Alternative to Bread in Meatloaf?

mommyshortlegs
mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Like most traditional meatloaves, my go-to recipe features bread as a filler. What can I use as a grain-free or less processed alternative?
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Replies

  • littlelily613
    littlelily613 Posts: 769 Member
    Not grain-free, but less processed: rolled oats. They are whole-grain and really good for you!!
  • mommyshortlegs
    mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
    Thank you, little_lily61! I recall my grandmother using oats in her meatloaves, but have shied away from it given the textural difference and my husband's aversion to some textures. ;) I wonder if processing the oats in a food processor (making oat flour, essentially) would help mask the substitution. Of course, this route would mean further processing.

    You wouldn't happen to know the bread slice to rolled oats conversion, would you? Perhaps 1/4 oats (not ground) to 1 slice bread?
  • MoniMoni2u
    MoniMoni2u Posts: 211 Member
    I process the oats in a blender or food processor. As to how much measurement wise? I'm clueless. Try starting with 1/4 cup and see if the meatloaf is the consistency that you want! LOL (Sorry, I eyeball a lot and it useless for internet help to others)

    What about processed (cooked) chick peas?
  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
    I use rice.
  • wookie191
    wookie191 Posts: 1 Member
    I found a low calorie that used mushroom chopped up instead of bread in meatloaf. It really reduced the calories. Of course, you need to like mushrooms, although the flavor of them was not that strong.
  • Topher1978
    Topher1978 Posts: 975 Member
    Yes, I use rolled oats as well.
  • nbsg1980
    nbsg1980 Posts: 7 Member
    I've always used oats... my family LOVES it!
  • RenewedRunner
    RenewedRunner Posts: 423 Member
    Hmm. Growing up we always used rolled oats. Never thought that people put bread in there!

    My Granny's meatloaf recipe:
    Meat
    Rolled Oats
    Raw Egg
    Ketchup
    Worchestershire sauce
    onions

    And she never made hers in to a loaf-it was always formed in to a ball.

    And for those of us who liked it , she would put Kraft cheese on top of the meatloaf balls.
  • Kkleo2102
    Kkleo2102 Posts: 22
    I use quinoa, and then to replace the meat (I don't eat meat), I use lentils.
  • Ge0rgiana
    Ge0rgiana Posts: 1,649 Member
    I believe South Beach has a meatloaf that uses white beans.
  • YoungDoc2B
    YoungDoc2B Posts: 1,593 Member
    Oats! I couldn't even tell the difference. Made a turkey meatloaf last night and it turned out great
  • karylee44
    karylee44 Posts: 892
    rice sounds great..

    i add a half a jar of salsa. because im lazy like that.. :)
  • wbgolden
    wbgolden Posts: 2,066 Member
    crushed pork rinds.
  • Cntrygal81
    Cntrygal81 Posts: 70 Member
    My family's recipe has always used quick oats, and it's my favorite meatloaf ever!
  • ARDuBaie
    ARDuBaie Posts: 378 Member
    Why use a filler? I made a meatloaf on Sunday using bbq sauce (gluten free), celery, onions, carrots, one egg to hold things together, and two pounds of hamburger. I also added salt, pepper, and a bit of oregano. It was yummy.

    If you insist on a filler, you can use rice, polenta, quinoa, or oats.
  • cllovesdw4eva
    cllovesdw4eva Posts: 74
    Quinoa adds a real nice taste to meatloaf in addition to some amazing protein.

    I tried it with mashed chickpeas.....didnt like as much.
  • Ge0rgiana
    Ge0rgiana Posts: 1,649 Member
    crushed pork rinds.

    Oh hell yeah.
  • IamOnMywayNow
    IamOnMywayNow Posts: 470 Member
    Almond flour is great also!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Not grain-free, but less processed: rolled oats. They are whole-grain and really good for you!!

    Yes, this ^^ is what I would use also. Any cooked grain (brown rice, barley, bulgar) should also work just fine. Or you could use quinoa if wanted a non-grain option, though I'm not sure it would work quite as well.
  • WendyBlendy
    WendyBlendy Posts: 124 Member
    These are all great ideas...I will have to try them!!

    As for me...I still use bread in my meatloaf. :/
  • dmzf
    dmzf Posts: 47 Member
    We use cooked quinoa and sauted onions and garlic for extra flavor. :-) Turkey meatloaf is a staple around our house.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    less processed?
    You've taken ground up cow flesh and combined it with ground up fat
    Then mixed in some spices and formed it into a loaf
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    I use equal amounts of Panko and oats, and I use pasta sauce (Full Circle Organic has less sodium), never ketchup. I noticed that if I use a 97/7 ground beef or ground turkey, using the oats makes the meatloaf very dry, so I use two eggs instead of one.
  • danijohnson
    danijohnson Posts: 12 Member
    Ditto on the rolled oats. That's what I always use in my meatloaf. Good luck! :)
  • jessilee119
    jessilee119 Posts: 444 Member
    I haven't tried this with meatloaf yet, but one time I added white beans to my turkey burgers. It tasted great, gave it more protein, and also helps stretch a buck since turkey meat is more expensive and beans are not. :happy: Happy cooking!!
  • littlelily613
    littlelily613 Posts: 769 Member
    I don't know the ratios because I am a vegetarian (so no actual meatloaf recipes lying around). When I ate meat and made meatloaf-like concoctions, I would just eyeball everything anyway.

    If you don't like the texture of rolled oats, you could try oat bran. It is MUCH finer, and due to its fibre content, it is still considered a whole grain (although not TECHNICALLY whole). It's supposed to be really good for you, and it would probably mix into the meat much more easily (in terms of texture).
  • cassiekat
    cassiekat Posts: 1
    oatmeal
  • love22step
    love22step Posts: 1,103 Member
    This is a variation of the old Quaker Oats recipe that I use:

    2 lb extra lean ground beef or lean ground turkey
    1 tsp salt
    1/4 tsp pepper
    1 cup tomato sauce, ketchup, or salsa
    1 lg. egg, beaten
    3/4 c. oatmeal
    1 tbsp soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce
    1/2 cup chopped onion

    1. Preheat oven to 350 F
    2. Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
    3. Pack firmly into an ungreased loaf pan
    4. Bake for 1 1/4 hours
    5. Drain off fat and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing

    You can also make patties and cook them in a lidded frying pan in a tbsp. of oil. Freeze the patties and heat them individually as you want them.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    less processed?
    You've taken ground up cow flesh and combined it with ground up fat
    Then mixed in some spices and formed it into a loaf

    Just about everyone that eats cow flesh eats it ground up, whether it's ground by machine or teeth. It's hard to swallow a cow whole.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    less processed?
    You've taken ground up cow flesh and combined it with ground up fat
    Then mixed in some spices and formed it into a loaf

    Just about everyone that eats cow flesh eats it ground up, whether it's ground by machine or teeth. It's hard to swallow a cow whole.

    Ahh so that kind of processing is ok?

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