Easy and Juicy Homemade Meatloaf

Meatloaf is one of the most comforting foods in the world. Unfortunately, most meatloaves are super dry and pretty bland and also filled with gluten. This keto meatloaf recipe solves all of those issues. This ground beef recipe isn’t dry at all and has so much flavor, with the addition of fresh herbs, onions, garlic, and a sauce that’s sweet and tangy. And this recipe uses almond flour in place of breadcrumbs, making it gluten-free and great for anyone following a keto diet. 

This recipe has more flavor than most meatloaves, yet it’s still really easy to make. It’s packed with tons of different flavors and seasonings, but most of the ingredients are things that you probably already have at home. Next time you need a beefy keto-friendly meal, you’ve got to give this meatloaf a try.

Why You’ll Love This Gluten-Free Ground Beef Meatloaf

I make this keto meatloaf all the time. Here are some of the reasons why I know you’ll love it.

• Storable. One of the best things about this recipe is that it tastes even better after it’s been sitting in the fridge for a day or two. So you can make a large batch and have leftovers all through the week. 
• Juicy. You’ve probably had plenty of meatloaves before that are too dry. It’s a common problem with meatloaf recipes. But this keto meatloaf solves that problem. The almond flour absorbs the juice from the beef and the applesauce, keeping the meatloaf moist and tender. Plus, the sauce on top of the meatloaf provides additional moisture.
• Protein-packed. This is a great recipe for anyone who is keto, or even just anyone trying to eat a low-carb diet. There’s so much meat in a single serving, and not a whole lot else!

Ingredients for Meatloaf

Here are all the ingredients that you’ll need to make this sweet and tangy meatloaf. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact amounts for each ingredient.

For the Keto Meatloaf:

• Ground Beef: you can use regular beef or lean beef.
• Onion: I use a yellow onion for this recipe, but white and red onions will work fine.
• Fresh parsley: adds flavor and depth to the dish.
• Garlic: freshly minced garlic is best for this recipe.
• Eggs: size large eggs
• Applesauce: Make sure to use unsweetened and unflavored applesauce. This helps to keep this dish extra moist and ensures your meatloaf doesn’t dry out as it cooks.
• Almond flour: you want to use blanched almond flour.
• Spices: garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper

For the Sauce:

• Canned tomato sauce: be sure to use tomato sauce that doesn’t have salt added.
• Apple cider vinegar: this balances the sweet and acidic ingredients used in the sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce: adds the perfect kick!
• Onion powder: helps to add depth and flavor.
• Applesauce: make sure that the applesauce you use is unsweetened and unflavored.
• Kosher salt: a true flavor maker.

How to Make Keto Meatloaf

This recipe is straightforward and easy to make. In addition to the ingredients listed above you will also need a mixing bowl, spatula, and loaf pan. This is really handy to help you get the meatloaf out of the pan, but it isn’t required. Ready to get started? Here is how we make the best Keto Meatloaf!

Mix the Seasonings

In a medium to large size mixing bowl combine the chopped onion, parsley, garlic, eggs, apple sauce, almond flour, and spices. Mix the ingredients until completely combined.

Add the Beef

Put the ground beef in the bowl with the seasonings, and mix until everything is well combined. This can be difficult to do with a spatula or spoon. If you need to use your hands to mix the ingredients. Remember, the key to a moist meatloaf is to make sure the wet ingredients are mixed well with the beef.

Add Mixture to Pan

Place the beef mixture in the loaf pan and smooth the meatloaf until it is flat on top. I love to use this loaf pan that has a handy tray. This means you can easily pull the meatloaf out of the dish, but it also helps to ensure the grease is drained away from the meatloaf. It is perfect for ensuring you aren’t serving a greasy dish.

Make the Sauce

Next, you need to make the sauce that spread over the top of the meatloaf. Some meatloaf sauces are super sweet because they are ketchup based. This sauce isn’t overly sweet. Instead it has a great savory flavor that really compliments the meat. To make the sauce add all of the sauce ingredients together in a bowl, and whisk to combine.

Top with Sauce and Bake

The final step is to spread the sauce over the top of the meatloaf and bake! Put the meatloaf in a 375 degrees F to the center of the oven and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until the meat is 165F in the middle. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes before cutting and serving. 

Serving Suggestions

This rich meatloaf is best served with some side dishes that bring new flavors to the table, like cheese or vegetables. Here are some of my favorite foods to serve with keto meatloaf.

• Crispy Green Bean Fries
• Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
• Broccoli Cheddar Muffins
• Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
• Air Fryer Broccoli

Tips, Tricks, and Variations

Here are a few different ways that you can make this keto meatloaf perfect every time.

