Posts may contain affiliate links that help enable me to continue to provide you with free recipes. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my Privacy Policy for further details.
Growing up I HATED my mother’s meatloaf. Those big nasty chunks of onions and peppers in it were the worst thing ever. I’m surprised my face didn’t permanently stay in the “EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!” squinched up face that I made more often than not. However… (because there’s always a however), I really liked my Grandma’s meatloaf. Now yes she used onions but she minced them so small that in my 7-year-old child brain if you can’t see the onions then they aren’t in there! LOL Now for me meatloaf is a comfort food; it’s honest, homey and just real. It was that dish that you could stretch and stretch turning a simple pound of ground beef into a feast big enough for a huge family. Now granted she always had to make 2-3 of these but there were leftovers for days and trust me, having 4 ginormous non-stop eating older brothers, this never, EVER happened!
I can still remember when I was wee little, we’re talking I had to sit on the table to help out, she would let me mix up the meatloaf. Honestly I thought that was the most awesomest thing ever! It was messy and squishy and just all kinds of fun. Now I know people who freak out about stuff like this but no way man, not me. It’s therapeutic. I like working with my hands; it just seems to add to the experience. To this day every time I make something that requires me to mix up the meat with my hands I always think of her. I’d sit there, legs crossed, elbows deep in a bowl that, at the time, was the biggest thing on earth. I’d squish and squeeze all the while giggling. She’d tell me stories of her childhood and the things she would make with her Mom. What I thought was just us having fun was so much more than that. She was teaching me; teaching me to cook and respect the ingredients. She’d explain why soaking the oats in milk led to a more moist meatloaf. She’d taught me how to tell the varying differences in ‘squishiness’ – when it was too squishy your meatloaf would fall apart when baking. If it didn’t really squish but rather just clumped, it would turn out super dry. But again to me that wasn’t learning, it was squishy fun times!
Now to know my Grandma was to love her. My grandma was totally cool! Sportin’ pink or purple hair, driving a souped up Chevy Nova with white leather interior and candy apple red shimmer paint, cat eye glasses, pedal pushers and taking me to breakfast every Saturday morning to the local drug store. Where yes, she’d take home not only the packets of jelly but often the whole plastic container. *shakes her head* Grandma ALWAYS had change in her bottomless pursed that I swear needed wheels on it. As I got older we used to tease her that she really started out in life as 6’4″ tall but as her purse became heavier and heavier it shrunk her down to her 4′ something frame. She loved her ‘numbers’ and after breakfast she always played the lottery and scratch offs. THAT was her thing!
She just wasn’t a Grandma, she was my friend. And I miss not only her but I miss my friend. She was the woman who taught me how to make pancakes for the first time on my own, how to not take crap and stick up for myself when I was made fun of and how to be appreciate what we have, not what we don’t have. In a perfect world the order of passing would go from the eldest to the youngest however in my life that wasn’t the case. See I had never known my Mom’s parents or my Dad’s father as they had all passed away prior to my birth. So she was my only grandparent. At times I’d get jealous of classmates talking about all of their grandparents but she’d remind me that it wasn’t about quantity but rather quality. God she was so right. She was iconic to me. So when my Mom passed away when I was 18 and then my father (her son) when I was 22 I felt completely lost. I felt orphaned – even though I had 5 siblings it just wasn’t the same. They weren’t Mom & Dad. However I had Grandma. She consoled me and understood my anger and how I felt. She too felt it too. I can still remember her saying “a parent should not have to bury their child” and then burst into tears. I think we honestly cried all day. However through those tears we would talk and then discuss them both. We’d laugh at the silly times we all had, events from the past and she helped me realize that while they may not still be here on earth that they were forever with me – they were in my heart, my thoughts and every time I looked in the mirror, there they were. It’s because of her I started to feel again, started to love and let go.
As the years went by Grandma came to live with us and she had developed dementia often reverting back to her childhood. I took this really hard and at times would get so angry because I wanted, no, needed my Grandma back. However I’d sit with her and all I would have to do was look into her big blue eyes and there she was; there my Dad was too. She was still there. We’d talk about current things and then in an instant she’d revert back to a conversation she thought she had just yesterday with her Mom. It was in those times I learned so much more about her childhood, my family history. It was my turn now to take care of her; to nurture and protect her.
It’s been years now since she’s passed away however she’s forever with me. I can see her, Mom & Dad sitting at the big kitchen table in the sky watching over me; guiding me not only in the kitchen but in life in general.
PrintGrandma’s Old Fashioned Meatloaf
Find more fantabulous recipes, tips and tricks at www.thekitchenwhisperer.net. Also, join our TKW Family on Facebook
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20
- 1 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup minced onions
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- 3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats (regular or gluten free oats)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 15-ounce can tomato soup, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F, rack in the middle. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray. In a large bowl add the oats and milk and gently mix. Set aside for 15 minutes to allow the oats to soak in the milk.
- After 15 minutes strain out the milk into a separate container but do not discard. *If there is no milk left, it’s OK. Some brands of oats suck up all the milk while others do not.
- In the bowl the oats are in, add the ground beef, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, steak seasoning, garlic, onions, ketchup, and 3 tablespoon of tomato soup.
- Just combine but try not to overwork it as it will get tough. If the mixture is too wet, add in 1-2 more tablespoon of oats (don’t worry if they aren’t soaked). If too dry, add in the milk 1-2 tablespoon at a time. If you have no milk left as your oats sucked it all up just add more milk or water. You want the mixture to be pretty moist but firm enough to hold a shape.
