By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 2, 2026
Serves 1
244 cal · 8 min
Meatloaf in a Mug
Recipe GLPR0cff76d91b7e96
A quick and convenient single-serving meatloaf cooked in a microwave-safe mug. Lean ground beef is combined with oats, ketchup, milk, and onion seasoning, then microwaved until cooked through. Perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or meal prep.
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Ingredients
1/4 pound ground beef (85% lean or leaner)
2 tablespoons quick cooking oats
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 teaspoons low-fat 1% milk
1 teaspoon dry onion mix
Cooking spray
Directions
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before beginning.
In a small bowl, combine the ground beef, quick cooking oats, ketchup, milk, and dry onion mix. Stir until evenly mixed; do not overmix.
Lightly coat the inside of a microwave-safe mug or ramekin with cooking spray.
Press the beef mixture firmly into the prepared mug, using your fingers or the back of a spoon to compact it.
Using a small knife or your finger, make a shallow hole in the center of the mixture, extending down to the bottom of the mug; this allows heat to penetrate to the center.
Place the mug in the microwave and cook on HIGH (100% power) for 3 minutes, or until the beef is no longer pink and reaches a safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Let cool for 1 minute before serving.
Comments
All ingredients are staples at any Charlotte grocery chain, and the total cost per serving lands around $2.50–$3.00, driven mainly by the ground beef. The stated eight minutes is misleading: you need five minutes for mixing and seasoning the meat and oats, then three to four minutes in the microwave, but add another two minutes for cooling and plating, putting honest prep time closer to eleven minutes. This is a true single-serving weeknight dish that reheats poorly because the texture becomes rubbery, so treat it as same-night only. It works well for a solo diner who wants hot protein fast, but the texture will never match traditional meatloaf, and families would need to multiply the recipe five or six times.
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