This paleo meatloaf is a healthy twist on a classic comfort food favorite — juicy, tender, and full of flavor, made entirely grain-free and gluten-free. Using eggs and almond flour instead of breadcrumbs gives it the perfect texture while keeping it Whole30, dairy-free, and easy for weeknight dinners.
This paleo meatloaf is a healthy twist on a classic comfort food favorite! I originally made this recipe during my early days of paleo and Whole30, and it’s still my favorite paleo meatloaf recipe!
It’s juicy, tender, and full of flavor while staying completely grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Using eggs and almond flour instead of breadcrumbs gives it the perfect texture, making it Whole30 compliant without sacrificing that classic meatloaf taste everyone loves.
The finishing touch is a sweet and tangy glaze made with Whole30 ketchup, giving it the traditional comfort food flavor while keeping it refined sugar free.
This meatloaf is simple enough for busy weeknights but hearty enough to satisfy the whole family – even the pickiest eaters!
It’s also ideal for make-ahead meals, meal prep, or leftovers, since it reheats beautifully without drying out.
Serve it with mashed cauliflower, roasted veggies, or paleo gravy for a seriously tasty, and of course healthy dinner that everyone will want on repeat.
Why This Is the Best Paleo Meatloaf
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Juicy and tender every time – Eggs + almond flour lock in moisture.
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Simple, wholesome ingredients – Ground beef, eggs, almond flour, and seasonings.
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Whole30 – The optional Whole30 ketchup glaze gives classic flavor! You can also use store bought paleo and Whole30 friendly ketchup like Primal Kitchen.
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Easy for weeknights – Minimal prep, easy bake.
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Family-friendly comfort food – Kids and adults love it.
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Perfect for meal prep & leftovers – Freezes and reheats beautifully!
Ingredients for Paleo Meatloaf + Whole30 Ketchup
For the Paleo Meatloaf:
- 85% lean grass fed ground beef
- eggs
- almond flour
- Whole30 ketchup (use my recipe, or store bought)
- onion and garlic
- sea salt and black pepper
- mustard
- Italian seasoning
For the Whole30 Ketchup – Make this in a blender, or feel free to save time and use store bought unsweetened ketchup:
- pitted dates soaked in hot water until soft, then drained
- tomato paste
- water, in addition to soaking the dates
- apple cider vinegar
- paprika
- onion and garlic powder
- sea salt
How to Make Paleo Meatloaf
Whole30 Ketchup: This is optional but recommended if you need to stick to Whole30 ingredients! If not, use a paleo friendly store bought ketchup.
In a food processor or high speed blender, process/blend all ingredients on high speed until pureed, scraping the sides to incorporate all ingredients evenly. Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator until ready to use, leftovers can be refrigerated for 1-2 weeks.
Paleo Meatloaf:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- In a medium skillet, sauté the onions in 1-2 tablespoons of ghee until soft. Add the garlic, sprinkle with a tiny bit of sea salt and continue to cook, stirring, for about one minute.
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, eggs, almond flour, 3 tablespoons ketchup, cooked onion and garlic with ghee, salt, mustard, Italian seasoning and black pepper. Mix with your hands until well incorporated – but do not overmix!
- Transfer the meat mixture to a loaf pan and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove and spread ¼-1/3 cup of the ketchup over the top of the loaf, return to oven and continue to bake for 40-45 more minutes until center is cooked (an internal temp of 160°F).
The Secret to Moist Paleo Meatloaf
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Eggs + almond flour absorb and lock in juices!
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85% lean ground beef is best
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Don’t overbake; let it rest
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Glaze adds moisture and flavor
Pro Tips:
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Don’t overmix — keeps meatloaf tender
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Resting is key for slicing cleanly
Make Ahead, Storage, and Freezing
Make Ahead
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Assemble the loaf 1 day in advance, store covered in the refrigerator, then bake as instructed.
Storage
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Refrigerate, tightly covered, up to 4 days.
Freezing
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You can freeze baked or unbaked in a freezer-safe container.
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Reheat covered in aluminum foil to maintain moisture.
Paleo Meatloaf FAQ
Can I make paleo meatloaf without breadcrumbs?
Yes! Almond flour + eggs keep it tender and held together so no breadcrumbs are needed.
Is this meatloaf Whole30 compliant?
