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    Home » Course » Main Course

    The Best Gluten Free Meatloaf

    Published: Apr 26, 2021 · Modified: Mar 10, 2023 by Erin Carter · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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    This is the best gluten free meatloaf recipe! It's made without breadcrumbs, yet is packed with flavour and is never dry or boring. You'll love how simple and easy it is to make using basic ingredients like ground beef, ketchup, carrots, and bbq sauce. This kid-friendly recipe is about to become a staple in your kitchen!

    A meatloaf topped with barbecue sauce that a is cut into pieces.

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • This healthy meatloaf is full of flavour and turns out nice and moist, never dry or boring.
    • This simple and easy meatloaf is made without breadcrumbs and instead uses almond flour as a binder.
    • It's simple and easy to make and uses pantry staples that I bet you already have in your home.
    • It's kid friendly and also makes great leftovers so it's perfect for meal prep.
    • This homemade meatloaf freezes really well. 
    • It's made in one bowl so the clean up is so quick and easy!
    • Besides being gluten free, this meatloaf is also dairy free, milk free, grain free, gf, paleo and Whole30 compliant.

    Taste and texture:

    This meatloaf is thick, juicy and full of flavour! It's not at all dry and the added sauces and spices all combine perfectly to give this meatloaf the best taste. It's not spicy but is just so flavourful.

    Key ingredients and substitutions:

    • Ground beef - the base of this recipe is ground beef. It gives it a lot of flavour and the fat helps keep it moist.
    • Shredded carrots - to help keep this meatloaf nice and moist and give it even more flavour and texture. Plus carrots are full of vitamins and minerals!
    • BBQ sauce - you can either use store bought bbq sauce or make your own. This helps add both flavour and moisture to this meatloaf recipe. 
    • Ketchup - to help give this meatloaf so much flavour! This is my favourite store bought ketchup but you can also use homemade ketchup if you prefer. 
    • Almond flour - this works so well as a binder! It also gives this meatloaf some extra healthy fats and ensures this meatloaf is made without breadcrumbs. Instead of almond flour you could use gluten free oats, crushed gluten free crackers, or almond meal. 

    How to make this recipe:

    Step one:

    First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Step two:

    Next, add all the ingredients to a large bowl and stir well until combined.

    A bowl full of ingredients needed to make a gluten free meatloaf.

    Step three:

    Now grease a bread pan (or line it with parchment paper) and transfer the ground beef mixture to the pan. Spread it into an even, flat layer. Cook the loaf for 50 minutes and let it cool for 5-10 minutes.  Then cut it into pieces and enjoy.

    Uncooked ingredients for making meatloaf in a loaf pan.

    Step four:

    This is optional, but before serving you can top this meatloaf with either bbq sauce or ketchup. 

    A meatloaf in a bread pan topped with barbecue sauce.

    Chef's tips and variations: 

    • Instead of almond flour you could use crushed gluten free crackers, gluten free breadcrumbs, gluten free oats or a gluten free flour blend instead.
    • You can either top this meatloaf in more bbq sauce or leave it plain.
    • To make this gluten free meatloaf with no ketchup, use bbq sauce instead of ketchup. 
    • You can make this ahead of time: Follow the instructions as written, right up to the point where you would put the meatloaf in the oven. Instead, cover the uncooked meatloaf tightly with plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to cook it. If it’s wrapped tightly, it can sit in the fridge for a few days before you cook it. 
    • You can freeze this meatloaf to cook later: simply freeze the wrapped, uncooked meatloaf and take it out of the freezer when you're ready to cook it. Let it thaw in the fridge and then cook as usual.
    • To make this meatloaf paleo: Be sure to use almond flour, paleo compliant bbq sauce and ketchup and coconut aminos.
    • To make this meatloaf Whole30 compliant: use almond flour, Whole30 compliant bbq sauce and ketchup and coconut aminos.

    What to serve with meatloaf:

    • Easy Green Beans with Slivered Almonds
    • Almond Flour Biscuits
    • Paleo Cornbread
    • Crispy Potato Wedges
    • Honey Glazed Carrots and Parsnips

    How to store:

    Store this meatloaf in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 5 days. 

    This meatloaf also freezes really well for up to 3 months. Just don't add any bbq sauce or ketchup to the top of the meatloaf before you freeze it - add that once it has thawed.

    A gluten free meatloaf with bbq sauce on top, cut up on a platter.

    Frequently asked questions:

    What is the secret to moist meatloaf?

    You can make meatloaf moist by adding carrots and onions as well as sauces such as bbq sauce, ketchup, soy sauce or Worcester sauce. This gluten free meatloaf recipe uses carrots, onions, coconut aminos, bbq sauce and ketchup to make it moist and tender.

    Why do you put breadcrumbs in meatloaf?

    Breadcrumbs are used to bind the meatloaf and keep it from falling apart. Instead of breadcrumbs this recipe uses almond flour but you can also use crushed crackers, pork rinds or Panko instead.

    What is a gluten free substitute for breadcrumbs in meatloaf?

    Instead of using breadcrumbs in meatloaf, to make it gluten free you can use gluten free breadcrumbs, almond flour, crushed gluten free crackers, potato flakes, rice, gluten free flour blend, almond meal or gluten free oatmeal. 

    Can I make this meatloaf egg free? 

    I do not recommend omitting the eggs from this meatloaf recipe. The eggs help add moisture and help bind the meatloaf so it doesn’t fall apart. 

    Other gluten free recipes you'll love:

    • Gluten Free Blueberry Meatloaf
    • Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta
    • Instant Pot Pad Thai
    • Healthy Sloppy Joes

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    Gluten Free Meatloaf Recipe

    The Best Gluten Free Meatloaf

    Your whole family will love this gluten free meatloaf. Full of flavour and never dry or boring it makes a great easy meal that is also perfect for leftovers.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Main Course, Meat
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 487kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
    • 1/2 cup shredded carrots
    • 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
    • 1/4 cup bbq sauce (plus more for topping the meatloaf if you wish)
    • 1/4 cup ketchup
    • 1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce or coconut aminos
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 1/3 cups almond flour
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 350F.
    • Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and stir well until combined.
    • Grease a bread pan (or line it with parchment paper) and transfer the ground beef mixture to the pan. Spread it into an even, flat layer. Cook the loaf for 50 minutes. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes, then cut it into pieces and enjoy.
    • Optional: top with bbq sauce before serving.

    Notes

    1. Instead of almond flour you could use crushed gluten free crackers, gluten free breadcrumbs, gluten free oats or a gluten free flour blend instead.
    2. You can either top this meatloaf in more bbq sauce or leave it plain.
    3. Store this meatloaf in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 487kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 743mg | Potassium: 418mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1913IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

     

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    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristie

      May 10, 2021 at 4:57 pm

      Yummy!5 stars

      Reply

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