Description
Hearty home-style easy dinner oatmeal meatloaf brings comfort to midweek meals with simple ingredients and classic American flavors. Warm family tables welcome this protein-packed dish that satisfies hunger and warms hearts.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (pounds) ground beef, 85% lean
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 medium white/yellow onion
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 6 large sprigs fresh thyme
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsps Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp packed light brown sugar
- 2 tsps Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper hot sauce, such as Tabasco (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation Ritual: Orchestrate oven to 375ºF with rack nestled in middle for uniform thermal circulation.
- Flavor Foundation: Pulverize onion into fine fragments, releasing aromatic essence into expansive mixing vessel while simultaneously mincing thyme leaves with precision.
- Liquid Harmony: Whisk oats, milk, eggs, seasonings into silky emulsion, creating a robust binding medium for meat integration.
- Meat Melding: Tenderly incorporate ground beef into oat blend, massaging gently to maintain protein’s delicate structural integrity without aggressive manipulation.
- Architectural Placement: Seamlessly transfer meat composition into 9×5-inch loaf vessel, sculpting surface with elegant smoothness for aesthetic presentation.
- Culinary Transformation: Roast meatloaf for 45 minutes, allowing flavor molecules to dance and intermingle while meat achieves profound depth.
- Glaze Choreography: Concurrently craft luxurious coating by whisking ketchup, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and optional fiery enhancement into glossy complement.
- Caramelization Crescendo: Extract meatloaf, lavish with prepared glaze, then return to thermal chamber until internal temperature reaches 165ºF and exterior achieves burnished, glistening finish.
- Resting Interlude: Permit meatloaf sanctuary for 15 minutes, enabling internal juices to redistribute and settle into harmonious equilibrium.
- Presentation Finale: Liberate from pan, slice with confident strokes, and serve gloriously warm, revealing succulent interior draped in caramelized splendor.
Notes
- Prevent Tough Texture: Handle ground beef gently and avoid overmixing to keep the meatloaf tender and moist.
- Maximize Flavor Infusion: Grate onions instead of chopping to distribute their flavor more evenly throughout the mixture.
- Ensure Perfect Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 165ºF for safe consumption.
- Glaze Caramelization Tip: Watch the meatloaf closely during the final glazing stage to achieve a beautiful golden-brown finish without burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg