsed rack to hold it. Do be sure the meatloaf or your pan allows air to flow around the edges.

Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes Tips & Questions

How much liquid should I add to the insert if I don’t make mashed potatoes with it? Pressure cooking only works when liquid is converted to steam. Therefore, you’ll still need to add water to your pressure cooker. Potatoes or no potatoes; use 1 1/2 cups water.

COOKING TIME ADJUSTMENT TIP: The thicker that the meatloaf is vs the wider that it is pressed into, the longer it can take to cook. If you’re halving the recipe and making a smaller portion, the time can reduce to about 25 minutes cook time.

Grandma’s recipe uses milk. Can I use it and where do I add it? Grandma’s or mom’s meatloaf recipe may feature milk as an ingredient. In fact, to add more moisture to your meatloaf and to prevent it from falling apart, soak cracker crumbs in 1/2 cup milk for a few minutes. Drain the milk out and add the moist crumbs to the bowl.

Can I make a smaller portion of meatloaf with this recipe? Have a smaller Instant Pot and not sure if this is too much to fit it all in or are you looking to make a smaller amount of meatloaf? Simply hover over the “servings” and move the dial up or down with your mouse to adjust servings (aka leftovers) or how much ground beef you’d like to use.

If you like this meatloaf recipe, try these Sticky Garlic Sesame Meatballs or Dr. Pepper Meatballs that use the same classic seasoning blend. For other classic dinner recipes made easy with the pressure cooker, try this Instant Pot Beef Spaghetti, Instant Pot Taco Bowls, or Instant Pot Crack Chicken recipe. Pair meatloaf with a side of these Crack Brussels Sprouts, or Ranch Roasted Broccoli and Sweet Cornbread.

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