Kathy's Meatloaf

Old-school comfort meatloaf held together with oatmeal, crushed saltines, and a packet of onion soup mix.

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (hamburger) (454 g)
1 egg (50 g)
¼ cup milk (61 g)
- Oat milk — 1:1 Dairy-free option; slightly sweeter
¼ cup ketchup (68 g)
1 packet onion soup mix (28 g)
Lawry's seasoning salt, a few shakes (optional) (~2 g)
¼ tsp black pepper (0.5 g)
⅓ cup old-fashioned oatmeal (30 g)
5 saltine crackers, crumbled (18 g)
- Ritz crackers — same count Richer, butterier flavor; slightly higher calorie
Small handful bread crumbs (optional) (~15 g)

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: onion soup mix, oatmeal, crumbled saltines, bread crumbs (if using), pepper, and Lawry's seasoning (if using). Stir to mix.
Add the egg, milk, and ketchup. Stir until combined.
Add the ground beef last and mix thoroughly until everything is evenly incorporated.
Form the mixture into one or two loaves and place in a baking pan.
Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 1 to 1½ hours, until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) and the loaf is cooked through.

Scale It Up This recipe doubles or triples easily for a bigger crowd.
Don't Overwork the Meat Mix just until combined. Over-handling ground beef makes the meatloaf dense and tough.
Can Also Make Meatballs Roll into golf-ball-sized portions and bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes instead of forming loaves.

Nutrition estimated from ingredients · Per serving (based on 4 servings)

Conservative 30% moisture and fat loss during a long covered bake. 4 servings at ~127 g each.