Meatloaf Recipe with Oatmeal - The Seasoned Mom (2024)

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This old-fashioned meatloaf recipe with oatmeal is a simple, easy dinner that comes together with just 10 minutes of prep! It’s a family-favorite that only requires a handful of pantry staples. Pair the world’s best meatloaf with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, or creamed peas for a cozy and nourishing meal any night of the week!

How to Make a Meatloaf Recipe with Oatmeal | 1-Minute Video

Meatloaf has stood the test of time! It’s a classic family dinner that everyone at the table can agree on, made with affordable, hearty ingredients, and ready with minimal effort. My kids have come to love this meal just as much as I do, so the traditional recipe is a regular in our kitchen.

What is meatloaf?

Meatloaf is a dish made with ground beef and a variety of other seasonings and binders, which is then shaped into a loaf and baked. You can shape the loaf by hand and cook it on a flat pan, or you can prepare meatloaf in a loaf pan (as shown here). Ground beef is the traditional meat used in a meatloaf; however, you can also use ground turkey, ground chicken, or a “meatloaf mix” consisting of ground beef, ground pork and ground veal.

Once meatloaf is cooked, it can be sliced like a loaf of bread and served in individual portions. Paired with your family’s favorite sides, it’s an easy dinner recipe that makes everyone happy!

Why Use Milk in Meatloaf (the Secret to Moist Meatloaf)

Milk is added to meatloaf to soak the oatmeal. Soaking the breadcrumbs or oats in milk creates a “panade,” which acts as a binding agent and (more importantly) prevents the meatloaf from drying out. The panade is the secret to moist meatloaf! The milk activates the starch in the oatmeal to form a gel. This behaves similarly to a fat by lubricating the meat’s protein fibers and preventing them from becoming tough.

Serving Suggestions

This classic comfort food deserves equally delicious, cozy companions! Here are a few side dishes that go well with meatloaf made with oatmeal:

• Party Potatoes,Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives,Mashed Sweet Potatoes,Baked Potato Wedges,3-Ingredient Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes,Easy Potato Salad, orSkin-On Mashed Red Potatoes
• Duke’s Homemade Mac and Cheese,Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese,Crock Pot Mac and Cheese,Stovetop Shells and Cheese, orNo-Boil Easy Mac and Cheese
• Jiffy Corn Casserole
• ColeslaworVinegar Coleslaw
• Arkansas Green Beans with BaconorSouthern-Style Green Beans
• Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
• Fried ApplesorBaked Apple Slices
• Southern Succotash
• Southern Collard GreensorSweet and Spicy Collard Greens with Bacon
• Fried Okra or Okra and Tomatoes
• Broccoli and Cheese,Easy Broccoli Casserole, orBroccoli and Rice Casserole
• Creamed Peas
• Apple and Butternut Squash CasseroleorSouthern Squash Casserole
• Cornbread StuffingorSausage Stuffing
• Cast Iron Cornbread, Sour Cream Cornbread, Honey Butter Cornbread,Fluffy Bakery-Style Corn Muffins,Broccoli Cornbread,Southern Cornbread,Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn,Sweet Cornbread,Pumpkin Cornbread,Cake Mix Cornbread,Skillet Cornbread,or Corn Sticks
• 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins
• Pumpkin BreadorPumpkin Muffins
• Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits,3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits,4-Ingredient Butter Swim Biscuits,7UP Biscuits,Sweet Potato Biscuits,Cheese Biscuits,Pumpkin Spice Biscuits,Cheddar Biscuits with Chives and Bacon, orDrop Biscuits
• Wedge Salad,Classic Caesar Salad,House Salad with Candied Pecans,Mixed Greens with Dijon Vinaigrette,or aGreen Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette

Recipe Variations

• Like meatloaf with cheese?Add a handful of grated cheddar (or other good melting cheese) to the meatloaf mixture.
• Chicken Meatloaf Recipe with Oatmeal: Use 2 pounds of ground chicken instead of the ground beef. I recommend using ground chicken that has some fat in it (rather than just ground chicken breast) so that the meatloaf doesn’t become too dry.
• Rather than all ground beef, use a 50-50 combination of ground beef and ground pork, ground turkey, or a “meatloaf mix” of ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal.
• Swap out the oatmealfor cornbread crumbs, fresh breadcrumbs, or cracker crumbs (such as saltine crackers).
• Add herbsto the meat mixture, such as basil, oregano, rosemary, chives, parsley, or thyme.
• Add more vegetablesto the meatloaf mixture, such as diced bell pepper, celery, or grated carrots. If you don’t want crisp vegetables in your finished meatloaf, you can sauté them in a skillet with butter before adding them to the beef mixture.
• Instead of just ketchup, stir together a small bowl of brown sugar glaze (like this one) to top the meatloaf, or add some mustard to the ketchup glaze as well.