This basic old-fashioned meatloaf isn’t fancy, but the flavor and texture are incredible. Serve this moist and tender meatloaf with mashed potatoes and your family’s favorite side vegetables. Meatloaf freezes beautifully, so go ahead and bake two loaves—one for today and another one for the freezer. You can also freeze a prepared unbaked meatloaf. Transfer it to the fridge the day before you plan to bake it.
Old Fashioned Meatloaf Variations
- Vegetables – Add chopped sautéed vegetables, such as mushrooms, carrots, celery, onions, or peppers.
- Spices – Give the old-fashioned meatloaf spicy flavor with a Mexican or Cajun seasoning blend.
- Meat – Use 1/2 pound of veal in the meatloaf.
Old-Fashioned Meatloaf With Oatmeal
This old-fashioned meatloaf never disappoints! The oatmeal and combination of beef and pork make it tender and moist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Meatloaf, Ground Beef, Comfort Food, Ground pork
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 ribs celery (finely chopped)
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 1 large egg
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 3/4 cup oats, quick or old-fashioned
- 1/2 cup chili sauce or ketchup (divided)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Dash ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the chopped celery and onion; cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the onion is translucent and the celery is tender.
- Whisk the egg in a large bowl. Add the ground beef, oats, half of the chili sauce or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, the cooked celery and onion mixture, and the water or milk. Blend thoroughly.
- Pack the meat mixture in a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan or meatloaf pan, or shape it into a loaf in a shallow baking pan.
- Bake the meatloaf in the preheated oven for 1 hour.
- Spread the ketchup over the top and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes longer.
- Let the meatloaf stand for 10 minutes before serving.
