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    Home » Main Dish

    Dill Pickle Meatloaf

    Published: Nov 7, 2013 Last updated: Oct 25, 2021 by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Dill pickles are the secret ingredient that makes this meatloaf so delicious! If you love burgers topped with pickles, you will love this recipe too!
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Dill Pickle Meatloaf recipe is like having one big hamburger cooked in a loaf pan! The diced pickles and the pickle juice mixed into the lean ground beef and ketchup topping add plenty of zippy flavor.

    The leftovers are delicious in a cold sandwich spread thin with a little mayonnaise and a few extra slices of my favorite Garlic Dill Pickles. It is also delicious grilled with a few slices of cheese as a hot meat loaf sandwich.

    Jump to:
    • Why I Love This Meatloaf Recipe
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Top Tips
    • 📖 Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • More Meatloaf Recipes To Try
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    Dill Pickle Meatloaf on a white plate with 1 slice meatloaf cut.

    Why I Love This Meatloaf Recipe

    First of all, I absolutely love meatloaf. To me it is pure comfort food that literally makes me feel good! Secondly, I am a huge fan of dill pickles and when I order a cheeseburger, you can bet it is with extra pickles on the side!

    This dill pickle meat loaf is like having a big burger baked in a loaf pan with the ketchup and mustard baked on top. To add a little more pickle flavor I like to use pickle juice from the jar instead of water to dilute the ketchup topping and to add to the meat mixture. 

    🥘 Ingredients

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate links.

    Lean ground beef: I like to use 90/10 or 85/15 for meatloaf. The leaner the better.

    Italian seasoned bread crumbs: I like to keep this brand on hand.

    Large eggs

    Dill pickles: I make my own garlic dill pickles, but any dill pickle you like works here!

    Onions: I like to use sweet vidalia onions in this meatloaf recipe

    Salt and black pepper.

    Ketchup: I prefer to use a sugar free ketchup for this recipe to keep it low in carb and keto friendly.

    Brown sugar: Use this brand to keep it low carb and keto friendly.

    Worcestershire sauce, I use this brand.

    Equipment

    Large mixing bowl

    Baking sheet or loaf pan

    Aluminum foil or parchment paper

    Rubber spatula or large tablespoon to pat the meatloaf mixture into the pan and spread the topping over top of the meat loaf.

    Sandwiches made with leftover meatloaf

    🔪 Instructions

    Step 1:

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
    2. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside.

    Step 2:

    1. Crumble the ground beef into a large bowl. Add the egg, diced onion, pickle juice, chopped pickles, salt, pepper, and bread crumbs in to the meat. Using your hands, mix together until the ingredients are just combined. 
    2. Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared loaf pan and pat the meatloaf mixture in tight. 

    Step 3:

    1. Stir together the ketchup, water, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the sauce mixture over the meatloaf.
    2. Bake in a preheated oven for 1 hour, or until no longer pink in the center and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 160 degrees F.
    Keto version of dill pickle meatloaf
    Keto version of dill pickle meatloaf made with ground turkey.

    💭 Top Tips

    • Don't overmix the meatloaf, doing so can cause it to be tough.
    • If in doubt as to level of doneness, insert instant read thermometer into the center of the meatloaf. Anything 160 or above and the meatloaf is ready.

    📖 Variations

    • Break 2 slices of bread into small pieces and substitute for the dry bread crumbs.
    • Substitute ½ pound of the ground beef for ground pork or sausage or use all ground turkey.
    • Keep it low carb and keto by subbing ground pork rinds for the bread crumbs
    • If using plain bread crumbs or ground pork rinds, add ½ teaspoon basil, ½ teaspoon oregano, and ¼ teaspoon ground thyme to the meatloaf mixture.
    • Skip the ketchup topping and top with ½ cup of sweet chili sauce.
    • Stir in 1 cup shredded cheese or top the meatloaf with american cheese slices and tomato slices in place of the ketchup topping.
    • Chop 1 large dill pickle and mix into the ketchup topping.

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve with homemade mashed potatoes or spanish rice.

    If keeping the recipe low carb and keto friendly, this Garlic Mashed Cauliflower with Browned Butter or Cauliflower Spanish Rice make great side dish ideas.

    More Meatloaf Recipes To Try

    • Turkey Meatloaf with Tomato Chutney
    • BBQ Cheddar Mini Meatloaves (keto)
    • Jalapeno Cheddar Meatloaf
    • Sweet and Sour Meatloaf (keto)
    • Heart Shaped Meatloaf
    • Vegetarian Meatloaf

    *If you made this dill pickle meatloaf, please give it a star rating*

    📖 Recipe

    Dill Pickle Meatloaf

    Shelby Law Ruttan
    Dill pickles are the secret ingredient that makes this meatloaf so delicious! If you love burgers topped with pickles, you will love this recipe too!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 217 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    FOR THE DILL PICKLE MEATLOAF

    • 1¼ pound lean ground beef
    • 1 large egg
    • ½ cup dill pickle juice
    • ½ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
    • ¼ cup diced dill pickle
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    FOR THE TOPPING

    • ½ cup no sugar added ketchup
    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons water or dill pickle juice
    • ½ tablespoon yellow mustard
    • ½ teaspoon worcestershire sauce

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside.
    • Crumble the ground beef into a large bowl. Add the egg, diced onion, pickle juice, chopped pickles, salt, pepper, and bread crumbs in to the meat. Using your hands, mix together until the ingredients are just combined. 
    • Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared loaf pan and pat the meatloaf mixture in tight. 
    • Stir together the ketchup, water, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the sauce mixture over the meatloaf.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until no longer pink in the center and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 160 degrees F.
    • Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

