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    Home » Recipes » Dinner » Best Keto Meatloaf Recipe

    Best Keto Meatloaf Recipe

    By Jennifer • Dec 14, 2020 • 11 Comments

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    Best Keto Meatloaf Recipe (Juicy and Tender)
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    The Best Keto Meatloaf Recipe (Juicy and Tender)
    The Best Keto Meatloaf Recipe (Juicy and Tender)

    My keto meatloaf recipe is the perfect low carb dinner that the whole family will love. Baked to perfection it comes out juicy, tender and absolutely delicious!

    Table of Contents
    • Is Meatloaf Keto-Friendly?
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • How To Make Keto Meatloaf
    • How To Avoid Dry Meatloaf
    • Cooking Tips
    • Recipe Variations
    • Storage Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Other Sides
    • Keto Meatloaf Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Nothing says celebration like a good, home-cooked low carb meatloaf.

    Whether it’s Christmas or a Sunday meal with the family this is the recipe to make to impress everyone.

    This low carb meatloaf recipe will even be a hit with those that aren't afraid of carbs.

    Two slices of meatloaf on a plate with spinach, carrot and broccoli

    I tested this recipe over and over until it was perfect.

    I tried keto breadcrumbs, flaxseed, parmesan and grated nuts, almond flour, coconut flour and even ground pork rinds.

    What you have here is the one that won the contest! In my opinion it's the BEST keto meatloaf ever!

    Is Meatloaf Keto-Friendly?

    First of all, can you eat meatloaf on your keto diet?

    My low carb meatloaf is actually very low in carbohydrates with only 2.5g of net carbs per slice. This makes it the perfect addition to your meal plan.

    I promise if you're a meat-lover this low carb meatloaf will become one of your go-to dinners.

    It's quick and easy to prepare and such a hearty comfort food.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    You don't need any complex ingredients to make this hearty keto meatloaf. Most of these ingredients you'll already have at home.

    For the exact ingredient amounts check out the recipe card below.

    Ingredients for classic keto meatloaf arranged on a table
    • Ground beef - You don't need to use extra lean ground beef for this recipe. I recommend using standard or lean ground beef or the meatloaf can come out too dry.
    • Eggs - Use large eggs in this recipe to help bind everything together.
    • Flaxseed - I tested a number of binders for this recipe including almond flour and coconut flour. In the end, I found that flaxseed works very well.
    • Herbs and spices - Paprika, salt, black pepper and parsley are the staples for this meatloaf. Make sure they are fresh!
    • Cheese - I used finely grated Parmesan cheese for this meatloaf.
    • Sauce - Meatloaf is nothing without a delicious sauce. I used tomato paste and balsamic vinegar with a pinch of salt and paprika. A sweet and tangy sauce that goes perfect with meatloaf.

    How To Make Keto Meatloaf

    Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and line a baking pan with a baking sheet.

    Bowl with ground beef, red onion, parmesan cheese, eggs, garlic, flaxseed, paprika, salt and parsley

    In a large mixing bowl mix together your ground beef, parmesan cheese, eggs, onion, garlic, flaxseed, salt, paprika and parsley.

    Let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes. This is an important step because it will allow the flaxseed to soak up all the extra liquids.

    While the meatloaf mixture is resting you can make the topping sauce.

    In a bowl mix together the tomato paste, balsamic vinegar and season with a pinch of salt and paprika.

    Unbaked meatloaf on baking paper topped with a tomato balsamic glaze

    After it has finished resting, transfer the mixture onto your baking pan and shape it into a loaf.

    Brush over the sauce generously making sure to completely cover the top of the meatloaf.

    Bake in the preheated oven uncovered for around 60 minutes until cooked through (cook time may vary).

    Sliced meatloaf on a serving plate with a bowl of spinach and rosemary sprigs in the background

    Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before you slice the meatloaf.

