Why Put Ketchup in Meatloaf?

There’s something about ketchup that takes meatloaf to the next level, and it is part of the reason why families have been enjoying this dish for generations. But why put ketchup in meatloaf in the first place? Ketchup is actually considered a critical “secret” ingredient to balancing out the flavors in a meatloaf. Most of the other ingredients can be switched out, such as oatmeal or crackers instead of breadcrumbs or egg substitute instead of eggs, but without ketchup inside the mixture and as part of the glaze on top, you’re missing that touch of sweetness and acidity that balances out the other ingredients.

While it’s possible to swap ketchup for other sweet ingredients like barbecue sauce, brown sugar, or maple syrup if you aren’t a fan of the condiment, you may not get the same result. This is because these substitutions will only add sweetness, while ketchup manages to do that while also providing a touch of acidity from the tomatoes.