    Notes

    Make this recipe keto friendly by doing the following:
    • Substitute ground pork rinds for the bread crumbs
    • Use a brown sugar erythritol sweetener for the brown sugar.
    • Be sure the ketchup is sugar free.
    • Add ½ teaspoon basil, ½ teaspoon oregano, and ¼ teaspoon ground thyme to the meatloaf mixture

    Nutrition

    Calories: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 23gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 1020mgPotassium: 385mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 77IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword Dill Pickle Meatloaf
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    About Shelby Law Ruttan

    Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patrick

      January 21, 2022 at 9:42 pm

      I can honestly say that over 20 years of collecting recipes from many forms of publications, your recipes truly stand out.Besides my mom’s recipes and my own creations; your’s are fantastic. Just recently subscribed to your site, and said to myself wow if I only have found you sooner. Have made a bunch of your recipes and you are my go to site when I'm looking or hungry for certain recipes! You are a beacon of light knowing when i make your recipes it will be fantastic and delious. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Shelby Law Ruttan

        January 22, 2022 at 5:56 am

        Hello! Thank you so much for your message. It is nice to know to hear from those who love to read my website and appreciate it! I hope you enjoy many more recipes. Shelby

        Reply
    2. Ramona

      November 07, 2021 at 5:36 pm

      5 stars
      I had meatloaf for dinner tonight and I can't wait to make it like this for the next time I make it! This looks and sounds really interesting. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
      • Shelby Law Ruttan

        November 11, 2021 at 12:09 pm

        Hi Ramona, I hope you enjoy the recipe~ Shelby

        Reply
    3. Kathryn

      November 07, 2021 at 12:08 pm

      5 stars
      I love dill pickles and this is such a great idea to add to meatloaf! It looks so delicious and can't wait to try this recipe this week! I bet it adds the perfect amount of crunch too. Thank you 🙂

      Reply
    4. Tristin

      November 06, 2021 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best meatloaf I’ve ever had!! I love the addition of the pickles. Making again tonight!

      Reply
      • Shelby Law Ruttan

        November 11, 2021 at 12:17 pm

        Hi Tristin, thank you! So happy you enjoyed the recipe. Shelby

        Reply
    5. veenaazmanov

      November 05, 2021 at 10:09 am

      5 stars
      This sounds so very interesting and I would love to try your recipe.

      Reply
    6. nancy

      November 04, 2021 at 2:54 pm

      dill pickle meatloaf sounds really delicious and a lighter sharper take on the traditional version!

      Reply
    7. Sam

      October 01, 2018 at 12:06 pm

      So delicious! I turned the leftovers from last night's dinner into a sandwich for lunch today! I'm excited to have it again today, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    8. Dominique

      March 05, 2018 at 3:47 pm

      Shelby, Greetings from Manitoba, Canada. I've made this recipe numerous times, and it's become the only meatloaf recipe I use now. We love the pickle flavour in it, and it still has the ketchup topping that I've always used. Thanks for an amazing recipe.

      Reply
      • Shelby

        March 05, 2018 at 8:44 pm

        Hi Dominique! Thank you so much for letting me know! I'm so happy you've enjoyed this recipe 🙂

        Reply
    9. Phyllis Lincoln

      November 05, 2016 at 9:50 am

      My family loves meatloaf for breakfast. I've been preparing it for many years and have tried many 'meatloaf' recipes. This is one of the very best. I double it. I use two pounds of ground beef and one pound of pork sausage.
      Thank you for submitting this recipe.

      Reply
      • Shelby

        November 05, 2016 at 5:38 pm

        So glad you like the recipe!

        Reply
    10. Brittny O

      July 25, 2014 at 1:47 am

      Made it tonight (with a few tweaks (; )...can't wait to taste!

      Reply
    11. Mary Ellen

      November 16, 2013 at 12:39 am

      This sounds interesting. I had never heard of it either.

      Reply
    12. Anonymous

      November 09, 2013 at 2:55 pm

      This sounds yummy. We put grated dill pickles on our homemade tacos, everyone thinks it's nuts they try it.

      Reply
    13. ReneesKitchenAdventures

      November 09, 2013 at 2:07 am

      this looks and sounds so good Shelby! Pinning!

      Reply
    14. honeyb

      November 09, 2013 at 1:11 am

      It is addicting 🙂 Can't wait for you to make it either!

      Reply
    15. DessertForTwo

      November 08, 2013 at 5:00 pm

      This sounds amazing. I'm a dill pickle fiend. Don't even talk about sweet pickles around me. I think they should be illegal.
      I can't wait to make this!

      Reply

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    Welcome! I'm Shelby, a home cook who learned from her grandmother and mother and have been sharing family recipes since 2007. I share quick and easy recipes as well as low calorie, low carb, and keto diet recipes...

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    Vegetarian Meatloaf

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    Welcome! I'm Shelby, a home cook who learned from her grandmother and mother and have been sharing family recipes since 2007. I share quick and easy recipes as well as low calorie, low carb, and keto diet recipes...

    More about me →

    Homemade Flour Tortillas
    Old-Fashioned Baked Rice Pudding
    Vegetarian Meatloaf

    Trending Recipes

    • Air Fryer Roast Beef with Herb Crust
    • Keto Chicken Nuggets with Canned Chicken
    • Baked Red Snapper Recipe with Garlic Topping
    • Crockpot Venison Stew - Warm and Hearty
    • Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
    • Pumpkin Pie with Condensed Milk
    • Special K Loaf aka Cottage Cheese Loaf
    • Vegetarian Meatloaf -Easy and Delicious
    • Easy Green Chicken Enchilada Recipe - low carb
    • Mom's Rhubarb Sauce

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