• Mix with your hands. When mixing the seasonings into the ground beef, use your hands rather than a spoon. That will ensure that the seasonings are evenly spread through the meat. Make sure that your hands are thoroughly washed before and after, or use food-safe gloves.
• Be flexible with the meat. This recipe calls for 2 pounds of ground beef. But since the meatloaf is really just beef and seasonings, you don’t need to be particular about the amount of meat you use. If, for instance, the container of beef at your grocery store is only 1.8 pounds, or a little more than 2 pounds, then that’s totally fine. 
• Room temperature eggs. For best results, use room-temperature eggs in this recipe. When eggs are at room temperature they mix better with other ingredients. That makes the texture of this meatloaf smoother.
• Mix up the herbs. Fresh parsley goes so well with this recipe, but most other herbs do, too. If you want to add extra flavor to this meatloaf, just throw in some of your favorite herbs.
• Change the meat. Ground beef is my favorite meat for meatloaf. But you can use other types of meat if you prefer, such as chicken, turkey, pork, veal, or lamb.  

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Meatloaf

You can keep leftover keto meatloaf in the fridge for up to 4 days if you store it in an airtight container. To reheat, place the meatloaf in a pan, and drizzle a little bit of beef or chicken stock on top of it. Cover with aluminum foil, and bake in a 250F oven for 20 minutes.

Can This Recipe Be Frozen?

Yes, this is a great gluten-free meal to freeze. Store it in an airtight container and it will last in the freezer for 6 months. Thaw or defrost before reheating.

More Easy Keto Ground Beef Recipes 

If you’re anything like me, then you just can’t get enough ground beef. If that’s the case, check out some of my other favorite beefy keto recipes.

• Cheeseburger Casserole Skillet
• Cabbage and Beef Soup
• Keto Tacos
• Bacon Cheeseburger Quesadillas
• Taco Salad

Yield: 8 servings

Keto Meatloaf

Print

This keto meatloaf recipe is juicy, tender, and packed with herbs and seasonings. It's gluten-free, easy to make, and stores very well.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the Meatloaf:

• 2 pounds ground beef (lean or normal)
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup blanched almond flour
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Sauce:

• 1/2 cup no-salt added canned tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375F and grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan. You can also line a pan with parchment paper that hangs over the edges, to make it easy to remove the meatloaf.
2. In a large bowl, add all of the meatloaf ingredients except the ground beef, and mix with a spoon.
3. Add the ground beef to the bowl and use your hands to mix everything together.
4. Transfer the meat to the loaf pan and smooth the top into an even layer.
5. Add all of the sauce ingredients to a mixing bowl (it can be the same bowl you used earlier) and whisk to combine.
6. Spread the sauce over the top of the meatloaf.
7. Bake the meatloaf in the center rack of the oven for 60-70 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
8. Cool the meatloaf on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving. This will allow the meatloaf to firm up so it stays in one piece when slice it.

Notes

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days, or in the freezer for 6 months.
• To reheat, add slices of meatloaf to a baking dish, and drizzle with beef or chicken broth. Cover with aluminum foil and heat in a 250F oven for 20 minutes.
• The meat amount is not exact. It's totally fine if you have a little more or a little less than 2 pounds.
• Lean beef will fall apart a little more easily than regular ground beef, but both work great.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Anthony's Blanched Gluten Free Almond Flour, 4 lb, Gluten Free & Non GMO, Keto Friendly

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 378Total Fat: 15gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 498mgCarbohydrates: 6.4gNet Carbohydrates: 5.3gFiber: 1.1gSugar: 2.4gProtein: 25g

The post Keto Meatloaf appeared first on The Best Keto Recipes.

One-Pan Keto Cheeseburger Casserole

I’m a huge fan of casseroles. They’re so hearty, comforting, and filling. This keto cheeseburger casserole skillet is one of my favorite casserole recipes. It’s rich, full of melted cheese, and loaded with meat. It has all your favorite cheeseburger elements: ground beef, bacon, cheese, mustard, and onions. But because it’s a casserole rather than served on a bun, it’s keto-friendly. 

It’s also super easy to make. This decadent dinner has a total time of only 20 minutes! That means you can whip it up after work in the middle of the week. This recipe tastes like a cheeseburger and casserole all in one so if you love burgers and casseroles as much as I do, then you’ve got to give this recipe a try. 

Why You’ll Love this Cheesy Keto Dinner

I make this casserole skillet all the time. Here’s why I know you’ll love it as much as I do.

• Quick and easy. The flavors in this cheeseburger casserole are complex. But making it is not. This recipe only uses ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge or pantry. And best of all, prep time is 5 minutes and cooking time is only 15 minutes! 
• Super rich. Sometimes a decadent and hearty meal is exactly what I’m craving. When that’s what I want, this recipe hits the spot. It has ground beef, bacon, cheddar cheese, and cream cheese. It’s packed full of rich ingredients. 
• Storable. I’m a big fan of having convenient meals. Not only is this recipe quick and easy to make, but it’s great for storing in the fridge or freezer. You can make a large batch of this keto cheeseburger casserole and have easy leftovers for a long time.
• No mess. This is a one-pot meal. So you won’t be left with a messy kitchen after making this delicious dinner.

Ingredients Needed

Here’s everything you need to make this meaty and cheesy casserole recipe. Head to the recipe card at the bottom of the article to see the exact amounts for each ingredient.

