Every mom needs a good meatloaf recipe up her sleeve because who doesn’t like meatloaf? So here’s mine, a Whole30 Classic Meatloaf!
My kids absolutely love it when I make this Whole30 Classic Meatloaf and serve it with my Whole30 Mashed Potatoes. Everyone leaves the table full and happy, and nobody would ever know that it’s Whole30 compliant! WIN!
If you like this Whole30 Classic Meatloaf, try my Mini BBQ Meatloaves for a simple, easy dinner!
Whole30 Classic Meatloaf
Serves: 6 People
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A delicious, gluten-free Meat Loaf recipe that the whole family will enjoy!
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf:
- 2 cups finely diced yellow onion about 1 large onion
- 2 tbsp. ghee
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 tbsp. coconut aminos
- 2 lbs. ground beef
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup almond flour
For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 tbsp. coconut aminos
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp. yellow mustard
- 1 tsp. crystals hot sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and thyme and saute until tender, about 7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the tomato paste and coconut aminos. Set aside to let cool.
- When cool, place ground beef, almond flour, 2 beaten eggs, and plenty of salt and pepper (to taste) in a bowl. Pour the onion mixture on top , and mix lightly with a fork. Don't mash or the meat loaf will be dense.
- Shape the mixture into a rectangular loaf on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine all of the "for the sauce" ingredients, stir to combine.
- Spread the sauce over the top of the meatloaf.
- Bake for 1 hour at 350°F, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the meatloaf reads 155°F. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before slicing.
- Make thick slices to serve.
- Enjoy!
Photography by Eat Love Eats.
48 Comments
Marie
February 28, 2022 at 2:34 pmMeatloaf had great flavor but did not retain its shape. I am wondering if this was because I didn’t drain grease midway through cooking. There was great flavor but a horrible presentation (mush meat).
Lori Atkins
January 6, 2022 at 4:51 pmI’ve been reading the reviews on this and it seems to be a huge hit!! Cannot wait to try it. My boys, however, cannot stand onions. Ugh. Seems like that would really cut down on the flavor if I eliminated them. I use onion powder a lot but doesn’t quite make up for it. I wondered if I could cook the onions as you’ve suggested and then puree them just to get the flavor in there. I am pretty sure they wouldn’t even know they were in the dish that way!? Suggestions? Thanks. Can’t wait to try this.
Alex
January 10, 2022 at 1:19 amhi there!
Hmmm, I do think that you could puree them to add the flavor I just don’t know what that would do to the texture of the meatloaf is my only concern!
Nicole
December 8, 2021 at 2:07 amThis is a staple in our home! My husband and I love this recipe and it has become our go to when we’re craving comfort food, but want to stick to Whole 30. Thank you, Alex, for creating yet another delicious dish!!
Alex
December 8, 2021 at 5:27 pmThank you for the kind comment, Nicole!
Stefanie T
December 24, 2021 at 5:13 amHands down favorite meatloaf recipe! I’ve made this countless times, and it’s a hit!! Soo flavorful. The leftovers are even better. Thanks Alex for a great recipe!
Denise M Prosinski
November 14, 2021 at 6:54 pmSo excited to try this…don’t have almond flour, would coconut flour be okay?
Alex
November 14, 2021 at 10:57 pmI wuoldn’t use coconut flour in this one– it’s a little more dense. Panko or breadcrumbs would be the best sub.
Steph
October 15, 2021 at 12:02 amAnyone tried adding sautéed mushrooms along with the onions? I have a bunch I want to use up and seems like would be a happy pairing…
Lisa
September 16, 2021 at 6:49 pmLove how simple, easy, yet incredibly flavorful this recipe turns out. We’ve made it multiple times with great success. We’ve even divided the recipe into patties and will grill them like hamburgers. My family loves meatloaf burgers!
Lisa
May 16, 2021 at 6:58 pmCan I prep this the day before and just throw in the fridge until I’m ready to make it the following day?
Alex
May 16, 2021 at 10:50 pmdefinitely!
Erin
May 2, 2022 at 7:49 pmWhat is the best Ghee substitute? (If i am ok with it not being entirely whole 30 compliant)? Thank you!
Alex
May 2, 2022 at 8:25 pmYou can use 2 TBSP of butter! Salted or unsalted, but just make sure to note the amount of salt you add if using salted.
Stephanie Nelson
April 18, 2021 at 11:24 pmWe eat this recipe often and I have shared it many times with my friends!
Lisa
March 11, 2021 at 10:54 pmI have made this recipe in the past and me and my husband loved it! I recently found out I’m allergic to almonds, though, and I would love to make this again. Is there a good sub you would use for almond flour? Maybe arrowroot or cassava?
Alex
March 12, 2021 at 2:05 amI’d go for cassava in this one!
Tate
April 17, 2021 at 11:31 pmAlso avoiding almonds… could I do a 1-for-1 sub almond flour for breadcrumbs? Obviously it wouldn’t be W30 anymore, but working with what I got 🙂
Alex
April 18, 2021 at 1:11 pmyes for sure!
Jordan
May 4, 2022 at 2:28 pmCan you bake in a bread/loaf dish?
Alex
May 17, 2022 at 12:30 pmYou can, but I find the fat collects in the bottom of the pan and makes the bottom a bit soggy.
