Mouthwatering Meatloaf Burgers
If a classic hamburger and a traditional meatloaf had a baby, this would be the delicious result! My Meatloaf Burgers are what I whip up when I’m craving that comforting, homestyle flavor but don’t have the patience for a long bake. You get all the goodness of a hearty meatloaf, but it’s shaped into patties and pan-fried in just a few minutes per side.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Meatloaf Burgers
- Ready In: 20 minutes
- Serves: 4
- Main Ingredients: ground beef, tomato sauce, quick oats or cracker crumbs, eggs, chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, garlic powder, salt
- Why You'll Love It: Meatloaf Burgers are made with ground beef, tomato sauce, bread crumbs, and seasonings, formed into juicy burger patties, and cooked up in a skillet. They're moist, flavorful, and ready in less time than baking a whole loaf in the oven!
Easy Pan-Fried Meatloaf Burgers
I love me a classic meatloaf recipe just as much as the next gal, but when it’s barbecue season, I want almost everything wrapped in a bun.
So when the family was craving meatloaf, a little lightbulb went off in my head: why not make meatloaf burgers? Y’all, these are so tender and juicy on the inside with that perfect little crust on the outside, giving you that rich, savory flavor in every single bite!
These burgers are just as versatile as a whole loaf of classic meatloaf. You can serve them on hamburger buns with your favorite toppings, turn them into meatloaf sandwiches the next day, or brush them with a little BBQ sauce for a BBQ meatloaf burger that’ll give smash burgers a run for their money!
Reader Rating
“My husband and kids loved them. My husband added mashed potatoes to his meatloaf burger and devoured!” – Kristin
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground beef (lean meat or ground chuck)
- Tomato sauce (or ketchup)
- Quick oats (or bread crumbs)
- Eggs
- Chopped onion
- Chopped bell pepper
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
Before You Get Started
- Choose your buns wisely: Any sturdy sandwich bun works, but I love a soft hamburger bun that soaks up a little of that tomato flavor.
- Keep the patties moist: The tomato sauce and eggs help keep them juicy. Lean meat works, but don’t go too lean. 80/20 ground beef gives the best balance of flavor and tenderness.
- Make-ahead option: You can prep this meatloaf mixture the night before and refrigerate until ready to bake. Just make sure to cover it tightly with plastic wrap.
How to Make Meatloaf Burgers
1. Preheat the Skillet
Start by placing a large skillet over medium heat, then get ready to assemble your meatloaf burgers.
2. Mix It Up
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, tomato sauce, breadcrumbs (or oats), eggs, onion, bell pepper, and seasonings. Use your hands for the best mix.
3. Shape the Patties
Next, form the mixture into 4 meatloaf patties, each shaped like a doughnut with a hole in the middle for even cooking.
4. Cook
Now place your burger patties on the preheated skillet and cook for about 5–7 minutes per side, until browned.
Add 1 cup of water, cover, and reduce to medium heat. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer reaches 160°F.
5. Serve
Place your patties on buns with ketchup, creamy coleslaw, or your favorite toppings.
Now dig in!
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave, air fryer, or skillet.
You can also freeze uncooked or cooked patties for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking as instructed or reheat as mentioned above.
Meatloaf Burgers FAQs
A meatloaf burger is seasoned like a traditional meatloaf, often including breadcrumbs, onion, and specific sauces like ketchup or Worcestershire sauce mixed into the meat. A regular burger, like my Southern grilled cheeseburger, is typically just seasoned with salt and pepper.
I like to make a meatloaf sandwich with my creamy and tangy coleslaw or my favorite burger toppings, like pickles, fresh tomato slices, and lettuce. You can also serve your meatloaf patties as a main dish with some mashed potatoes, parmesan oven fries, and fresh green beans!
You bet! Just place the patties on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes, or until cooked through.
Oh yes! Grill them over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes per side, or until they’re cooked through. I recommend using a grill mat or being extra careful when flipping so they don’t fall apart.