• Bacon: use your favorite variety.
• Lean ground beef: you can also use ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
• Onion: I use a yellow onion for this recipe, but a white one will work too.
• Tomato paste: A hint of tomato paste adds an authentic cheeseburger flavor.
• Mustard: just like the tomato paste, the mustard helps add a true cheeseburger flavor. Don’t worry, it is not an overwhelming flavor.
• Cream cheese: this lends to the richness of the dish and makes the texture ultra creamy.
• Broth: Chicken or beef broth will work in this recipe.
• Spices: Onion powder, Garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
• Cheddar cheese: For best results, grate your own cheese. However, pre-shredded will work fine, too. 

How to Make Keto Cheeseburger Casserole Skillet

Here are the instructions to make this 20-minute cheeseburger casserole recipe. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the printable recipe card with instructions, ingredients, and the amounts.

• Cook the bacon. Heat a skillet over medium heat, and spray it lightly with cooking spray. Add the chopped bacon and cook until it’s crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain all but 1 tablespoon of the grease.
• Sauté the meat and onions. Add the ground beef and onion to the skillet and cook until the meat is browned. Drain any remaining grease from the pan. 
• Make the sauce. Put the spices, broth, mustard, tomato paste, and cream cheese in the skillet. Stir until the cream cheese melts and turns into a sauce.
• Add the bacon and cheddar. Turn the heat to low and place the cooked bacon and shredded cheddar cheese on top.
• Finish cooking. Put a lid on the skillet and cook until the cheese is completely melted. This should take 5-7 minutes. 

Tips for Success

Here are some of my favorite tricks and tips for making this cheesy casserole. 

• Really brown the meat. The secret to getting the best hamburger flavor is to brown the ground beef. Make sure your pan is sufficiently hot before adding the beef, and don’t stir it too often. Let the beef get a good color on it before you add the next ingredients. That ensures that the keto casserole skillet will have a super meaty flavor. 
• Use a large skillet. This recipe is pretty big. Make sure to use a skillet that is big enough to handle the job. The larger your skillet, the more surface area there will be to brown the meat and keep the casserole hot. 
• Get the cheese super melty. Because this casserole is cooked in its own sauce, you don’t have to worry about overcooking it. So make sure that you cook it for a sufficient time so that the cheddar cheese on top becomes runny and gooey. 

What to Serve it With

You can eat this one-pot keto cheeseburger casserole skillet all by itself. But I like to serve it with a nice side dish or two to really make a complete meal. Here are some of my favorite foods to serve with this keto casserole.

• Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
• Keto Garlic Bread Chaffles
• Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
• Fried Cabbage with Bacon
• Crispy Green Bean Fries
• Air Fryer Broccoli

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Cheeseburger Casserole

This dinner will last for up to 4 days in the fridge. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container. Reheat over medium heat for 5 minutes, or in a microwave on 80% power in 30-second increments.

Can This Recipe Be Frozen? 

Yes! I love to freeze this casserole for easy meals. Store it in an airtight container and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight or defrost in the microwave before reheating. 

More Keto Ground Beef Recipes

If you loved this recipe, then don’t worry … there’s more where that came from! Here are a few more of my favorite keto-friendly ground beef dinners.

• Keto Cabbage and Beef Soup
• Keto Tacos
• Bacon Cheeseburger Quesadillas 
• Keto Taco Salad
• Keta Taco Pizza

Yield: 4

Keto Cheeseburger Casserole Skillet

Print

This rich and hearty one-pan keto cheeseburger casserole skillet is packed with ground beef, bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. It's a perfect weekday meal that only takes 20 minutes to make.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 slices of bacon, chopped into small pieces
• 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
• 1/2 cup chopped onion (about half of one small onion)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 cup chicken or beef broth
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
2. Cook the chopped bacon until crisp, then remove from the skillet and set aside.
3. Drain off all of the bacon grease except 1 tablespoon. Add the ground beef and onion. Brown the meat and drain off any grease.
4. Add the tomato paste, mustard, cream cheese, broth, and spices. Stir until the cream cheese has melted and a sauce has formed.
5. Reduce the heat to low and top with the cooked bacon and cheddar cheese.
6. Cover the skillet and cook on low for 5-7 minutes until cheese is completely melted.

Notes

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days, or in the freezer for 3 months.
• Reheat on the stove over medium heat for 5 minutes, or in a microwave on 80% power in 30-second increments.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  John Boos Block B12S Maple Wood Edge Grain Cutting Board with Feet, 12 Inches Square, 1.5 Inches Thick
• 
  Utopia Kitchen Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet - 12.5 Inch - Black

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1/4 of the skillet
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 423Total Fat: 27.2gSaturated Fat: 125.7gSodium: 608.9mgCarbohydrates: 5.3gNet Carbohydrates: 4.8gFiber: 0.5gSugar: 3gProtein: 25g

The post Keto Cheeseburger Casserole Skillet appeared first on The Best Keto Recipes.