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    Home » Recipes » Main Course

    Healthy Meatloaf without Breadcrumbs (gluten-free & dairy-free)

    Modified: Mar 24, 2025 • Published: May 27, 2022 by Dr. Erin Carter • This post may contain affiliate links • 2 Comments

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    A cooked meatloaf in a bread pan topped with barbecue sauce and fresh basil leaves.
    Meatloaf in a bread pan topped with barbecue sauce and fresh basil.

    This healthy meatloaf without breadcrumbs is such a unique meatloaf recipe! It's nice and moist and naturally sweetened with blueberries to give it the most amazing flavour. This meatloaf is so easy to make and is gluten-free and dairy-free and made without ketchup or cheese.

    Meatloaf in a pan topped with bbq sauce, fresh blueberries and basil leaves.

    Ground meat recipes like the best gluten-free burgers, no bean chili and easy cranberry turkey meatballs are some of my favourite easy meals, which is why I am so excited to share today's meatloaf recipe with you!

    Table of Contents
    • Why you will love this recipe:
    • Ingredients and substitutions:
    • How to make meatloaf without breadcrumbs:
    • Top tips:
    • Meatloaf without breadcrumbs FAQ:
    • Other easy healthy recipes you will love:
    • Recipe

    Why you will love this recipe:

    • This ground beef meatloaf without breadcrumbs is full of flavour and is so juicy and tender. The combination of the blueberry puree and herbs combines beautifully to give this meatloaf such a delicious taste. But don't worry, it doesn't taste like blueberries!
    • This meatloaf is quick and easy to make and doesn't contain any hard to find ingredients.
    • This healthy meatloaf is made without breadcrumbs or ketchup and is safe for many different diets including paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, Whole30, SCD, GAPS, low carb, keto, and the SIBO diet. It's also made without cheese.
    • This meatloaf freezes really well, makes great leftovers, and is perfect for meal prep. 

    If you are looking for a more traditional meatloaf recipe you will want to make my gluten-free meatloaf recipe.

    Ingredients and substitutions:

    For the full ingredient list and exact measurements refer to the recipe card later in this post.

    Jump to the Recipe Card.
    The ingredients for making meatloaf separated into bowls including ground beef, green onion, eggs, spices and almond flour.
    • Ground beef - my favourite ground meat for making meatloaf. I use lean ground beef but you can use any type of ground beef that you like.  
    • Almond flour - this is used to help bind this meatloaf without having to use breadcrumbs.
    • Blueberries - it may sound strange to put blueberries in meatloaf but they add the perfect amount of moisture and natural sweet flavour to this recipe while keeping this meatloaf low in sugar and without using ketchup.  
    • Eggs - help add moisture to this meatloaf and help bind the meatloaf together. 
    • Spices - the combination of rosemary, Herbs de Provence spice blend, basil, salt, and pepper blend so well to give this meatloaf recipe the most incredible flavour. Feel free to add other seasonings or spices to give it a different flavour. Other great options include onion powder or garlic powder.
    • Green onion - to add even more flavour to this meatloaf without breadcrumbs. You could swap these for white onion or yellow onion instead.

    How to make meatloaf without breadcrumbs:

    A food processor with blended blueberries in it.
    1. Step 1: Preheat your oven on to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is heating puree the blueberries by putting them into your blender or food processor and blending well until they are smooth (you want 2/3 cup of pureed blueberries).
    A bowl with ground beef, mashed blueberries eggs and chopped green onion in it.
    1. Step 2: Then place all the ingredients into a large bowl and stir well until everything is smooth and blended together.
    A loaf pan lined with parchment paper with an uncooked meatloaf in it.
    1. Step 3: Line a bread pan with parchment paper and transfer the beef mixture to the lined loaf pan and spread it out evenly until you have an even layer.
    A cooked meatloaf in a bread pan.
    1. Step 4: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, until the beef is cooked through. Let it cool for a few minutes, and drain any excess liquid. Top with barbecue sauce (if you wish) and cut the meatloaf into pieces, and enjoy!

    Top tips:

    • Be sure to let the meatloaf cool for a few minutes before you cut it and serve. This helps it get even more moist and tender. 
    • Serving ideas: This meatloaf is delicious served as is, but you could top it with ketchup or with barbecue sauce if you want even more flavour. I love topping it with sugar free bbq sauce. I recommend paring it with one or two side dishes such as a side kale apple salad, diced potatoes in an air fryer, green beans and roasted almonds or roasted carrots and parsnips.
    A meatloaf in a pan toped with fresh basil leaves and blueberries.

    Meatloaf without breadcrumbs FAQ:

    What can I substitute for bread in meatloaf?

    Almond flour is a great option but other swaps include oats, almond meal, or crushed crackers.

    Is this meatloaf gluten-free?

    Yes this meatloaf without breadcrumbs is gluten-free.

    What is the carbohydrate count for this meatloaf?

    This will depend on your portion sizes, but if you get 8 servings from this meatloaf that equals 3.4 grams per serving. If you get 6 servings out of it that would equal 4.5 grams per serving. If you add BBQ on top make sure you account for those extra carbohydrates as well.

    How should I store any leftover meatloaf?

    Store any leftover meatloaf in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. 

    Can I freeze this meatloaf?

    Yes, this meatloaf freezes well in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

    Other easy healthy recipes you will love:

    • A glass of blueberry mint lemonade garnished with mint leaves.
      The Best Blueberry Mint Lemonade
    • A loaf of ground chicken meat loaf cut into pieces and garnished with barbecue sauce and parsley.
      The Best Ground Chicken Meatloaf (gluten-free)
    • A bowl of carrot dip topped with chili flakes and two crackers.
      The Best Vegan Carrot Dip
    • A bowl of pasta with cauliflower Alfredo sauce on it.
      Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce with Cashews (dairy-free & vegan)

    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 rating before you go!

    Recipe

    A loaf of meatloaf in a pan topped with barbecue sauce and garnished with blueberries and parsley leaves.

    Meatloaf without Breadcrumbs

    This blueberry sweetened meatloaf without breadcrumbs is the perfect healthy comfort food. It's so easy to make and turns out so juicy and tender.
    4.74 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 204kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Equipment

    • Loaf pan
    • Parchment paper

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs ground beef
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1/3 cup almond flour
    • 1/2 cup chopped green onion
    • 2/3 cup pureed blueberries (puree them in a blender or food processor)
    • 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
    • 1 tablespoon dried basil
    • 1 tbsp herbs de provence spice blend
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

    Optional:

    • BBQ sauce for serving

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 350F.
    • Puree the blueberries in a food processor or blender until they are smooth.
    • Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and mix well with a spoon to combine the ingredients well.
    • Line a bread pan with parchment paper and transfer the ingredients from the bowl to the pan and spread evenly with a spoon or knife.
    • Bake the meatloaf for 50-55 minutes, until cooked through. Let the loaf cool for a few minutes and drain off any excess liquid.
    • If you are using bbq sauce, spread it on top of the meatloaf before cutting it into pieces.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    1. Feel free to sub the green onion for chopped white onion.
    2. You can top the cooked meatloaf with bbq sauce or ketchup for even more flavour.
    3. Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients you use. They also do not include the optional barbecue sauce. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 385mg | Potassium: 454mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 162IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    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. Colleen

      May 31, 2022 at 8:16 pm

      Absolutely delicious!! Such a great flavor profile.5 stars

      Reply
      • Erin Carter

        May 31, 2022 at 8:39 pm

        Oh yay I am so glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know.

        Reply

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