Is Meatloaf Better on a Sheet Pan or Loaf Pan?

To get the tastiest meatloaf, you ultimately have to ask the question: Is meatloaf better on a sheet pan or a loaf pan? While both are great options for cooking your meatloaf, each has its own advantages and you will get slightly different results.

Sheet pans have more surface area which exposes more of the dish’s surface area to the oven’s direct heat to create a crunchier crust that’s nicely browned.

Loaf pans corral the juices and fat to create a moister, more steamed, texture. The steamed texture can often be more reminiscent of a school cafeteria meatloaf, which some people are averse to, but it will look more like a typical meatloaf when it’s cooked this way as meatloaf in a sheet pan tends to be flatter.

This doesn’t mean that one option is better than another, it depends solely on personal preference and taste. If you’ve found that you don’t typically like meatloaf made in a loaf pan, you may find that trying it in a sheet pan may be a better option for you and vice versa!