Italian Keto Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

I wanted to make this Italian keto meatloaf recipe one that everyone in the family love. Keto or not this is a recipe that will be a great keto dinner you can put on rotation and everyone will be happy.

With very little fiddling around this dinner is not too time consuming.

Read on for some alternatives, FAQs, and more cooking methods.

Italian Keto Meatloaf Recipe (1)

Italian Keto Meatloaf Ingredients

I often get asked for “mince” or keto ground beef recipes to keep the keto budget down. Good thing for me is I am more of a fan of ground beef and ground pork fan than any cuts. I love how versatile it is and how much flavour can easily be added with spices.

Everything you need to make our very delicious Italian keto meatloaf recipe is available from the local supermarket. Check your pantry first to see what keto pantry staples you have first. The recipe uses many spices that are found in most households.

Italian Keto Meatloaf Recipe (2)

TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE AMAZING MEATLOAF

As I have already mentioned this keto meatloaf is not a huge time consumer. These are very simply the best tips I can give you so end up with a perfectly soft and succulent meatloaf.

Use fresh spices

If your spices have a used by date that is out of date get new ones! If you follow a lot of my recipes you know you will be using them again. Old spices add no flavour to any dish.

Use fatty ground beef and ground pork

Lean meat is not what we want. Not for the keto diet or for your keto-friendly meatloaf. While grass fed and organic are recommended if it doesn’t suit your budget then get what you can. You can also mince your own meat or ask your local butcher to mince some good fatty meats for you.

Don’t over mix

The more you mix and knead ground meat the firmer and tougher it will be. Simply mix all the meatloaf ingredients enough to just bring it together and shape into the loaf.

Italian Keto Meatloaf Recipe (3)

Faqs and Substitutions

Here is just a bit of QNA of what I might expect some of you to ask me about our low carb meatloaf recipe. I will add more to it if there is loads of questions.

Can this recipe be made ahead?

Yes it can. You can choose to make both the meatloaf (precooked) and sauce up to 2 days ahead and cook on the day.

How do I store meatloaf?

Once cooked the meatloaf can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. Leftover meatloaf is great for lunchboxes or easy to reheat dinners. Store in the fridge for up 4 days or alternatively freeze in individual portions.

I want a nut free keto meatloaf.

Easy! Simply swap the almond meal for flaxseed meal or 1 tablespoon of coconut flour.

Is this a paleo-friendly meatloaf?

Simply omit the cheese for a delicious paleo meatloaf.

Can I cook it in a slow cooker?

Yes you can! Simply add all the marinara to the bottom of the slow cooker and carefully place the meatloaf in as well. cook on low for 5-6 hours until cooked through.

How to make keto meatloaf in the Instant Pot?

To cook this meatloaf in an Instant Pot I would recommend a 6 or 8L models only. Simply prepare the sauce on saute until heated through. Shape the meatloaf to fit your IP and place it onto the trivet. Carefully lower it into the sauce. Put the lid on and close the valve. Set the IP to Pressure Cook/25 minutes. Do a quick release. Carefully lift the loaf before resting and slicing.

I don’t eat pork or beef, can I substitute another meat?

Make the meatloaf to suit your tastes. If you want to make it all beef, or chicken etc it is completely up to you. Change the spices or add chilli for heat. Wrap it in bacon, or have a cheese centre. Recipes are meant to be made with love and passion.

Italian Keto Meatloaf Recipe (4)

Tools to make Italian Meatloaf

Here are just a few of my kitchen favourites that you can use to make our Italian Keto meatloaf recipe.

Cast Iron Pan

Baking Tray

Glass storage containers – MY favourite way to store saucy dishes.

Instant Pot

Steamer Sling for Instant Pot

Italian Keto Meatloaf Recipe (5)

More keto ground beef recipes

Here are just a few more keto ground beef recipes that you might love. Many of these happen to be our most popular dinner recipes.

  1. Easy Beef Lasagna
  2. Keto Big Mac Salad
  3. Aussie Keto Chilli Beef
  4. Keto Chilli Con Carne
  5. Keto Mexican Beef Burger

Join the Mad Creations Tribe

Don’t forget to link up with Mad Creations on social media so you never miss a thing. We are super active and so is our community, so why not come join us!

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Italian Keto Meatloaf Recipe (7)

Italian Meatloaf Recipe

An Italian Meatloaf recipe that everyone in the family will love. it is so simple to make and incredibly satisfying!

5 from 99 votes!

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course: Lunch and Dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free

Recipe Category: Low Carb

Calories: 594kcal

Author: Megan Ellam

Servings: 8 serves

Tap or hover over number to scale ingredients

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) olive oil
  • 1/2 (1/2) small onion finely chopped
  • 2 (2) garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 2 (2) eggs
  • 3 teaspoons (3 teaspoons) smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) fennel seeds
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 500 g (18 oz) ground beef
  • 500 g (18 oz) ground pork
  • 1/2 cup (1/2 cup) almond meal or golden flax meal
  • 1/2 cup (1/2 cup) parmesan grated

MARINARA SAUCE

  • 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) crushed garlic
  • 2 cups (2 cups) passata or tinned tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Italian Seasoning
  • 1 cup (1 cup) red wine or beef stock/broth
  • 50 g (1.75 oz) tomato paste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 100 g (3.5 oz) butter cubed
  • 1/2 cup (1/2 cup) shredded mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup (1/4 cup) freshly chopped parsley or fresh basil leaves

Instructions

CONVENTIONAL METHOD

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

  • Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, 5-7 minutes. Allow to cool.

  • In a large bowl add all the meatloaf ingredients, including the cool onion/garlic, and season well. Using your hands mix until all ingredients are combined.

