Grandma's Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 10/17/21
Meatloaf

 

mariva16/Getty Images 

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 65 mins
Total: 80 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 1 meatloaf

This is an old-fashioned favorite meatloaf recipe made with lean ground beef, chili sauce or ketchup, oats, and other ingredients and seasonings.

If you use all ground beef, use a ratio of 85/15; it makes a flavorful and juicy meatloaf that isn't super fatty. Or choose ground beef labeled "ground chuck" or " ground round." Fat adds flavor, but it all doesn't have to stay in the loaf. If you like, you can also make it with a combination of ground beef and pork. Use a special meatloaf pan or insert to keep the loaf from resting in the drippings.

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 2 stalk celery, chopped

  • 1/2 cup chopped onion

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef

  • 3/4 cup quick or old-fashioned oats

  • 1/4 cup chili sauce, or ketchup

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 3 tablespoons water, or milk

Steps to Make It

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F

  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped celery and onion; cook until the vegetables are tender, or for about 7 to 9 minutes, stirring frequently.

  3. In a large bowl, mix ground beef or beef and pork mixture, oats, chili sauce or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, beaten egg, celery and onion mixture, and the water or milk.

  4. Pack the meatloaf mixture into a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan or shape it and bake it free-form in a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan or 10-by-15-by-1-inch jelly roll pan.

  5. Bake at 375 F  for 1 hour.

  6. Using 2 spatulas, carefully move meatloaf to a serving plate and slice.

Meatloaf-Making Tips

  • If possible, use fresh ground beef that has not been frozen. Freezing and then thawing reduces some of the natural juices in the beef. If you do use frozen ground beef, thaw it following the package instructions just before making the meatloaf.
  • To check a meatloaf for doneness, use a reliable instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf. Ground beef, pork, and lamb must reach 160 F. For ground turkey or chicken, look for a minimum safe temperature of 165 F.
  • Make two loaves and freeze one for a future meal. Bake an unthawed frozen meatloaf for about 2 hours, or until it reaches 160 F (165 F if there is poultry in the loaf).
  • Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese to a meatloaf for extra flavor and moisture.
  • Sneak some vegetables into the loaf. Add about 1/2 cup of shredded potatoes or carrots, or add some leftover mashed potatoes. Or use some shredded vegetables to replace some of the ground meat.
  • Replace the milk or water with tomato juice or beef or vegetable broth.
  • Use soft fresh bread crumbs instead of oats, or replace the oats with about 1/2 cup of fine dry bread crumbs. For extra fiber, add a few tablespoons of oat bran or wheat bran.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
402 Calories
23g Fat
12g Carbs
34g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 402
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 30%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 132mg 44%
Sodium 837mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 34g
Vitamin C 4mg 20%
Calcium 57mg 4%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 611mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)