This easy, homemade meatloaf with oatmeal combines hearty ground beef with my DIY meatloaf seasoning, oats, and a classic ketchup glaze. Follow along with my easy step-by-step instructions or see my ultimate guide to cooking meatloaf for all the best meatloaf-making tips. My traditional meatloaf recipe is so perfectly tender and moist it's sure to be a new family favorite weeknight dinner!
I love to serve it with creamy mashed potatoes, buttery peas, or roasted brussel sprouts.
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I love meatloaf recipes! It’s a classic way to use ground beef and it’s always hearty and delicious. This vintage meatloaf with oats recipe is a tasty take that reminds me of Grandma’s meatloaf.
It’s simple and no fuss, but there’s no shortage of flavor. It’s a mostly hands-off recipe that comes together quickly and always satisfies. Serve it with your favorite sides, and you have an amazing family dinner.
🥘 Ingredients
- Ground Beef – I prefer ground chuck for this recipe, but you can also use a ground beef/ground pork combination. See all of my best meatloaf meat recommendations.
- Quick Oats – Oats are an old-school addition to meatloaf that makes it super wholesome and filling. Be sure to use quick oats and not old-fashioned or steel-cut oats, because they won’t soften or blend into the meat as well. If you prefer, you can use plain breadcrumbs or panko instead of oats.
- White Onion – The onion should be finely diced or grated so it incorporates into the meat well. I prefer white onion, but you can use yellow onion.
- Eggs – Eggs are the binder for this meatloaf recipe. I recommend beating the eggs before adding them.
- Meatloaf Seasoning – You can use my tasty meatloaf seasoning recipe or use 1 packet of store-bought meatloaf seasoning mix.
- Ketchup – This will be mixed in with the meat mixture, but use more if you like to top the meatloaf with a ketchup glaze!
Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!
🔪 How To Make Meatloaf with Oats
I love how easy this meatloaf recipe is, it whips up in 5 simple steps and is perfect for any occasion. There are directions for an optional ketchup glaze if you desire (I highly recommend it).
This recipe yields 1 standard-sized meatloaf, that I slice into 10 portions. It makes 6-8 portions if you're hungry. 🤤
Prep & Combine Meatloaf Mixture
Step 1: Prep. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4). Then, lightly grease a 9x5 loaf pan, or line a rimmed baking sheet, with paper. Finely dice or grate ½ cup white onion (about 1 medium onion or ½ a large onion).
Step 2: Add ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add 2 pounds ground beef, 1½ cups quick oats, ½ cup chopped white onion, 3 large eggs (beaten), 1 tablespoon meatloaf seasoning, and ⅓ cup ketchup (photo 1).
Step 3: Combine the meatloaf mixture. Mix the meat and ingredients with your hands until just combined (photo 2). Do not overmix!
Transfer & Bake
Step 4: Shape the loaf. Transfer the meatloaf mixture to your prepared loaf pan, then shape it so that the loaf is mounded at the top. Alternatively, you can transfer the loaf mixture to your prepared baking sheet (photo 3) and form it into a loaf approximately the same size as a loaf pan (9x5-inch).
Step 5: Bake your meatloaf. Place the meatloaf in the center of your oven’s middle rack and bake at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) for 50 minutes. Then, remove the meatloaf from the oven and coat it with an additional ⅓ cup of ketchup or BBQ sauce if desired.
Step 6: Finish cooking. Return the meatloaf to the oven and cook for 10 to 20 minutes. The meatloaf will be done when it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Step 7: Rest and serve. When your meatloaf is done, remove it from the oven and drain off excess grease. Then, allow your meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Take a look at some great side dish ideas for meatloaf.
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Egg Beating Technique: Beat the eggs before adding them to the meat mixture. This prevents the meat from becoming tough and overmixed, ensuring easier and quicker incorporation of the eggs.
- Flavor Enhancements: Worcestershire sauce is a key ingredient in meatloaf for added flavor. Alternatively, consider adding balsamic vinegar or soy sauce for an extra flavor boost.
- Seasoning Alternatives: If you're out of meatloaf seasoning packets or ingredients for homemade seasoning, use this simple mix: 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon paprika (or smoked paprika), ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon onion powder.
- Gluten-Free Option: To make the recipe gluten-free, use quick oats that are specifically labeled as gluten-free, as regular oats may be cross-contaminated with gluten.
>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<
🥡 Storing & Reheating
For leftovers, wrap the meatloaf well with aluminum foil or store it in an airtight container, and it will last for up to 3-4 days.