Tried it? Loved it? Rate it! Let me and other readers know what you thought of this recipe by leaving a star rating and a quick comment.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef can use lean or ground chuck
- 1 can tomato sauce 8 ounces, can substitute 3/4 cup ketchup
- ½ cup quick oats or cracker crumbs
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup onion chopped
- ⅓ cup bell pepper chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place a large skillet over medium heat while you prepare the meatloaf burgers.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix with hands until well mixed. Form into 4 doughnut-shaped patties.1 ½ pounds ground beef, 1 can tomato sauce, ½ cup quick oats, 2 eggs, ½ cup onion, ⅓ cup bell pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Place them in the heated skillet and brown on both sides (about 5-7 minutes per side). Add 1 cup of water to the skillet and continue cooking until juices run clear (about 5 minutes or so).
- Serve on your favorite buns, preferably topped with ketchup and slaw. Enjoy!
Notes
- Choose your buns wisely: Any sturdy sandwich bun works, but I love a soft hamburger bun that soaks up a little of that tomato flavor.
- Keep the patties moist: The tomato sauce and eggs help keep them juicy. Lean meat works, but don’t go too lean. 80/20 ground beef gives the best balance of flavor and tenderness.
- Make-ahead option: You can prep this meatloaf mixture the night before and refrigerate until ready to bake. Just make sure to cover it tightly with plastic wrap.
My mom has made meatloaf burgers for years. We ate them like a hamburger steak.
Oh my I thought everyone knew about this! My hamburgers and meatloaf are usually the same recipe. I normally bake mine in either form. I use BBQ sauce instead of tomato or ketchup; Exchange bread crumbs for oatmeal or use beef flavor stuffing mix crushed up. The reason I like to bake them is that I can kinda forget about it while I am making the rest of the meal.
If you use a cupcake pan make sure that you something to catch the grease.
Thanks for sharing your tips with us Maryann!
Yum. I love a meatloaf and a meatloaf sandwich. I tried this once, but it wouldn’t hold together for me. I may have to try it again! Now on to the music…My family is very musical. You give either of them an instrument and they will play it. As for myself, I have decided somebody has to be the audience and God was very generous when I got that talent. I can sit back and clap with the best of them. I have a “music” wall in my house with sayings and a couple of them say, “Music is what feelings sound like” and “where words fail, Music Speaks” I thought of them while I was reading your post.
What wonderful sayings!! Love them!
Thanks for the tip on making donut shaped burgers! Can’t wait to try it out, along with this recipe. It looks amazingly delicious.
I hope you enjoy the recipe Ellen!!!
I miss singing.. last year I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.. the tumor had gone around my vocal chords. I went from a 3 octave soprano with perfect pitch to a 3 wrong note baratone….. I still croak out a song along with the radio but never in front of anyone.. I have my health but there are times I would love to sing again.. Christmas was hard and my dad’s funeral the hardest being we had a foot stompin’ southern gospel sing! ( we celebrated his life and his going home.. no depressing funeral music for his send off) NOW… how lucky am I to have hamburger thawed and just find your meatloaf burgers??? YUMMMMM!!
Thank you for being you!! You cheer me up , make me laugh and give me great ideas for supper!! God Bless!!
Robbie, I am so glad to hear that you are now well. Even if it did take a part of your voice, I am grateful you are well!! I reckon the tough times are what make us appreciate the good ones and if nothing else you can come croak along with me!
Oh yum!!! I think I would have to substitute barbeque sauce for the tomato sauce or ketchup – that’s what I usually do for meatloaf and hamburgers. Love the idea of the hole in the middle – I always get frustrated trying to get the hamburgers to cook in the center and never thought of that!!! Thanks for the awesome recipe and perfect tip! Off to sing while I quilt:)
Singing AND Quilting, what a wonderful day!!
What’s the old sayin’ – you put 40 cooks in a room and you’ve got 40 different recipes for meatloaf! My mamma always used rice instead of oatmeal or breadcrumbs (just pour in good ol’ Minute Rice until it “feels” right!) so that’s how I make it, too! But, think for these wonderful looking burgers I’ll – gasps! – change mamma’s recipe – just for tonight! 🙂
Oh my goodness, I am honored Susan!!