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Meatloaf Without Breadcrumbs

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Meatloaf without breadcrumbs is gluten-free. Ground beef is paired with chopped carrots, celery, parmesan cheese and an easy tomato sauce topping. This recipe is healthier than traditional meatloaf – it’s keto-friendly, paleo, and diabetic friendly.

keto vegetable meatloaf with sprinkled parsley on top sitting in a white dish with a kitchen towel blurred in background.

Meatloaf Without Breadcrumbs

Ready for a delicious gluten-free meatloaf recipe!? It’s actually quite easy to make gluten-free meatloaf from scratch. The process is the same as you would a traditional meatloaf – but without the breadcrumbs.

This meatloaf is denser and a bit more crumbly than what you might be used to. But it’s healthier and delicious! There’s no ketchup – instead the sauce is made with a mixture of tomato paste and coconut aminos (you could also use soy sauce).

These kinds of small tweaks to ingredients can make a big difference to your overall health! The result is an easy, delicious meal you’ll feel good eating and sharing with your family.

This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, paleo, whole 30, and diabetic friendly.

keto vegetable meatloaf with sprinkled parsley on top sitting in a white dish with a kitchen towel blurred in background.

Meatloaf Without Breadcrumbs Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make the meatloaf:

  • Extra Lean Ground Beef – I highly recommend using extra lean ground beef. You’ll get less grease which will make this meatloaf healthier. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken for this recipe.
  • Vegetables – This recipe uses chopped carrots and celery
  • Coconut Aminos – This sauce is gluten-free and soy-free. It’s used to season both the meatloaf and the sauce. A substitution can be made by using soy sauce.
  • Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated parmesan cheese is used.
  • Egg – One egg is used to help hold the meatloaf together.
  • Spices – To flavor the meatloaf you’ll need onion powder, garlic powder, and ground pepper.
  • Meatloaf Sauce – The sauce is poured on top after the meatloaf is cooked. It’s made with tomato paste and coconut aminos (or soy sauce). You can optionally add maple syrup or honey to sweeten it a bit.

Keto Meatloaf Tips and Tricks

  • Use Extra Lean Ground Beef – Leaner ground beef will contain less fat and produce less grease while cooking.
  • Spray The Loaf Pan – Before packing the raw meatloaf into the loaf pan, spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray. I like to use avocado oil spray. This will make it easy for the meatloaf to slip out.
  • Large Wooden Spatula – To transfer the cooked meatloaf onto a serving dish, scoop a large wooden spatula underneath the entire loaf. This will hold it sturdy and prevent breaking as you transfer.
Meatloaf covered in tomato sauce in a white dish with a fork and parsley sprinkled overtop.

Keto Meatloaf FAQs

Do You Cook Vegetables Before Putting Them In Meatloaf?

No. These vegetables are chopped small in the food processor and then added raw to the meatloaf. They do not need to be cooked beforehand.

Do You Drain Fat From Meatloaf?

As you cook the meatloaf you will get grease and fat that drains out. For the healthiest version of meatloaf, you can transfer the meatloaf to a serving dish and discard the excess grease. You can also scrape it out of the baking sheet with a spatula.

What Makes My Meatloaf Fall Apart?

Traditionally, many recipes use breadcrumbs soaked in milk. These are added to the meat which helps to keep it from feeling dry and crumbly. But for many of us who have food allergies, this isn’t an option. Personally, I’m ok with my meatloaf being more crumbly.

What Can I Use Instead Of Breadcrumbs For Keto Meatloaf?

For Keto recipes, you can use arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, and eggs to help hold the meatloaf together. This recipe keeps things simple and just uses eggs, parmesan cheese and minced vegetables.

keto vegetable meatloaf with sauce and parsley on top. In a white dish.

More Ground Beef Recipes

Here are some more gluten-free, sugar-free, keto-friendly recipes to try:

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Meatloaf Without Breadcrumbs

Meatloaf without breadcrumbs is gluten-free. Ground beef is paired with chopped vegetables, and an easy tomato sauce topping. This recipe is healthier than traditional meatloaf – it’s keto, paleo, and diabetic friendly.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

Meatloaf Sauce:

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Add chopped carrots and celery to a food processor or blender. Blend until pieces are small. Note: if you don't have a food processor you can mince the vegetables by hand.
  • Add the chopped vegetables, grated parmesan and ground beef to a large bowl.
  • Break apart the ground beef and mix everything together.
  • In a small bowl, beat one egg with a fork. Stir in the coconut aminos (or soy sauce) onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  • Pour overtop of the ground beef and mix thoroughly.
  • Spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pack the ground beef mixture into the loaf pan and press it down tightly.
  • Gently flip over onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until beef is no longer pink and fully cooked.
  • Use a large wooden spatula to scoop under the entire cooked meatloaf. This will help you transfer it to a serving dish.
  • In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the tomato paste, water, coconut aminos (or soy sauce), Italian seasoning, and maple syrup (sweetener is optional). Let simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Spread the tomato sauce mixture overtop of the meatloaf. Slice and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 234mg | Potassium: 546mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3868IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 3mg

The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.

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