Taloya
March 13, 2021 at 10:22 pmI can’t get it to print.
Rachel
November 13, 2021 at 3:46 amThis has been a go to recipe for a long time in my house and I’ve always used tiger nut flour. I just make sure to break up the clumps before mixing it in.
Caroline Baker
February 22, 2021 at 11:07 pmHow do you get the meat to not leak juice all over the pan while cooking? Or is that normal?
Alex
February 23, 2021 at 1:58 pmit’s normal, unfortunately!
Sonya
February 27, 2021 at 7:41 pmI think I just deleted my reply to you so if it dups ~ ignore. Lol
All meatloaf does it. It’s just the fat from the burger. About halfway through cooking time (once meat starts to get firm) pull out of oven and tilt pan at corner and drain some off into coffee cup. Meatloaf will still produce more juice during final cooking time and still be juicy.
Pati
September 13, 2021 at 2:16 pmHad anyone made this with ground turkey?
Dany
February 13, 2021 at 6:32 amGreat recipe! The rest of my family isn’t doing Whole30 like I am, but they’re eating the dinners I cook, so I try to find compliant versions of recipes we typically enjoy and this one was a winner. Everyone loved it!
Leslie
February 9, 2021 at 5:51 pmFavorite meatloaf recipe. So tasty. Although, the more recent time I cooked it, the bottom of my meatloaf seemed to cook way faster than the top. Meet thermometer said near the bottom was about 190 while lightly inserted to top/middle was about 135 degrees. I let it rest, etc. but when I sliced it the top was pink and the bottom seemed a little over cooked. Do you have any advice to avoid this, or reason this happened? Thanks.
Christian
January 30, 2021 at 4:06 amThis will be a repeat meatloaf recipe for our family. I do W30 and my family eats most things I make. This had great flavor and I loved the sauce on top! It’s a hit in this house.
Jennifer
January 25, 2021 at 1:32 pmThis is my new favorite W30/paleo meatloaf! Easy and outstanding flavor!!!
Allison Barrett
January 15, 2021 at 9:22 pmNewly obsessed with your cookbook. Oh my gosh, everything has been so amazing. Doing Whole 30 for the first time. My husband is not, but he is loving the food I’m making as well. Your a meatloaf meatballs are to die for. I will make them again and again and again…
Melissa
January 15, 2021 at 6:26 pmCan you make this with ground turkey?
Alex
January 15, 2021 at 10:19 pmsure!!
CM
January 15, 2021 at 3:13 amWould love to know if I could make this in a loaf pan or does that change the cooking time? Mostly, I would love to prep this ahead and throw in the oven on a weeknight.
Alex
January 15, 2021 at 12:38 pmYou can for sure– but I find it’s better formed on the loaf. It collects so much fat in the loaf pan.
Stephanie
May 31, 2021 at 3:58 amAny suggestions for how to freeze this for easy meal prep?
Alex
June 2, 2021 at 12:04 pmMix the ingredients and form the loaf, then wrap it very well with plastic wrap and place it in an airtight freezer bag. Raw meatloaf should last up to six months in the freezer. I’d hold off and add the sauce afterwards.
When planning to cook the frozen raw meatloaf, it’s best to take it out of the freezer and place it in the fridge the night before to thaw. Then bake as directed by the recipe. If baking from frozen, use the same temperature called for in the recipe but bake the meatloaf 1 1/2 to 2 times longer than directed. (you should definitely check for doneness with a meat thermometer—it should read 160 F)
Brittany
February 9, 2021 at 11:33 pmI loved this! First time I made it in a loaf pan, and it took more like 1.5 hours or more. Way better (and faster) shaped into the loaf.
Becky
January 11, 2021 at 11:04 pmWe love this recipe! Whether we are on a whole30 or not! So good! It’s not too compact or heavy.
Lori
January 11, 2021 at 1:22 amThe recipe was amazing! My two kids loved it, even the picky 8 year old – and that’s a compliment in itself. This will be my new go to meatloaf recipe. Thanks for all you do and being you! We are week 2 of whole 30 and my husband and kids have enjoyed every meal!
Yara
January 9, 2021 at 5:13 pmDo you think I can make this in a loaf pan instead of shaping it?
Bryn
January 5, 2021 at 10:55 pmMy favorite whole 30 meal!
Jess
December 17, 2020 at 7:28 pmFor some reason I couldn’t leave a star rating (blank screen), but I would give this a 5/5. We loved it for Whole30 with mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli. It honestly might replace our standard meatloaf recipe! Can’t wait to make again.
Alex
December 17, 2020 at 8:04 pmThank you, Jess! Glad you enjoyed the recipe and thank you for pointing out the rating issue, just fixed it.
Andrea
December 10, 2020 at 10:43 pmThis has become our family favorite meatloaf recipe!
Sarah
October 19, 2020 at 11:17 pmThis was great! I made it last night with coconut flour (I didn’t have almond flour), everything else the same. It seemed even sweeter than typical meatloaf (but that may be because I’m in the middle of a reset and have been off sugar for awhile). And the tip about mxing lighly with a fork really did make it lighter than typical dense meatloaf. That’s a tip I’ll use for other recipies.
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