Best Meatloaf Recipe with Oatmeal

This is the Best Meatloaf Recipe with Oatmeal that you’ll ever need! It’s moist and juicy, and a classic recipe. The seasonings and oatmeal create a great meatloaf recipe that is hands down a new favorite the whole family will love. The sweetened ketchup sauce coats the meatloaf, adding flavor and a savory topping. This recipe is comfort food at its finest!

Best Meatloaf Recipe Ever

If you love meatloaf, you’re really going to love this old-fashioned meatloaf recipe. Using quick-cooking oats is key to a juicy, well-textured meatloaf. The seasonings and oatmeal create a meatloaf that is hands down your new favorite. 

This is a hearty recipe the whole family will love. 

PS – if you happen to have leftovers, the best way to use them up is meatloaf sandwiches. SO YUM!!

Grandma’s Meatloaf

Growing up, my Mama always made a terrific meatloaf, and sometimes my kids still ask her to make it for them. She’d usually use oatmeal (for the best meatloaf), but in a pinch she’d use breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs instead (a more traditional meatloaf recipe?).

For her meatloaf glaze, she always used ketchup and brown sugar (for a homemade BBQ sauce), sometimes with a little Worcestershire sauce. 

She changed it up depending on what she had on hand, but it didn’t matter. Her homemade meatloaf was amazing, no matter how she made it.

Meatloaf Recipe with Oatmeal

Having tried it both ways, I have to say that using oatmeal in place of breadcrumbs really is the better choice. 

Old-fashioned oats absorb juices from the beef and other ingredients, then release that moisture as the meatloaf cooks. This keeps the meatloaf tender and juicy, even after reheating.

Breadcrumbs can compact as they absorb liquid, making the meatloaf heavy or tight. The oatmeal recipe stays fluffy and soft, giving the meatloaf a lighter texture that still holds together well.

Even after reheating, you won’t end up with dry meatloaf. Old-fashioned oats create a wonderful texture, help the meatloaf hold together, and are more forgiving if slightly overcooked. 

And honestly, this old fashioned meatloaf recipe might be even better the next day. It really is the best meatloaf recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This old fashioned meatloaf is easy to clean up with just two dishes. 
• This meatloaf recipe with oats is perfect to make the day before – knock out the prep work and bake it fresh the day you want to serve it.
• Leftovers are the BEST because leftover meatloaf might be the only thing better than having it hot out of the oven! 

Equipment Needed

• Large mixing bowl
• Parchment paper
• Baking Sheet
• Small bowl
• Large spoon or whisk
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Meat thermometer (optional)

Note: you can bake this meatloaf in a 4-inch loaf pan if you’d prefer that over a sheet pan, but don’t buy a meatloaf pan just for this recipe – the sheet pan works great! You could also bake it in a parchment-lined baking dish.

Ingredients

Everyday ingredients and a little elbow grease will make this Southern meatloaf recipe a new favorite for your family and you will be the best cook ever!

• Lean ground beef – make sure you use an 80/20 lean ground beef for the meatloaf.
• Ketchup
• Old-fashioned oats – make sure you choose old-fashioned oats. Steel-cut oats are too dense and coarse for the meatloaf. Quick oats can make the meatloaf soft.
• Yellow onion, chopped
• Eggs
• Worcestershire sauce
• Light brown sugar
• Dijon mustard
• Coarse kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Garlic cloves, finely chopped – you can use jarred minced garlic if you don’t have fresh garlic on hand
• Parsley, for garnish – fresh chopped parsley adds freshness and a bright green color to the meatloaf

Sauce Ingredients 

• Ketchup
• Brown sugar 
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder

Find the complete recipe with ingredient measurements in the recipe card below.