Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

By Jennifer Zhang · · This post may contain affiliate links · 25 Comments

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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!

Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (1)
Table of Contents
  • Is Meatloaf Keto-Friendly?
  • Ingredients You'll Need
  • How To Avoid Dry Meatloaf
  • How To Make Keto Meatloaf
  • Cooking Tips
  • Recipe Variations
  • Storage Instructions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Other Sides
  • 📖 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 who aren't afraid of carbs.

Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (2)

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 it has such 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.

  • 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. It is a sweet and tangy sauce that goes perfectly with meatloaf.
Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (3)

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 liquid.

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.

How To Make Keto Meatloaf

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and line a baking pan with a baking sheet.
Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (4)
  1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together your ground beef, parmesan cheese, eggs, onion, garlic, flaxseed, salt, paprika, and parsley.
  2. 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.
  3. In a bowl, mix together the tomato paste and balsamic vinegar and season with a pinch of salt and paprika.
Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (5)
  1. After it has finished resting, transfer the mixture onto your baking pan and shape it into a loaf.
  2. Brush over the sauce generously making sure to completely cover the top of the meatloaf.
  3. Bake in the preheated oven uncovered for around 60 minutes until cooked through (cook time may vary).
Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (6)
  1. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before you slice the meatloaf.

Cooking Tips

Best Baking Temperature: After much experimenting, I decided to bake the perfect tender and juicy meatloaf 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 in 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 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 tastes. Experiment with chili powder, thyme, onion powder, and cumin.

Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (7)

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!

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

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

📖 Recipe

Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (8)

Keto Meatloaf Recipe

Jennifer Zhang

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.

4.50 from 22 votes

Print Pin Review

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Calories 207 kcal

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.

Notes

Net Carbs: 2.5g

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice (8 per recipe) | Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.1g | Protein: 17.1g | Fat: 13.5g | Saturated Fat: 5.8g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 467mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 1.3g | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 2mg | Net Carbs: 2.5g

Nutritional information for the recipe is calculated based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe we provide. Erythritol and other sugar-free sweetener carbs are not included in the carb counts. Net carbohydrates are the total carbohydrates minus dietary fiber.

Copyright

© KetoDietYum.com – Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single images may be used when full credit and a link back to the original content on KetoDietYum.com is provided.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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First published on . Post updated on with additional information.

  • Haven't made this one yet, just saw it today for the 1st time, but will be making this one asap! Thanks for this!

    Reply

  • We tried your meatloaf recipe last night. It wasn't over-the-top amazing, but it was pretty good. We both felt it was pretty dry. I wondered if that was due to my using ground flax seeds instead of whole. Would that have absorbed too much liquid possibly? Also, when you say to use 3 cups of ground beef, I unconsciously read 3 lbs instead of cups, as that is the unit of measure I usually see.used for meats. When I realized it was cups I didn't measure exactly but used 1 1/2 lbs.as it seemed to be close, but maybe I used too little. Except for my possible changes, we enjoyed it and would make it again. We have leftovers for lunch today! Yay!

    Reply

    • Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (13)
      Hi Janet! Sorry for the confusing ingredient measurements, I've updated the recipe now. I think you ended up using a little bit too much ground beef, which is probably why it ended up dry. I'm glad it still came out OK, and you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • How much is 3 cups of ground beef in lbs.? Where's a good place to get flaxseed, can I substitute almond flour or pork rinds?

    Reply

    • Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (14)
      Hi Matt! It works out around 1 pound of ground beef, and I've updated the recipe to make it clearer. You should be able to get flaxseed at most stores, but you can substitute it for almond flour or coconut flour if you can't find any.

      Reply

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

    Reply

    • 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

      • 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

        • 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

          • Hey Jennifer. So after the flaxseed gels up after 10 minutes, then it's edible.

          • Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (15)
            Hi Dora, after it gels up, it's ready to transfer to the baking pan.

  • Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (16)
    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

    • Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the meatloaf!

      Reply

  • 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

    • 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

  • Our Almond flour is extremely expensive. Are there any substitutes?

    Reply

    • Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (17)
      Hi Judith. This recipe is made with flaxseed instead of almond flour.

      Reply

  • Jennifer can you put down how many grams in each serving with All your recipes. Thank you

    Reply

    • Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (18)
      Hi Pat. At the moment, I don't have time to weigh each individual serving, but I will make a note to weigh certain recipes in the future.

