I found Outlands to be very melee-friendly, at least on my Warrior. I don't use elixirs or potions (healing pots the exception). I rarely used stat food, only if had some on me, wouldn't go out and buy it. I loved Outlands on my Warrior, it was fast and not hard at all. I could usually easily take on multiple mobs.
On my Hunter I'm finding it a bit easier then Azeroth. The mobs seem more spread out so I don't worry about the random pather coming up behind me like used to happen on Azertoh alot.
If you can afford them, buy consumables. I have mining/skinning on my new rogue who just hit Outlands, and I have the gold for an epic mount with about 200 to spare. I heard Outlands can be tough on melee classes in particular, this was my first melee class (my other 2 characters being a warlock + mage).
So I went to the AH around level 55 and started stocking up. They made the grind in EPL a bit faster, and certainly helped in Outlands. Level 55 you can start grabbing alot of Outlands things, like certain flasks, almost all elixirs, super healing pots, cooked food buffs, most scrolls. Almost everything you can use at end-game, you can use at 55, and I find them mroe of a buff at this level then at 70.
So on my rogue for example, I've been grinding with
+20 stam food
Elixir of Major Agility
Elixir of Major Fortitude
Scroll of Agility
Scroll of Strength
Coming into Outlands with unenchanted 3100hp, 34dps green swords would normally hurt, but getting fully buffed up helps. I find the stamina food in particular is very cheap, and prices on elixirs weren't too bad either (stacks of 5 for 13g). For 26g thats up to 5 hours of staying buffed with 250hp, 35 agi and 20 crit, definately helps a bit. I found I blew through all the early quests, got some nice rewards and now I'm really rocking. Maybe its my gaming experience, maybe its the buffs, but I found no problems going into Outlands with a terribly under-geared rogue.