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.