Gluten-Free Meatloaf With Oatmeal Recipe

Meatloaf is one of those timeless classics, a comforting dish that you come back to time and time again. A national favorite for decades, meatloaf is as versatile as it is delicious, and best of all it only takes 10 minutes to create. Once all of the ingredients are mixed together the meatloaf just sits in the oven, allowing you to get on with your evening fuss-free!

This meatloaf recipe uses oats in place of breadcrumbs, which is a simple and fantastic swap. Oats are a healthier option than breadcrumbs, they help to keep your meatloaf moist, and they are just as good at binding together the other ingredients. Plus, they are an easy and safe way to make meatloaf gluten-free, provided you buy certified gluten-free oats.

Great eaten hot or cold, meatloaf is delicious served alongside potatoes in any style; mashed, roasted, or as a potato salad, all you need to finish the meal off are some freshly steamed veggies; and don't forget that tangy tomato barbecue sauce! Read on to find out how simple it is to make this gluten-free meatloaf with oatmeal created by Tasting Table recipe developer Jennine Rye. 

To make this gluten-free meatloaf with oatmeal recipe, first you must gather the ingredients. You will want ground beef, ground pork, an onion, gluten-free oats, eggs, milk, ketchup, wholegrain mustard, garlic powder, dried parsley, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and smoked streaky bacon.

To make sure that this recipe is entirely gluten-free you will want to check the back of your Worcestershire sauce bottle. Many brands of Worcestershire sauce are certified gluten-free, but some do contain barley malt vinegar which is glutenous, so it's always good to double-check the ingredients list!

It may feel decadent including two types of minced meat in your meatloaf, but trust us, it makes all the difference to the end dish. Beef and pork both add different components to the meatloaf, including fats to make sure it says deliciously moist and flavor to give it that rich, meaty taste.

To begin this meatloaf recipe, you will want to add the beef and the pork mince, the chopped onion, the oats, the eggs, the milk, the ketchup, the wholegrain mustard, the dried herbs, the seasoning, and the Worcestershire sauce to a food processor. Then, simply allow the food processor to blend all of the ingredients together, and then transfer the meatloaf mixture to a 2lb loaf tin.

To complete the meatloaf, smooth the top of the mixture down to create a flat surface, and then cover the top with overlapping slices of streaky bacon. Wrap the loaf tin in a sheet of aluminum foil and then place it into the oven to slow cook for 2 hours. Slow cooking the meatloaf helps to keep it deliciously moist and flavorful.

Once the meatloaf is cooked, it is important to allow it to rest a while before serving, so that the muscle fibers can relax and retain all of the delicious juices. It will also make cutting the meatloaf easier and will stop it from crumbling. This meatloaf can be enjoyed either hot or cold, making it a wonderful dinner option or a similarly great picnic food. Once the meatloaf is cool, store it in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 3 days.