Amish Meatloaf Recipe
Indulge in the hearty flavors of traditional Amish cuisine with this simple and wholesome Amish Meatloaf with oats.
This timeless recipe combines the comforting taste of oats with savory ground meat and tomato juice, creating a dish that's both satisfying and easy to prepare.
Whether you're a seasoned cook or a kitchen novice, this delicious Amish Meatloaf recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
Let me show you how to create a delicious and nourishing dish that captures the essence of Amish home cooking.
Ingredients
- Ground Meat: Use your favorite combination of ground meats. I typically use 85/15 beef (ground round) to make meatloaf. Or I use a combination of ground chuck and turkey burger or venison. Combining different ground meats adds depth of flavor and ensures a moist texture. (I do not recommend making meatloaf with 70/13 ground beef - it is very fatty. Lean ground beef is better for making meatloaf. Although, if your meat is too lean, you'll end up with a drier meatloaf.)
- Tomato Juice provides moisture to keep the meatloaf tender and adds a hint of natural sweetness.
- Quick Oats act as a binder, holding the meatloaf together, and contributes a wholesome texture.
- Eggs bind the ingredients, ensuring the meatloaf holds its shape when baked.
- Chopped Onion adds savory flavor and texture to the meatloaf.
- Garlic infuses a rich, aromatic garlic flavor into the meat mixture.
- Chili Powder introduces a warm and slightly spicy kick to enhance the overall taste.
- Seasoned Salt provides a balanced blend of salt and spices, elevating the seasoning.
- Garlic Salt adds more garlic flavor and a touch of saltiness to enhance the savory profile.
- Black Pepper contributes a pungent and mildly spicy flavor.
- Oregano (optional) if added, brings a subtle earthy and herbal note for added depth.
These ingredients work together to create a flavorful, moist, and well-textured meatloaf. Adjust optional elements like oregano based on personal preference.
Easy Amish Meatloaf Recipe
This 2 lb. meatloaf recipe with oatmeal is very easy to make.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomato juice, quick oats, beaten eggs, chopped onion, minced garlic, and seasonings. Add 2 pounds of ground burger to the mixture and combine without overmixing.
Transfer the meat mixture to a baking pan and shape it into a loaf.
Prepare the glaze by mixing ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, dried onion flakes (or minced onion), and smoked paprika. Spoon half of the glaze over the top.
Cover and bake for one hour. Pour the remaining ketchup glaze over the top of the meatloaf and bake, uncovered, for an additional 10 - 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let the meatloaf rest for about 10 - 15 minutes before cutting into slices. Remove the loaf from the pan, cut it into slices, and serve.
Comfort Food
Amish meatloaf with oats is the ultimate comfort food.
And there's nothing quite like having a Sunday dinner, with the whole family gathered around the table, enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal of scalloped potatoes, classic Amish meatloaf, green beans, and a side lettuce salad.
(Or whatever sides you want to serve with meatloaf. Mashed potatoes, parmesan potatoes, creamed peas, baked corn, etc. all go well with Amish meatloaf.)
There is something beautiful about family being gathered around the table, enjoying each other's company while enjoying good food. And sadly, this is something that has been lost in today's society.
Family Around the Table for Mom's Old Fashioned Meatloaf
Growing up, my Amish dad insisted that the family has to gather around the table for three meals a day, if at all possible.
Of course, when the kids were in school, they weren't home for lunch. And when teens started getting jobs outside of the home, they were not there for every meal either. But if we were at home, we had to sit down with the family at mealtime.
Sometimes it really irritated me. If I was out mowing the yard and wanted to quickly finish, I didn't feel like stopping to go eat. Or there were times I wanted to skip meals because I was trying to lose weight or fasting for some reason.
But we still had to sit down with the family, even if we didn't want to eat. And we always had to wait until everyone was finished eating before we were allowed to leave the table.
This may sound a bit extreme, and it was. But the Amish put a lot of value on that family time together.
And honestly, we can take a few lessons from them on this. The traditional home and family have become broken over the last century, and we have a lot more problems in our society because of it.
Gluten-free Meatloaf with Oats (Meatloaf without Breadcrumbs)
I have tried numerous meatloaf recipes over the years, and there are many good recipes available. Some of them use bread crumbs instead of oats.
But my Amish mom always used oats and tomato juice in her meatloaf. And I like that this recipe is gluten-free meatloaf with oats.
It seems like there are a lot of people in our country nowadays who are on gluten-free diets because of allergy issues. And they are always looking for gluten-free recipes. So I am quite happy to share with you a delicious gluten-free meatloaf recipe.
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Dutch Meatloaf in a Loaf Pan or Roaster
Growing up on the farm, we always butchered our own cows. (Perhaps a cow was crippled or wasn't giving very much milk.) So there was always plenty of beef in our freezer.
And my mom often served this old-fashioned meatloaf with oats to a large crowd of guests. She formed two large loaves in a big roaster.
I used to always bake meatloaf in a loaf pan, but I've discovered it turns out better when I bake it in a 9x13" pan or a roaster. (A loaf pan is a touch small for a 2-pound meatloaf.)
It might be easier to create a loaf shape in a loaf pan. But you can shape it in any size pan, and it keeps its shape. So a loaf pan is not required to make meatloaf.
Venison Meatloaf
You can also make this meatloaf with venison.
I don't have lots of farm-raised beef in the freezer nowadays. But my husband and our sons like to deer hunt in the fall. So we usually get to freeze some deer meat. And, of course, I am always happy to have extra meat in the freezer.
However, venison does not have a lot of fat, so it is drier than ground beef.
Some people like to add a bit of pork fat to their venison for added moisture. But when I make burgers or meatloaf, I often use a mixture of ground chuck and venison. It's great to use together, as it balances the fat content.
I hope you enjoy this easy recipe for Amish meatloaf with oats! If you get to try it, I'd love it if you left a comment and star rating below.
For a fun variation on meatloaf, try my recipe for mini cheesy meatloaves.
Visit my shop to purchase my Amish cookbook
Amish Meatloaf Recipe with Oats
Ingredients
- 2 lb. hamburger
- 3/4 c. tomato juice
- 3/4 c. quick oats
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 c. chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tsp. chili powder
- 1 1/4 tsp. seasoned salt
- 1 tsp. garlic salt
- 3/4 - 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. oregano (optional)
Glaze:
- 1/2 c. ketchup
- 1 Tbs. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. mustard
- 1 tsp. dried onion flakes
- 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Mix together oats, juice, eggs, and seasonings.3/4 c. tomato juice, 3/4 c. quick oats, 2 eggs, 1/4 c. chopped onion, 1 clove garlic, minced, 2 tsp. chili powder, 1 1/4 tsp. seasoned salt, 1 tsp. garlic salt, 3/4 - 1 tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. oregano (optional)
- Add burger and mix until combined. Do not overmix.2 lb. hamburger
- Place the meat mixture into a baking pan and shape it into a loaf. Spoon half of the glaze over the top.1/2 c. ketchup, 1 Tbs. brown sugar, 1 tsp. mustard, 1 tsp. dried onion flakes, 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
- Cover and bake for one hour.
- Pour the remaining glaze over the top and bake, uncovered, for an additional 10 - 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let it rest for about 10 - 15 minutes before cutting it into slices, to keep it from crumbling.
- Cover and refrigerate leftovers, and use within 3 days. Or wrap it airtight and freeze up to 3 months.
Notes
Nutrition
Check out my YouTube channel at "My Amish Heritage" where I teach you how to say PA Dutch words and phrases.
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