Low Carb Meatloaf Recipe With A Delicious Twist

This low-carb meatloaf is a juicy, savory comfort food classic made with ground beef and a flavorful glaze. Unlike traditional meatloaf, this grain-free version swaps breadcrumbs for riced cauliflower (or ground pork rinds!) for a satisfying, family-friendly dinner. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.

Way back when I was newly married and wasn’t as experienced a cook as I am now, there was one dinner recipe that always gave me trouble. Meatloaf. I tried many different recipes, but the meatloaf would just fall apart or the taste was “meh!”

Then my church put together a cookbook that everyone in the congregation contributed to. I was flipping through the recipes when I came across one called “Everybody’s Favorite Meatloaf.” It sounded too good to be true. I had to give it a try.

The meatloaf came out of the oven looking beautiful, but I held my breath as I sliced it. Phew. At least it didn’t fall apart. Then I tasted it. Yum, we had a winner. It’s been my standby meatloaf recipe ever since.

When my family started following a gluten-free diet, I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to eat meatloaf anymore. Meatloaf was one of my go-to dinners, and everyone loved it.

Not to fear. I was able to tweak the recipe and adapt it with gluten-free breadcrumbs. Easy gluten free meatloaf was one of the first recipes I published on the blog and proved to be very popular, even going viral on Pinterest.

Introducing the best low carb meatloaf yet

Fast forward to today. Now that John and I are following a low-carb diet, it’s time to adapt this family favorite once again and get rid of those breadcrumbs for good.

Going low-carb was just one piece of the puzzle for John. You can read about his strategies used to beat chronic fatigue syndrome in this guide.

But why stop there?

I have taken this already beloved recipe and made it even better: a juicy, flavorful meatloaf that delivers all the comfort you expect, without the grains.

Love budget-friendly ground beef recipes? You’ll find these 22 Keto Recipes With Ground Beef irresistible, with plenty of delicious options to try. 

Okay. Follow these simple steps to make your standout meatloaf.

Instructions

*Free printable recipe card is available at the end of the post. Please Note:  The links are affiliate links which means I will earn a small commission if you buy the item at no extra cost to you.

Here is how to use cauliflower rice as our substitute for the bread crumbs. Cauliflower keeps our meatloaf juicy.

Give the cauliflower a quick spin in your food processor just until it is minced. You’ll need just two and a quarter cups.

Then mix in with the hearty ground beef, tasty onions, parmesan cheese (I use aged Parmigiano Reggiano), and rosemary.

I season the mixture with pink Himalayan salt and pepper.

Then when the meatloaf is almost ready, I brush tomato paste on top. (My original recipe called for ketchup, but I want to avoid extra sugar here.)

And, finally, I have one more delicious surprise for you: spicy mayo.

Spicy mayo

Yes, you could serve this meatloaf with a traditional gravy. But spicy mayo made with mayonnaise and Sriracha sauce is a fun way to add another burst of flavor.

Sriracha sauce is a hot sauce popular in Thai cuisine. You can control the heat of your spicy mayo by adding as much or as little Sriracha as you like to your mayonnaise.

I like mayo made with avocado oil. It has zero carbs and is sugar-free. Read my Primal Kitchen mayo full review here.

When your meatloaf comes out of the oven, let it rest before you slice it up and dig in. Then serve it with the spicy mayo.

Woo hoo! Two thumbs up from the fam.

Serving suggestions for low carb meatloaf

Round out your meatloaf dinner with Creamy Cauliflower Mash, Keto Coleslaw with Sugar Free Dressing, or Sautéed Broccoli with Garlic. Bacon Brussels Sprouts are another favorite when you want something extra savory.

And if you love briny, bold flavors, Muffuletta Olive Salad would be delicious alongside this classic comfort food.

For more ideas, browse my collection of Nutritious low carb soups and sides collection.

Pro tips and recipe notes

• If you want to make a smaller meatloaf, the ratio should be 60% meat to 40% cauliflower: 1 1/2 cups of cauliflower to 2 pounds of meat. Be sure to adjust your cooking time, as well.
• Variation: Swap out the cauliflower for low-carb ground pork rinds, as I do in my pork tenderloin crispy bites. For a 3-pound meatloaf, use 3/4 cup of ground pork rinds; for a 2-pound meatloaf, use 1/2 cup. It’s delicious!
• You could serve this meatloaf with a traditional Au Jus Gravy. But spicy mayo made with mayonnaise and Sriracha sauce is a fun way to add another burst of flavor.
• Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze it if you want to keep it longer. Thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating.