Yes — use Whole30 approved ketchup for the glaze or use my Whole30 ketchup recipe below!
Why does my meatloaf fall apart?
Overmixing or skipping binder. Follow this recipe and allow the meatloaf to rest before slicing for at least 10 minutes.
What temperature is meatloaf done?
160°F internal temperature.
Can I make individual meatloaf muffins?
Absolutely! Portion the meat mixture into a muffin tin, top with the ketchup glaze, and bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes. Perfect for meal prep or kid-friendly dinners.
Can I use a meat blend instead of beef?
Yes — ground pork, turkey, or a 50/50 beef-pork mix works. Keep the egg + almond flour ratio the same to maintain texture.
I know you’ll love this paleo meatloaf recipe as much as my family does! Grab your ingredients and get your oven preheated because it’s time to cook – let’s go!
Paleo Meatloaf (Whole30, Gluten-Free) with Whole30 Ketchup
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf:
- 2 lbs 85% lean grass fed ground beef
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup almond flour
- 3 tablespoons Whole30 ketchup see recipe below, or use store bought
- 1/2 medium onion minced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons ghee or olive oil for cooking onion and garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon mustard check label for Whole30 compliance
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup Whole30 ketchup to glaze the top
- Chopped parsley for garnish
For the Whole30 Ketchup:
- 1/3 cup medjool dates pitted, soaked in hot water to soften, and drained (use 1/4 cup if you want it less sweet)
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons water in addition to soaking the dates
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Optional 1/4 tsp chipotle pepper for spice
Instructions
Prepare the Meatloaf:
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Preheat your oven to 375°F.
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In a medium skillet, sauté the onions in the ghee or olive oil until soft, add the garlic, sprinkle with a tiny bit of sea salt and continue to cook, stirring, for about one minute, then remove from heat.
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In a large bowl, combine the beef, eggs, almond flour, 3 tablespoons ketchup, cooked onion and garlic with ghee, salt, mustard, Italian seasoning and black pepper. Mix with your hands until well incorporated but do not to over-mix, since this will toughen the meat.
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Transfer the meat mixture to a 9" x 5" loaf pan (or 8.5" x 4.5") and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove and spread 1/4-1/3 cup of the ketchup over the top of the loaf, return to oven and continue to bake for 40 more minutes until center is cooked (an internal temp of 160°F)
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Allow the loaf to rest for 10 minutes or so, then slice and serve, garnished with chopped parsley if desired. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
Whole30 Ketchup (Make first if using, can be prepared in advance)
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In a food processor or high speed blender, blend all ingredients on high speed until pureed, scraping the sides to incorporate all ingredients evenly. Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator until ready to use, leftovers can be refrigerated for 1-2 weeks.
Recipe Notes
*Nutrition is calculated using my Whole30 Ketchup recipe.
Nutrition
Want more Whole30 & Paleo comfort food dinner ideas? Try one of these!
Quick Paleo Meatballs in Sauce
I made the meatloaf as the recipe said, but I think the meatloaf wasn’t as done on the inside as it should be.. any ideas? I even did 10 extra minutes.
Great recipe! I substituted “Primal Kitchen” brand ketchup so I don’t know about the recipe for that part, but the meatloaf was fantastic! Also used venison with 10% beef fat for the meat…
I made this meatloaf this evening! ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! I will definitely be making this over and over again! Thank you so much for such a wonderful recipe! I’m doing the Whole30 and I will be checking into some of your other Whole30 recipes!
I found the post to be excellent, and I greatly appreciate the shared information.
My husband has never been a fan of meatloaf and he would never eat it until I found and tried this recipe. It has converted him and we’ve had it at least 2x a month for a few months now! He even adds more of the ketchup to his serving.
Great post, i really like it
Great recipe! my family really enjoy this.
This recipe is absolutely delicious! I substituted Primal Kitchen Whole 30 approved ketchup for the homemade ketchup in order to save a little time. Turned out AMAZING!
I was so pleasantly surprised by this recipe! My whole family enjoyed it. I will definitely be adding this to my rotation of dinners.
Excellent! I used flax eggs to make it dairy, egg, gluten free for one of our kiddos to be able to eat. I also greased the cast iron pan with bacon grease; it was delicious! Thank you for all of your inspiration and recipes!