You can also freeze either a whole cooked meatloaf or leftover meatloaf slices. Wrap the cooled meatloaf well with plastic cling film, and then place it in a heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container. See my guide on how to freeze meatloaf.
Freeze for up to 3 months then thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
The oven is my favorite way to reheat without drying it out. Preheat your oven to 250°F (121°C) and place the leftovers into a baking dish.
Add a splash of water or broth to the dish, then cover with a lid or aluminum foil. Reheat in your oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the center is at least 165°F (74°C). Get all of my methods and tips in my guide on how to reheat meatloaf.
❓ Meatloaf with Oatmeal Recipe FAQs
Oatmeal is a filler that works just like breadcrumbs in meatloaf. It provides structure so the meatloaf doesn’t fall apart when cooking or slicing.
Fillers like oatmeal or breadcrumbs also help to keep the meat tender and moist so it doesn’t have the firm texture of a hamburger, for example. Oats also keep the meatloaf gluten-free for those who can’t eat gluten.
If you’re anything like me, you love the sticky-sweet ketchup glaze that coats the top of meatloaf. It is super easy to do.
Simply spread a layer of ketchup (or BBQ sauce for even more flavor) over the top of the meatloaf. Then, bake the meatloaf until the glaze caramelizes.
If you’d prefer, you can always add extra brown sugar, seasonings, or liquid smoke to your glaze to make it taste exactly the way your family will love.
😋 More Tasty Meatloaf Recipes
- Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Stove Top Meatloaf
- Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
- Smoked Meatloaf
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Panda Express Firecracker Chicken Breast
- Summer Crockpot Meal Ideas
- Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken
- Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken
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📖 Recipe Card
Meatloaf (Traditional Recipe with Oatmeal)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef (ground chuck is preferred, or use a ground beef/ground pork combo)
- 1½ cups quick oats (or plain breadcrumbs)
- ½ cup white onion (or yellow onion, finely diced)
- 3 large eggs (beaten)
- 1 tablespoon meatloaf seasoning (see recipe, or use 1 packet of store-bought seasoning mix)
- ⅓ cup ketchup (plus more for topping the meatloaf if desired)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Prep & Combine Meatloaf Mixture
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) and lightly grease a 9x5 loaf pan or line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the 2 lbs ground beef, 1½ cups quick oats, diced ½ cup white onion, 3 large eggs, 1 tablespoon meatloaf seasoning, and ⅓ cup ketchup.
- Mix until just combined, do not over-mix.
Transfer & Bake
- Transfer the meatloaf mixture into your prepared loaf pan then shape so that the loaf is mounded at the top. Or transfer the loaf mixture to your baking sheet and form it into a loaf approximately the same size as a loaf pan (9x5-inch).
- Bake at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) for 50 minutes, remove from the oven, and coat with an additional ⅓ cup of ketchup or BBQ sauce if desired.
- Return to the oven and finish cooking for an additional 10-20 minutes. Your meatloaf is done when it has an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
- Remove from the oven when done, drain off the excess grease, and then allow your meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- A splash of Worcestershire sauce is pretty much a go-to, must-have ingredient in my meatloaf recipes. If you love Worcestershire, balsamic vinegar, or soy sauce feel free to add a bit for flavor!
- If you don't have meatloaf seasoning packets on hand and/or don't have all of the spices for my homemade meatloaf seasoning, you can use these measurements as a base: 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon paprika (or smoked paprika), ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon onion powder.
Deb says
My family loved this!
Linda J Harper says
Love it great flavor
Kevin H says
Meatloaf recipe says 1 TB seasoning required for 2lb loaf - but your recipe for the seasoning says to use entire amount which is 3TB after you make the mixture. Which is right? Seems to be an error in the recipe and 1TB isn’t enough
Angela Latimer says
There is only 1 tablespoon used in this meatloaf recipe. You can use more, to taste, as desired. Thanks for asking!
Kevin H says
Thank You!
When I went to the recipe for the seasoning, it said to use all of it and that’s why I was a little confused. It’s a great recipe!
Angela Latimer says
No problem! I'm always happy to clarify (I am 100% human and make mistakes too, I usually find them when someone asks about specifics).
Jeri says
I tried this recipe since it has the option of being gluten free. My husband and I loved it. It did work exactly as written, and I used the recommended homemade Meatloaf Seasoning too. Again because I know what I’m putting in my food. Thank you for sharing this recipe.