Meatloaf Recipe

5 from 3 votes

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Our meatloaf recipe is a family favorite.

This easy meatloaf is a kid-friendly meal that is ready to eat in an hour, for about $10.

Dinner time doesn’t get any better than this which is why we think it is the best meatloaf ever!

Serving plate with two slicres of meatloaf on it with green beans.

Our Favorite Meatloaf Recipe

We love this meatloaf recipe for too many reasons to list.

But I’m going to try and explain some of the big ones to you.

Sercing platter of whole meatloaf cut into slices.

With just a few ingredients, you can put this simple meatloaf recipe together in a matter of minutes.

Pop it in the oven and have it on the table in less than an hour.

All for about $10.

A piece of food on a plate, with Meatloaf

What’s in this Meatloaf Recipe

  • Ground turkey (or ground beef)
  • Pork sausage
  • Oatmeal and breadcrumbs
  • Barbecue sauce
  • Egg
  • Onion, garlic, carrots, and sweet pepper
  • Salt and Pepper

It wasn’t that long ago when the mention of meatloaf for dinner usually meant some hamburger mixed with ketchup and salt and pepper that you would bake in the oven.

Maybe, just maybe, a diced up green pepper if you really wanted to live it up.

Think back to the days of Lawrence Welk and June Cleaver.

Plate of meatloaf with whole carrots on the side.

With just a little tweaking we take an old-fashioned meatloaf recipe and bring it to a whole new level.
The results are mouthwatering.
New colors start to appear, more complex aromas, and suddenly this meatloaf recipe has lost its greasy spoon personality.
Platter of metloaf cut into portions with green beans on the side.
Learn how to make meatloaf from Platter Talk.

How to Make this Easy Meatloaf Recipe

Our use of sausage, mixed with beef, sets the stage for our favorite meatloaf.

Sausage adds both flavor and moisture to any dish.

To save some fat calories but not sacrifice the taste, we often use Italian flavored Turkey sausage instead of pork sausage for our meatloaf.

Process steps of making meatloaf, showing the ingredients being mixed.

1. Start by mixing the beef and sausage in a large mixing bowl.

2. Add some egg to the meat mixture to act as a binding agent and help hold the meatloaf together.

3. We make this meatloaf with oatmeal, just like you grew up eating.  Somethings are just meant to be!

4. Breadcrumbs will add additional flavor and structure to your meatloaf.

  • Use plain or Italian-flavored breadcrumbs for this recipe.
Barbecue sacue, galric, and fresh carrots being added to meatloaf mixture.
It’s not just sausage that gives this meatloaf a flavor boost!

Besides sausage, we take this easy meatloaf recipe to the next level by adding a few other ordinary and inexpensive ingredients.

Barbecue Sauce

Use a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce to amp the flavor of this meatloaf. Half will go into the mixture and then the other half will be spread on top of the meatloaf before baking.

Our friend from Kevin is Cooking shows you how to make your own barbecue sauce, it’s one of our favorites for many different foods, including this meatloaf.

Garlic

Minced garlic is another flavor booster for this meatloaf.

You can buy minced garlic in the store which, is a big time-saver. We always have a jar in the fridge and add it to many of our soups and entrees.

Fresh Carrots and Sweet Bell Peppers

This fresh produce gives flavor and texture to the meatloaf, and even a pinch of health!

Unbaked meatloaf with barbecue sauce on top.

When you have the meatloaf mixed and ready to bake, just put it in a greased loaf pan.

Top it with more barbecue sauce and then bake it for 45 minutes, uncovered, at 350° F.

Fresh baked meatloaf in a pan.

You can top the meatloaf with more barbecue sauce when it comes out of the oven.

We certainly won’t judge you for this!

A close up of a plate of food with a fork, with Meatloaf and Platter

Our favorite meatloaf recipe is loved by friends and family alike.

It’s fast to make, inexpensive, and mouthwateringly delicious.

You’re going to love this meatloaf too!

Dan from Platter Talk standing in the kitchen.

dan


What to Serve with Meatloaf

Pan of meatloaf with mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and homemade bread.

Garlic mashed potatoes
Buttered carrots with rosemary
Buttery garlic green beans
Easy homemade bread

Don’t miss our apple butter meatloaf recipe, as well!

Other delicious dinners


Recommended Products

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Meatloaf Recipe

5 from 3 votes
This easy meatloaf is a kid-friendly meal that feeds 8 people for about $10. It's little wonder that I think this is the best meatloaf ever!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Yield: 8 people

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb Ground turkey
  • 1 lb Ground sausage, I like to use sweet Italin sausage
  • 1 cup Oatmeal
  • 3/4 cup Breadcrumbs, Italian-style
  • 12 oz Barbecue sauce, divided, plus more for serving if desired.
  • 1/2 Onion, Finely diced
  • 1 cup Carrots, Fresh, shredded
  • 1 Egg, Beaten
  • 3 Garlic cloves , Crushed
  • 1 tbsp Kosher salt
  • 2 tsp Black pepper, Fresh ground.

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 350° F. Using a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the turkey and the sausage and mix thoroughly.
  • Add the egg, oatmeal, and breadcrumbs and continue to mix. Stir in the barbecue sauce and remaining ingredients until everything is blended together.
  • Lightly oil a standard-size loaf pan.  Place the meat mixture into the loaf pan and shape the top to conform with the contour of the pan.  Next, pour an additional 1/2 cup barbecue sauce on top of meat and distribute evenly with spoon or spatula.
  • Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes until meat is cooked throughout.

Nutrition

Calories: 390kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 92mg, Sodium: 1793mg, Potassium: 527mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 2855IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 56mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: All American, Comfort food
Tried this recipe?Mention @plattertalk or tag #plattertalk!
Updated from the original post of April 16, 2013

Meet the Platter Talk Guys

Dan & Scott split their time between Wisconsin and Southwest Florida and are dads to six boys. Good food runs through their veins, and they love showing others how to cook easy recipes.

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7 Comments

  1. Yum! My kids love meatloaf! I can’t wait to make this, I hope it turns out as pretty as your pictures!