      Reply

  • 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

  • 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

    • 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

  • Hi, not made yet however, what is the serving size?

    I am an old man that is dumb as a rock. I need added communication. I am not a good cook actually a stupid one. Any help you can provide I would appreciate it.

    Thanks,
    Mike

    Reply

    • Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (19)
      Hi Mike! The recipe makes 8 servings.

      Reply

  • Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (20)
    This made a delicious meatloaf. I put it in a loaf pan to contain the juices. I used ground flaxseed since that’s all I had. I was rushing and mixed the tomato paste and balsamic vinegar in with everything else, but it still came out great! Thanks Jennifer for a meatloaf recipe that doesn’t need almond flour or pork rinds.

    Reply

  • Low Carb Keto Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    How many carbs are in keto meatloaf? ›

    This keto meatloaf recipe has 4.4g of carbs and 1g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.4g net carbs per serving. How do you store keto meatloaf? Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    What can you use instead of breadcrumbs in meatloaf? ›

    Bread Crumb Substitutes

    ¼ cup panko. ¼ cup cracker or pretzel crumbs. ¼ cup crushed cornflakes or other unsweetened cereals. ⅔ cup regular rolled oats (Use this only as a substitute for bread crumbs in meat loaf and other meat mixtures, such as burgers.

    What is the best binder for meatloaf? ›

    If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes! However, bread is still the best choice of all the potential options.

    What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

    Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

    How many net carbs will kick you out of keto? ›

    Eating more than 50 grams of carbs may disrupt ketosis.

    Some people can eat more and still stay in ketosis, whereas others may need to restrict their carb intake more in order to stay in ketosis.

    Can you eat unlimited meat on keto? ›

    If you're embarking on a ketogenic lifestyle, you should know that you actually can't eat a ton of meat on the keto diet. In fact, eating too much protein can kick you out of ketosis, so while meats are definitely okay in moderation on a keto diet, they shouldn't be its number one staple.

    What is a low carb substitute for bread crumbs? ›

    Breadcrumb Substitutes
    • Ground pork rinds.
    • Almond flour or almond meal.
    • Crushed nuts.
    • Keto bread crumbs.
    • Psyllium husk.
    Apr 11, 2022

    Can I use almond flour instead of bread crumbs? ›

    Almond flour has a nutty taste and a course texture, which makes it an easy sub for bread crumbs. It's also gluten-free, so if you have a sensitivity or diet need, this is a great option. "It's used in a lot of keto recipes as a sub for breadcrumbs," Xie said, adding that it'll work as a binder or a topping.

    Is oatmeal better than bread crumbs in meatloaf? ›

    Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren't ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs and flavorings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast.

    Why do you put milk in meatloaf? ›

    Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

    Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? ›

    Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

    What not to put in meatloaf? ›

    Onions, garlic and celery do pose one problem though: they don't cook down easily. Little bits of crunchy onion or celery or potent, hot garlic will spoil the comforting aspect of eating meatloaf.

    Can you put too many breadcrumbs in meatloaf? ›

    Adding more to your mixture is always easier than taking some out. Another common reason meatloaf is mushy is too much filler, like breadcrumbs, bread, and oatmeal. Too much filler will stop it from baking correctly and becoming a fully formed meatloaf.

    Do you count carbs in meat on keto? ›

    Fresh meat and fish

    These foods tend to make up a large part of a keto diet, as they contain no carbohydrates but can be good sources of some nutrients. Some examples of fresh meat and fish included in the keto diet include: turkey.

    How many carbs are in homemade meatloaf? ›

    Meatloaf, beef (3 ounce) contains 9.6g total carbs, 9.2g net carbs, 11.1g fat, 13g protein, and 192 calories.

    Do keto meals have carbs? ›

    The keto diet typically limits carbs to 20–50 grams per day. While some people on keto count their total carb intake, others count net carbs. Net carbs refer to total carbs minus fiber. That's because fiber is indigestible, so it can't be broken down and absorbed by your body.

    How many net carbs in a slice of keto bread? ›

    This keto bread contains 1g net carbs per slice, providing a high flavor and fiber bread for those following a keto diet. Made to be delicious to the last bite, this sandwich bread also delivers on some very specific dietary preferences with 35 calories per bread slice.

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