    How To Avoid Dry Meatloaf

    To make sure your keto meatloaf doesn't come out dry make sure to follow these tips:

    • Avoid lean ground beef. As I mentioned earlier, lean ground beef is going to make your meatloaf super dry. Aim to use an 80/20 ground beef blend and no lower than 85/15.
    • Let the mixture sit. Once you've combined all the ingredients let them sit together for 5 to 10 minutes. You want to let the flaxseed absorb all the excess liquids
    • Rest your low carb meatloaf. Just like other meats, resting your keto meatloaf is very important. Rest it for around 15 minutes to allow the juices to absorb and settle.

    Cooking Tips

    Best Baking Temperature

    After much experimenting, for the perfect tender and juicy meatloaf bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for 60 minutes.

    Each oven varies so much in temperature so this may be different for you.

    You can also use a food thermometer until the internal temperature is 160 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius).

    Avoid Loaf Pans

    Don't use a loaf pan to make meatloaf. It's best to bake it on a baking sheet on a large baking pan. This allows the outside to crisp up.

    Juicy and Tender Meatloaf

    The most crucial step for a light, juicy and tender meatloaf is in the mixing of the ingredients.

    For the perfect fluffy texture make sure to handle everything gently. Combine the ingredients until everything is well incorporated.

    Be very gentle when shaping your meatloaf and this should stop it from coming out too dense.

    Seasoning

    You can easily modify this low carb meatloaf recipe to your own states. Experiment with chili powder, thyme, onion powder and cumin.

    Recipe Variations

    There are so many variations you can use with my recipe. Try some of these!

    Other meats - you can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken. Make sure you avoid lean turkey and chicken. Ground chicken with chicken thighs is a great option.

    Bacon wrapped - jazz up your meatloaf by wrapping it with bacon strips before popping it in the oven. The bacon strips become super crispy while keeping in all the moisture so the meatloaf stays juicy and tender!

    Cheese stuffed - transfer half the meatloaf mixture onto the baking pan and then stuff the center with mozzarella cheese. Add the other half of the mixture on top and bake.

    Storage Instructions

    Another great thing about this keto meatloaf is that the leftovers are still delicious the following day, even cold!

    Meatloaf on a cutting board with a bowl of spinach and fresh vegetables arranged around it

    In the fridge: It will keep for up to 1 week when refrigerated in an airtight container. A great way to enjoy a slice is to fry it with a little olive oil in a pan.

    In the freezer: Place meatloaf slices in individual freezer proof bags or airtight containers. They'll keep for up to 6 months.

    To reheat: Pop the meatloaf in the microwave at 30-second intervals until heated all the way through. You can also reheat it in the oven for around 5 minutes.

    Serving Suggestions

    Meatloaf is such a versatile main dish that goes well with almost any side dish.

    I recommend serving it with my keto bread rolls and loaded cauliflower mash. Why not make it a family feast? Complete the dinner with my no-bake pumpkin cheesecake for dessert!

    Other Sides

    • Keto Cauliflower Salad
    • Cheesy Roasted Green Beans
    • Best Keto Cornbread
    Best Keto Meatloaf Recipe (Juicy and Tender)

    Keto Meatloaf Recipe

    My low-carb keto meatloaf recipe is a meat lover's dream. It's tender, juicy, delicious and super easy to make. A family favorite you'll make again and again.
    Pin It Print
    Prep: 10 minutes
    Cook: 1 hour
    Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 8

    Ingredients 

    • 1 pound Ground Beef
    • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
    • 2 Eggs beaten
    • 1 Red Onion minced
    • 2 cloves Garlic minced
    • 4 tablespoon Flaxseed
    • 3 tablespoon Parsley chopped
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato Paste
    • 2 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking pan with baking paper.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the minced beef with the parmesan cheese, eggs, onion, garlic, flaxseed, salt, paprika and parsley.
    • Let the mixture rest for 5-10 minutes so that the flaxseed can soak up all the extra liquids.
    • Transfer on the pan and shape into a loaf.
    • Mix the tomato paste with the balsamic vinegar and season with a pinch of salt and paprika. Brush the top of the meatloaf with the mixture.
    • Bake in the oven, uncovered for 60 minutes until cooked through.
    • Let it rest for around 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

    Last Step: Leave A Rating!