- In the bowl gently press together.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking sheet and using your hands, form a loaf that is about 12 inches long, 6 inches wide, and about 2 1/2 inches tall. The loaf should be smooth and have rounded edges. This will help the loaf stay together when serving.
- Bake for 30 minutes, remove from the oven, and spread the remaining tomato soup on top of the meatloaf.
- Continue baking for another 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Serve this with Creamy Perfect Mashed Potatoes
This dish pairs PERFECTLY with my Creamy Perfect Mashed Potatoes!
Looking for a vegetarian version of my meatloaf? This Ultimate Mushroom Veggie Meatloaf OUTSTANDING!!!
Dee says
Is the milk to rolled oats ratio correct? I don’t see how you will have left over milk from 1/4 cup of milk to 1-1/4 cup of oats.
TKWAdmin says
Hi Dee!
Yes it’s correct. In the instructions it doesn’t say you’ll have a 1/4 cup of milk left. You soak the oats in that much milk. Then, when you go to put the soaked oats into the mix, you strain the oats and reserve any milk that wasn’t absorbed. You should only have a few Tbl of milk not absorbed.
Make sense?
Best Kitchen Wishes!
TKWAdmin says
Plus you’re only letting it soak for 15 minutes. That’s not enough time for letting the oats to soak up all of the milk. You don’t want the oats mushy, just softened.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Lindsay says
I’m making this as we speak and 1/4c milk barely wet 1 1/4 c oats…I ended up adding another 1/4c, let them soak for 15 min and still didn’t have any leftover milk after straining…
TKWAdmin says
Hi Lindsay,
Are you using old fashioned oats and not instant or quick cooking? Old fashioned won’t suck up all the milk in 15 minutes. It’s just enough to soften them.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Monica says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!! I was looking for a way to take the breadcrumbs out of meatloaf and the oats are a perfect substitution! This is the best meat loaf I’ve ever had! My whole family loves when I make this. I also use ground turkey instead of beef and it is delicious as well. Thanks again!
TKWAdmin says
Aw thank you so very much Monica! I really appreciate it! I’ll mix it up as well like you did and use ground turkey. I actually just made a BBQ meatloaf using bbq sauce instead of the tomato aspect and it was EPIC on a sandwich with mashed potatoes and onion straws. It’s a MUST-TRY!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Mia says
FYI. I’m in the middle of cooking this and realized that the ingredients list Worcestershire sauce, but it isn’t in the steps. I’m sure it would have been a great addition. 🙂
TKWAdmin says
Ah fixed it, thanks! It went in with the rest of the ingredients into the meat mixture.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Linda Prosser says
Hello! I just wanted to thank you for your wonderful story about your grandmother. I didn’t have a relationship with any of my grandparents like that – but my husband has many stories of his maternal grandmother (I knew her as well), that I envy. His mother is just like her, and at 95 years old – has left an indelible impression on me, and our children. I hope I can leave my own 7 grandkids and 2 great-grandkids with some happy memories of their own.
I am going to try your Grandma’s meatloaf this week!
Best Wishes, and thanks for this post!
TKWAdmin says
Hi Linda,
I’m sure you grandkids and great grandkids are already blessed to have so many amazing memories thanks to you.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Amy says
I am assuming you mix the worchestershire sauce in with the meat?
kristyn keen says
I’m going to try this recipe tonight. What is the reason you don’t use a meatloaf pan? I’ve never made meatloaf any other way:)
TKWAdmin says
Hi Kristyn,
I actually don’t own one and neither did Mom/Grandma. This recipe you don’t need it as you can form it on the pan and as it bakes, it holds the shape. I think the benefit of using a meatloaf pan is that you get that uniform shape and most have a built in drip pan. What I love about the free form is that you get a killer crust on the meatloaf.
Either way though – with or without the meatloaf pan, you’ll love this recipe.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Lisa says
In my early years of cooking, I used a loaf pan but found the fats remained trapped. I love the way the loaves get a caramelization on the outside when not using a loaf pan but cooking on a parchment lined sheet pan. The parchment tends to soak up the extra liquid but leaves a tender non-greasy loaf in it’s place. Loved the grandma story – I try to be that grandma for my grand kids. Pay it forward!
TKWAdmin says
I’m sure you’re an amazing grandma Lisa! Yes, my too – I don’t like using a loaf pan and getting that fat trapped in.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Ann Hall says
I love meatloaf and I loved my Granny and gram. However, my Granny was the cook of the two and I beleive she probably could have made dirt pies taste good..lol. I loved and related to your story which was so beautifully detailed out which brought back my own childhood memories. Thanks for the recipe, sounds so good. I will be trying it today!! I am now a granny to a 7 year old and meatloaf is his favorite as well. Have a blessed day, Granny Ann
TKWAdmin says
Aw thank you so much Ann! I really appreciate your feedback! haha oh yeah my Gram could make those dirt pies too 😉
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Andrea says
Awesome story..brought me to tears. In many ways can relate to it…right in the middle was about to stop reading but didnt instead read on in tears …We Love our grandmas..very worried in the 1st symptoms slowly approachg..not really..of dementia with my Grandma as well. Looking @it as a learning experience though another reason why i adapted to your story. Well wish me luck&bless you&yours!!ALWAYS GOOD EATS KEEP ME SMILING????????
TKWAdmin says
Hi Andrea,
Aw I’m sorry you were brought to tears but thankfully they were happy tears. I wish you nothing but luck and love my friend!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
De says
Enjoy the site and recipes with all your shared stories.
Thank you
TKWAdmin says
Thank you so much De!
Best Kitchen Wishes!