Meatloaf Burgers
If regular hamburgers and traditional meatloaf had a baby, this would be it. Meatloaf Burgers are my favorite thing to make when I’m craving that classic comfort food flavor but don’t have the patience for an hour-long bake in a loaf pan. You still get all the delicious results of a hearty meat mixture but it’s shaped into burger patties and cooked in a skillet in just a couple of minutes per side.
Try these burger recipes next: Hamburger Steaks Recipe, Christy’s Smoked Burgers, and Juicy Burgers (with a surprise ingredient!)!
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!
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.
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.
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
How to Make Meatloaf Burgers
1. Mix It Up
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, tomato sauce, bread crumbs (or oats), eggs, onion, bell pepper, and seasonings. Use your hands for the best mix.
2. Shape the Patties
Form into 4 meatloaf patties, each shaped like a doughnut with a hole in the middle for even cooking.
3. Cook
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a little oil. Cook burger patties 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.
4. Serve
Place patties on buns with ketchup, slaw, or your favorite toppings.
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.
Recipe Notes
- Swap the oats. Substitute the oats for bread crumbs or Saltine cracker crumbs if you like.
- Want to add more seasoning? Opt for 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder, 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, or a dash of cayenne pepper for heat.
- Swap the meat. You can totally substitute the ground beef for ground turkey if you prefer. If you want to add more meat, add 2/3 cup of chopped cooked bacon.
Recipe FAQs
What do you serve with a meatloaf burger?
You can make a meatloaf sandwich with coleslaw or your favorite burger toppings, like pickles, fresh tomato slices, and lettuce. Alternatively, serve your meatloaf patties as a main dish with mashed potatoes or parmesan oven fries and fresh green beans.
What toppings go best with meatloaf burgers?
Ketchup is the classic choice, but BBQ sauce, sautéed onions, or even green beans on the side make it a full delicious dinner.
Can I bake these instead of pan-frying?
Sure thing. Place patties on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes, or until cooked through.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef can use lean or ground chuck
- 1 can tomato sauce 8 ounces, can substitute 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup quick oats or cracker crumbs
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/3 cup chopped bell pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 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 1/2 pounds ground beef, 1 can tomato sauce, 1/2 cup quick oats or cracker crumbs, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/3 cup chopped bell pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 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!
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!!