  • Shape the loaf on a large baking tray roughly around 25 cm x 10 cm. Bake for 30 minutes.

  • To make the Marinara sauce; heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet. Add the garlic and cook stirring until fragrant. Add the passata, Italian Seasoning, red wine, tomato paste and season to taste. Simmer for 7-10 minutes to reduce slightly.

  • Gently slide the meatloaf into the marinara sauce. Baste the top of the meatloaf with some of the marinara and sprinkle with cheese. Add the cubes of butter to the sauce around the meatloaf. Cover with lid or foil and return to the oven for a further 20-30 minutes, remove the lid for the last 10 minutes to brown the cheese.

  • Leave meatloaf to rest 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve with fresh parsley.

THERMAL METHOD

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

  • Add the olive oil, onion, garlic to the meer; mix 3 sec/speed 7. Scrape down the sides of the bowl; cook 5 min/100°C/speed 1. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.

  • Add the remaining meatloaf ingredients and season well. Mix 30 sec/reverse/speed 2. Mix further by hand if needed. Follow from Step 4 above.

Notes

This recipe yields approximately 6-8 servings. The actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

This recipe includes a link to our amazing Homemade Italian Seasoning Substitute. You can very easily make your own keto seasoning with the many and varied dried herbs you have in your pantry.

To calculate the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe by 8. The result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutritional values shown are guidelines only. They are for 1 serving using the ingredients listed. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on the brands and types of ingredients used.

All recipes have been tested using all of the cooking methods included by various recipe testers.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Alternatively, store in an airtight container and freeze.

The recipe card instructions contain the most basic of steps and list of ingredients. If you have any queries, questions or are unsure of substitutions, please scroll up to the blog post for more information.

Your Own Notes

Click here to add your own private recipe notes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serve | Calories: 594kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 394mg | Potassium: 739mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1251IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 4mg | Magnesium: 48mg | Net Carbs: 7g

Tried this recipe?Mention @meganellam or tag #madcreations!

Italian Keto Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many carbs are in a 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 do you put in meatloaf to keep it from falling apart? ›

The answer lies in the binding ingredient. Binding ingredients are the items that, quite literally, pull your dish together. In meatloaf, this is most commonly the eggs and breadcrumbs.

What is the secret to a great meat loaf? ›

A chef's secret trick to making an amazing meatloaf is to use a mixture of ground beef, pork, and veal for a more flavorful and moist texture. Another trick is to use a combination of fresh and dried herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, and parsley, to enhance the overall taste.

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.

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? ›

Meat and poultry are popular with people on the keto diet because they're high in fat and very low in carbs. However, scientists have found links between eating too much meat on a regular basis and health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight.

What can I use instead of breadcrumbs in meatloaf? ›

What Can You Substitute Bread Crumbs in Meatloaf With?
  1. Rolled Oats: When it comes to breadcrumb substitutes, rolled oats are one of the leading contenders. ...
  2. Crushed Crackers: An equally viable alternative is crushed crackers.
Sep 1, 2023

What happens if you put too many eggs in meatloaf? ›

Eggs bind the mixture, add flavor and increase browning, but too much egg will make a meat loaf tough and rubbery. Use about one egg per pound of meat. If using pork sausage, skip the egg. Milk adds flavor and moisture and helps distribute the seasoning throughout the mass.

Should you cover meatloaf when baking? ›

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.

Is it better to bake meatloaf on a sheet pan or loaf pan? ›

When choosing a baking pan, avoid a small loaf pan or baking dish. A tight fit means that the loaf will steam — think school cafeteria meatloaf. Instead, use a sheet pan or a large baking dish and leave some breathing room so the edges will caramelize nicely.

What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

The Basic Meatloaf Formula

All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

How to make a Bobby Flay meatloaf? ›

directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. ...
  3. Whisk together the eggs and herbs in a large bowl. ...
  4. Whisk together the remaining ketchup and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl then brush the mixture over the entire loaf.
  5. Bake the meatloaf for approximately 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Is it better to cook meatloaf at 350 or 375? ›

The oven temperature is typically set at 350 degrees F for making meatloaf. That's the temperature you want to be sure to use so the meatloaf cooks and doesn't dry out. Too high, and the outer crust will burn before the interior is cooked all the way, too low and you don't get that delicious crust.

What happens if you forget the milk in meatloaf? ›

Usually, milk is used to soak chunks of bread, that are them mixed into the meat in order to improve the moisture and texture of the loaf. You can simply substitute vegetable, chicken or beef stock for the milk in any recipe, soak the bread in that, and then add it to the mix.

Why put ketchup in meatloaf? ›

More than a condiment

All Recipes explains that having a sweet element in your meatloaf like ketchup is critical to creating a delicious dish. The reason? It balances out the flavors.

Do you count carbs in meat on keto? ›

Meat and poultry are considered staple foods on the keto diet. Fresh meat and poultry contain no carbs and are rich in B vitamins and several important minerals. They're also a great source of high quality protein, which may help preserve muscle mass during a very low carb diet ( 18 , 19 , 20).

Do keto meals have carbs? ›

The ketogenic diet typically reduces total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day—less than the amount found in a medium plain bagel—and can be as low as 20 grams a day. Generally, popular ketogenic resources suggest an average of 70-80% fat from total daily calories, 5-10% carbohydrate, and 10-20% protein.

How many carbs are in one slice of homemade meatloaf? ›

Popular Serving Sizes of Meatloaf
Net Carbs(g)Total Carbs(g)
1 small or thin slice5.315.61
1 medium slice6.647.04
1 large slice8.799.39
1 co*cktail meatball0.460.46
5 more rows

Does keto bread count as carbs? ›

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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