Mama’s Meatloaf – the BEST meatloaf recipe! Even meatloaf haters will LOVE Mama’s Meatloaf! SO easy and tastes great! Ground beef, egg, oats, onion, salt, pepper, sage, Worcestershire sauce, and milk. Top with a mixture of ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and lemon juice. Use gluten-free oats and Worcestershire sauce if desired. Serve with mashed potatoes and green beans and it is comfort food at its best! Leftovers are great in a sandwich.
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Pin This RecipeEasy Meatloaf Recipe
I am not typically a meatloaf fan, but I make an exception for Mama’s Meatloaf recipe. It is SO good! SO tender and juicy and packed full of amazing flavor. My favorite part of the meatloaf is that yummy ketchup topping. Pile on some mashed potatoes and green beans and you have the best comfort food around! Perfect for a chilly night! Give the leftovers a try in a sandwich. You’ll thank me later.
How To Make Mama’s Meatloaf
Mama’s Meatloaf is very quick and easy to make. Start with some lean ground beef. Add an egg, some oats, onion, salt, pepper, sage, Worcestershire sauce, and milk. Gently mix everything together and place in a loaf pan or meatloaf pan. Top the meatloaf with some ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and a splash of lemon juice. Pop it in the oven and dinner is done. I garnished the cooked meatloaf with a little dried parsley. It makes it look fancy. LOL!
I used a meatloaf pan for this recipe. I love my meatloaf pan! It has an insert that keeps the meatloaf from sitting in the bottom of the pan. This helps keep the grease off the bottom of the meatloaf and makes it so much easier to get it out of the pan!
To make Mama’s Meatloaf gluten-free use gluten-free oats and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free.
Can You Make Meatloaf in Advance?
You can definitely make Mama’s Meatloaf the night before and keep it in the refrigerator overnight. Just pop it in the oven when you get home from work and dinner is a breeze!
Can You Freeze Meatloaf?
Sure! If you are freezing Mama’s Meatloaf unbaked, I recommend waiting to add the ketchup mixture until you are ready to bake. When you are ready to bake the frozen meatloaf, thaw completely in the refrigerator. Top the thawed meatloaf with the ketchup mixture and bake as directed below.
You can also freeze the cooked meatloaf for a quick meal later. I like to go ahead and cut the meatloaf into slices before freezing. To reheat the meatloaf, thaw completely and reheat in the microwave or covered in the oven.
What to Serve With Mama’s Meatloaf?
Mama’s Meatloaf is our go-to meatloaf recipe. It is comfort food at its best. We love to serve Mama’s Meatloaf with some mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. Man, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! Here are a few of our favorite recipes that go great with this meatloaf:
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Million Dollar Mashed Potato Casserole Recipe – the BEST potato casserole EVER!!! Loaded with tons of yummy cheese! Mashed potatoes,…
Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms
Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms Recipe – fresh green beans and mushrooms tossed in olive oil, balsamic, garlic salt, pepper…
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Mama’s Meatloaf
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 1½ lbs. ground beef, use 93% lean
- 1 egg. slightly beaten
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 Tbsp dried minced onion
- 2 tsp salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper or to taste
- ¼ tsp dried rubbed sage or to taste
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ to 1 cup milk
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Mix together ground beef, egg, oats, onion, salt, pepper, sage, Worcestershire sauce, and milk.
- Press meat mixture into a 9×5-inch loaf pan or meatloaf pan.
- Mix together brown sugar, ketchup, dry mustard, and lemon juice. Pour over meatloaf.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until firm.
Notes:
Steph
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I have never made a meatloaf with brown sugar in it before but I have to say this is the best me and my friends have ever eaten. I went exactly by the recipe and it was moist and loaded with flavor. No more plain old meatloaf at my house anymore. This is my forever recipe. Thank you!
Yes, this is a big winner, I use crackers instead of oats, and who ever used turkey should be calling this a Bird Loaf,
Any ideas on what I could sub for milk? My son was just diagnosed with a milk allergy! I don’t want to alter the taste too much 🙁
I’m not sure. I also don’t want to give recommendations as I am not an allergist.
Just used this recipe for Senior lunch at church. I made enjoy for 20+ people. They all loved the meatloaf. They said it reminded them of when they were young! Definitely will use it again!
SO glad it was a hit!
My husband would not eat meatloaf, until I tried this recipe! He even asks for it now! We love it!
That is fantastic!!!
My family LOVES this meatloaf recipe! I have made many different meatloaf recipes over the years and this one seems to be the winner, it even beat Ree Drummonds recipe😊. The only thing I did differently was use turkey meat. We do not eat meat. And I added a dash or two of Tabasco to the sauce on top. We haven’t found a recipe of yours we don’t love! Thank you!!!
It’s impossible to make meatloaf without green pepper and tomato sauce.
I loved this meatloaf. My only criticism is that it wasn’t as tight as meatloaf that I have put breadcrumbs in. I suspect that the gluten free oats is not as absorbent. The sauce was delicious. I will definitely make this again. Thank you for this delicious recipe.
By far the best meatloaf I have ever had.
Thank u for sharing
I’d give it a 10 stars rating if I could! Absolutely fantastic!
This was easy, fast, and delicious! The sauce is magnificent. My family could not stop saying how good it was, which is a BIG WIN in my book! We are a family of 5, including 3 teenagers. There was plenty for everyone. Great recipe, will definitely make this again and often.
Pretty much like my recipe except I let the oats soak in the milk for a few minutes. Love your recipes.
My mom made the WORST meatloaf – even the stray cat wouldn't eat it! I think i'll give her this recipe! can't wait to try it!
It’s been almost 2 years.Did you give it a try as you said you would?