    Rate this recipe

    Share your recipe by tagging @keto.diet.yum with hashtag #ketodietyum on Instagram - everyone would love to see it!

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    Notes

    Net Carbs: 2.5g

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 slice Calories: 207 kcal Carbohydrates: 4.1 g Protein: 17.1 g Fat: 13.5 g Saturated Fat: 5.8 g Cholesterol: 88 mg Sodium: 467 mg Potassium: 125 mg Fiber: 1.6 g Sugar: 1.3 g Calcium: 128 mg Iron: 2 mg Net Carbs: 2.5 g
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Calories: 207
    Diet: Keto
    The Best Keto Meatloaf Recipe (Juicy and Tender)
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    1. Jack

      November 01, 2022 at 1:10 am

      Thank you for no almond flour in the recipe.
      Binders for keto meatloaf is always problematic.
      Flax might do the trick.
      Will try tonight.
      Want to keep the drippings contained so will bake in a glass loaf pan, low and slow?

      Reply
      • Jennifer

        November 01, 2022 at 1:14 pm

        Hi Jack.

        Yes, the flaxseed helps to bind everything together and works best in all the meatloaf recipes I've tested.

        If you want to use a loaf pan the outside of the meatloaf will be less crispy, but you'll be able to keep the drippings. They're great for making gravy or frying low-carb veggies.

        Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Jan

      September 10, 2022 at 6:30 pm

      So glad to learn about the flaxseed. I’m allergic to red meat so will sub ground turkey and always add turkey sausage. Can’t wait to make it! Thanks!

      Reply
    3. Annie

      May 01, 2022 at 8:14 am

      For the Meat Loaf. What can I swap balsamique vinaigar for? And I'll try it with bacon on top. It will give extra moisture and savor.

      Reply
      • Jennifer

        May 01, 2022 at 3:21 pm

        Hi Annie, if you don't have any balsamic vinegar you can mix 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar with 2 tablespoons of Erythritol/sugar-free sweetener. Topping the meatloaf with bacon sounds delicious!

        Reply
    4. pat mesic

      April 07, 2022 at 1:12 pm

      5 stars
      I made this yesterday and it was delicious. Only next time I would add more spices. I left out the onions and garlic because I have a sentitive stomach. I am having the leftovers for supper tonight. I bet it will taste even better.

      Reply
      • Jennifer

        April 08, 2022 at 3:34 pm

        Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the meatloaf!

        Reply
    5. John Panozzo

      October 08, 2021 at 12:59 pm

      What is the weight of the "3 cups of ground beef"? Thank you.

      Reply
      • Jennifer

        October 08, 2021 at 1:26 pm

        Hi John, sorry that is a bit confusing, isn't it? I've updated the recipe. 3 cups of ground beef is about 1 pound or 450 grams. Hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Sue Lockwood

          January 03, 2022 at 5:29 am

          Hello Jennifer..thank you first for the recipes. I'm not new to keto, just new to cooking!
          Question is the flaxseed just the seeds?
          Thank you.. I am going to start with this recipe first.

          Reply
          • Jennifer

            January 29, 2022 at 1:48 pm

            Hey Sue, yes it's just the seeds. Remember to let everything sit for 5-10 minutes so that they can absorb all the excess water. Hope you enjoy!

            Reply

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    Jennifer Zhang Author

    Hi, I’m Jennifer, and I love to create sugar-free, low-carb, and keto recipes. Here on Keto Diet Yum, you’ll learn that carb-conscious recipes can be packed with flavor and healthy at the same time. There are also meal plans and guides to help you start the keto diet.

    more about me →

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