Quick Look at the Best Healthy Meatloaf Recipe
- Ready In: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Serves: 4-5
- Main Ingredients: ground beef, ground pork, oats, milk, egg, onion and seasonings
- Dietary Info: dairy-free, gluten-free, Whole30/Paleo-friendly, family favorite
- Protein: over 35g protein per serving!
- Serving: highly recommend an easy oven baked potato that can cook right along with this.
- TWS Origin: This healthy meatloaf with oats is one that is near and dear to my heart. It is my mom’s recipe that she made when I was a little girl. An all-time favorite dinner of my childhood and now it makes me so happy to cook it for my family (and they request it about every week). Enjoy this tried-and-true recipe that has been a blog-favorite for YEARS!
Share and summarize this recipe:
Key Ingredients + Substitutions
Be sure to see the recipe card below for a full listing of ingredients, instructions, and estimated nutritional information.
- Ground Beef + Ground Pork – highly recommend this ground meat combination, the flavor is incredible. However, if you don’t have ground pork then use 1 1/2 pounds ground beef and it will still be delicious.
- Oats – any type of oats can be used (we have tested them all – old fashioned, rolled or quick oats). To keep it gluten-free make sure they are certified gluten-free.
- Egg – just one to work as the binding agent to hold it all together!
- Almond Milk – feel free to swap it out for any plant-based milk or regular milk, if dairy isn’t a concern.
How To Make Healthy Meatloaf
Step 1– Put all of the meatloaf ingredients in a bowl.
Step 2 – Mix to fully combine.
Step 3 – Spread the meat mixture in a loaf pan and sprinkle the top with salt and pepper.
Step 4 – Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
Looking to Cut Down on the Cook Time?
If you are short on time, try our mini meatloaf muffins that have the same delicious flavor but are fully cooked in about 15-20 minutes!
Step 5 – Let rest for 5 minutes, slice and serve!
Best Ways To Serve Healthy Meatloaf
Traditionally Momma’s healthy meatloaf is sliced and drizzled with ketchup, homemade BBQ sauce, or a simple meatloaf glaze. Any of these would be the perfect compliment to this dinner. For side dishes, I recommend oven baked potatoes (with dairy-free sour cream), simple roasted broccolini, sautรฉed zucchini, and easy herbed potatoes.
Healthy Meatloaf FAQs
Yes! ย This recipe is Paleo/Whole30 compliant, but if you aren’t concerned with either of those two lifestyles then you can use oats instead of the almond flour! ย That’s actually how I grew up eating it, but the almond flour works great too!
No cover is needed and keeping it uncovered will give a nice little crust on top.
No problem, simply hit the button to double (2x) or triple (3x) the recipe and put them in their own separate bread pans. They can all bake at the same time for the same length of time.
Yes, prep it all the way to placing it in the bread pan (just before you would put it in the oven). Then wrap with aluminum foil, or whatever works for you, and store it in the fridge overnight until you are ready to bake it!
Yes, mix everything in a bowl, place it in the bread pan, wrap in plastic wrap, place in a freezer safe bag, and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then bake according to the recipe card. If you do choose the freezing option, make sure you use fresh ground beef/pork that hasn’t been priorly frozen.
If you have a smoker, you definitely need to try our delicious smoked meatloaf recipe!
Other Family Dinner Recipes You Might Like
Made this recipe and loved it?!
We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review โ it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
Follow Us on Social
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats, sub almond flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional Serving Suggestions:
- ketchup
- BBQ sauce
- meatloaf glaze
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350โ.
- Combine: Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix thoroughly (feel free to use your hands) until well-combined.
- Bake: Place mixture in a bread pan, making sure it is evenly spread out. Sprinkle a little extra salt and pepper on top for a little "crust" on top (optional). Bake in the preheated oven for 1.5 hours.
- Cool: Let cool slightly before transferring to a plate and cutting it into thick pieces with a sharp knife.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately!
Video
Notes
- Ground Beef/Ground Pork: if you don’t have ground pork, you can use 1.5 pounds total of ground beef.
- Spraying Bread Pan Beforehand: No need to spray the bread pan before use, there is enough fat in the meat that it doesn’t end up sticking. But if you want to, it doesn’t hurt.
- Whole30/Paleo: use almond flour instead of old fashioned oats.ย
- Gluten-Free: make sure the oats are certified gluten-free or sub for almond flour.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. It makes really good leftovers!
- Serving: I love serving these with oven baked potatoes and steamed broccoli!ย
Bridget says
Delicious! So easy and brought right back to my childhood.
Jen says
Do you have any advise on no egg version? Cooking for family with egg allergy. Leave out or substitute?
Katie says
Easy and best paleo or whole 30 meatloaf recipe!
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Katie!!
Sherry says
My family loved this meatloaf. Definitely will make again!
Rhonda Cassar says
Made this with the oatmeal and smoked it, using a suger-free ketchup and Worcestershire glaze. OMG!!!! This was so, so good! It was so quick and easy to put together that I had my husband run out for another pound of burger to make one for my neighbors who just brought a baby home that morning. They asked 2x a day for the recipe before I sent them the link. This is definitely going into the regular rotation!!
Erin says
That is so awesome to hear!!! Glad you all enjoyed it!
Jenny says
Would you recommend canned coconut milk or coconut milk in a carton (refrigerated version) if substituting for almond milk?
Erin says
I would probably just use the carton version!
Siri says
I have made this recipe over and over again and itโs great! My whole family loves it!!
Erin says
I am so happy you have enjoyed it, Siri!! Such a family favorite in our house too ๐ Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review + feedback – I really appreciate it!
Mimi says
Love this recipe! We’ve made it a few times now and it never disappoints. I was surprised at first that the meatloaf shrinks up a bit in the pan while it’s baking, but it’s a good size serving for 4 people, especially if you have some nice sides!
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Mimi! Yeah if you use a leaner meat it won’t shrink as much, but you will lose a bit on the flavor side! Totally personal preference :). Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback – I really appreciate it!
Heather says
I made this tonight using the Whole30 version, and added a layer of compliant ketchup in the last ten minutes of baking. It was very good; the whole family loved it! Thought I would have more leftovers, but we gobbled it up!
Erin says
Thanks, Heather!! I know, we have the same problem ๐ never enough leftovers! Thank you so much for the feedback!
Toni Bhatia says
I would love to make this for my family but my son is allergic to nuts. Could i substitute the almond flour and milk for coconut? Iโm on whole 30 so i canโt use it flour.
Erin says
Hi Toni! You can definitely substitute coconut milk for the almond milk. I have never tried coconut flour instead of the almond flour, but I think it should bind everything together in a similar fashion, I just can’t guarantee it since I have never personally tried it! Definitely report back if you do try!!