Meatloaf with Oats

This easy meatloaf uses ground beef or turkey, oats, ketchup, onion, and a few basic seasonings. The oats help hold everything together without breadcrumbs, and the ketchup gets mixed directly into the meat.

Mix everything in one bowl, shape it into a loaf, and bake at 350°F. The broiler pan lets excess grease drain away while the meatloaf cooks.

What You’ll Need

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey

• 3/4 cup uncooked oats

• 1/2 onion, finely chopped

• 1/2 cup ketchup

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl

• Broiler pan with rack

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Instant-read meat thermometer

How to Make Meatloaf with Oats

1. Heat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Mix the meatloaf. Add 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey, 3/4 cup uncooked oats, 1/2 finely chopped onion, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 beaten egg, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to a large mixing bowl.

3. Combine the ingredients. Mix with your hands until the oats, onion, and seasonings are evenly distributed. Stop once everything is combined. Overmixing can make the finished meatloaf dense.

4. Shape the loaf. Form the mixture into a loaf about 10 inches long and 6 inches wide. Place it on the rack of a broiler pan so excess grease can drain away while it cooks.

5. Bake. Bake at 350°F for 50 to 60 minutes. Start checking the internal temperature near the end of the cooking time.

6. Check the temperature. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the loaf. Ground beef must reach 160°F, while ground turkey must reach 165°F.

7. Let it rest. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. This helps the loaf hold together when you cut it.

Don’t Screw This Up

Do not overmix the meat. Mix just enough to distribute the ingredients evenly. Working the mixture too much can make the meatloaf dense.

Chop the onion finely. Large pieces can make the loaf harder to slice without falling apart.

Use the broiler pan rack. It lets excess grease drain away instead of collecting around the meatloaf.

Check the internal temperature. Ground beef needs to reach 160°F, and ground turkey needs to reach 165°F. Do not rely on the cooking time alone.

Let the meatloaf rest before slicing. Give it 5 to 10 minutes out of the oven so the slices hold together.

Use What You Have

Ground beef or turkey? Either works with this recipe. The ingredients and method stay the same, but the required internal temperature depends on which meat you use.

No breadcrumbs? You do not need them. The oats help bind the meatloaf.