Voilà. No-fail grain-free juicy and delicious meatloaf that is true to my original recipe, but is also low-carb. It’s an iconic comfort food that satisfies the heartiest appetite. Make it this week. You’re going to love it.

Before you go, I have one more resource you might enjoy.

On those nights when you’re staring at plain chicken or fish and wondering how to make dinner a little more exciting, my Sauce Method for Easy Dinners gives you a simple system for turning everyday proteins into meals you’ll look forward to. You’ll spend less time figuring out what to cook and more time enjoying what’s on your plate.

More recipes you’ll love

Low Carb Recipe Collection – This is the link to all my low carb recipes.

Quick And Easy Beef Ragoût With Tomatoes And Pearl Onions – Every mouthful explodes with flavor in this quick and easy stir fry.

Slow Cooker Braised Short Ribs – In this recipe your meat will simmer in your slow cooker in a beautiful red wine sauce until the it’s so tender and juicy it literally falls right off the bone.

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5 from 2 votes

Low Carb Meatloaf With A Delicious Twist

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Delicious low-carb meatloaf is an iconic comfort food drizzled with spicy mayo for a burst of flavor.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 55 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 532kcal

Author Barbara Bianchi

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground beef 80/20 chuck is the best choice for this recipe
• 2 1/4 cups minced cauliflower or 3/4 cup of ground pork rinds
• ½ cup chopped onion
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
• 2 teaspoons salt I used Himalayan salt
• dash of pepper
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup gluten-free tomato paste, optional Muir Glen is gluten-free

For Spicy Mayo

• 2 tablespoons of avocado mayo I highly recommend Primal Kitchen Mayo
• 1/2 tablespoon of sriracha more or less depending upon how hot you'd like your sauce Sky Valley Siracha Sauce is gluten-free.

Instructions

• Pre-heat your oven to 350℉.
• Give the cauliflower a quick spin in your food processor fitted with the large chopping blade just until it is minced.
  2 1/4 cups minced cauliflower
Prefer pork rinds? Lately, I’ve been swapping the cauliflower for ground pork rinds, and they’re delicious too. See the recipe notes below for the amount to use.
•  In a large bowl, combine meat, minced cauliflower, parmesan, onion, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
  3 pounds ground beef , ½ cup chopped onion, ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, 2 teaspoons salt, dash of pepper
• Whisk eggs in a small bowl. Then add to the meat mixture. Mix with your hands until evenly combined.
  2 eggs
• I recommend using this type of broiler pan with a grid top. Line the bottom drip pan of the broiler pan with foil.
• Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape and place it on the slotted upper part of the broiler pan. This will allow the fat to drain into the bottom drip pan.
• Bake for a total of 1 1/2 hours.
• 10 minutes before it's finished baking, brush the top of the loaf with tomato paste.
  1/4 cup gluten-free tomato paste, optional

For Spicy Mayo

• Stir mayo and sriracha together in a small bowl.
  2 tablespoons of avocado mayo, 1/2 tablespoon of sriracha
• Slice and serve your meatloaf with spicy mayo sauce on the side.

Notes

• Cauliflower rice is our substitute for the bread crumbs. Cauliflower keeps our meatloaf juicy.
• If you want to make a smaller meatloaf, the ratio should be 60% meat to 40% cauliflower: 1 1/2 cups of cauliflower to 2 pounds of meat. Be sure to adjust your cooking time, as well.
• Variation: Swap out the cauliflower for low-carb ground pork rinds, as I do in my pork tenderloin crispy bites. For a 3-pound meatloaf, use 3/4 cup of ground pork rinds; for a 2-pound meatloaf, use 1/2 cup. It's delicious!
• You could serve this meatloaf with a traditional Au Jus Gravy. But spicy mayo made with mayonnaise and Sriracha sauce is a fun way to add another burst of flavor.
• Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze it if you want to keep it longer. Thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition

Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.7g | Protein: 65.6g

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