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    Home » Recipes » Meal Recipes

    Italian Gluten Free Meatloaf Recipe

    Published: May 11, 2022 · Modified: May 11, 2022 by Sandi Gaertner · 22 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This incredibly flavorful gluten free meatloaf recipe can be made two ways, loaf style, or as mini meatloaves. You are going to love all of the Italian flavors in every bite! Even your picky eaters will be asking you for seconds!

    Sliced meatloaf on a wooden cutting board.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Gluten Free Meatloaf Recipe Is Great:
    • Ingredient Notes:
    • Recipe Step By Step Directions:
    • To Make As Mini Meat Loaves:
    • Tips and Recipe FAQ:
    • Meatloaf Side Dishes:
    • More Gluten Free Dinner Recipe Ideas
    • Recipe
    • Community

    Meatloaf has gotten a bad rap over the years and I have been determined to create the perfect meatloaf to prove this wrong!

    This gluten free meatloaf recipe is juicy, and full of delicious Italian flavors. It is delicious for dinner, and it is even better the next day! Serve it with mashed potatoes, or serve it as a burger on a bun. You can't go wrong any way you eat this moist and tender meatloaf!

    Why This Gluten Free Meatloaf Recipe Is Great:

    1. You can make this gluten free meatloaf with any ground meat!
    2. This recipe has flavor baked into every bite!
    3. Make this in a loaf pan for a big meatloaf, or bake this meatloaf as mini meat loaves in a muffin pan.
    4. For my ketchup lovers like Mr. Fearless Dining, bake this loaf with a ketchup glaze, or skip the glaze if you want to make this recipe sugar-free.

    Ingredient Notes:

    photos of the meatloaf ingredients.
    • Ground Meat - I used ground beef. Feel free to use ground turkey, chicken, or pork.
    • Gluten Free Bread Crumbs - You can buy gluten free bread crumbs or panko, or make homemade Gluten Free Bread Crumbs with this simple recipe.
    • Parmesan Cheese - I love adding some parmesan for added flavor and juiciness. You can also use a dairy-free parmesan cheese like the one by VioLife brand.
    • Italian Seasonings - I used dried basil and oregano in this recipe.
    • Onion - I prefer to use sweet yellow onion.
    • Sun-Dried Tomatoes - I like sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil as they are softer. I added a tablespoon of the seasoned oil into the recipe, then diced the sun-dried tomatoes. Trader Joe's has this, but I am sure other grocery stores will carry this ingredient as well.
    • Egg - I add one large egg for added moisture. If you are using ground turkey breast, you may consider adding two eggs.

    Recipe Step By Step Directions:

    You will love how easy this recipe is. There is no need to pre-cook anything! Preheat your oven to 350º F and place the oven rack in the middle setting.

    Photos of steps one and two making the turkey meatloaf.

    Step 1: On a cutting board, dice your onion. Add the ground meat, gluten free bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, sun-dried tomatoes, oil, seasonings, and the egg to a large mixing bowl.

    Step 2: Use a fork to mix the ingredients together. This helps mix in the flavors into the meat so the flavor bakes in really well.

    A meatloaf in a loaf pan ready to bake.

    Step 3: Place the meatloaf mixture into a prepared loaf pan, or muffin pan. I use a spray avocado oil to prevent sticking. If your loaf pan is non-stick, you will not need to do this.

    Step 4: Spread the optional ketchup over the top of the meatloaf. Not only does this add even more flavor, but it helps keep the moisture in while the meatloaf is baking!

    A baked meatloaf in a loaf pan.

    Step 5: Bake the meatloaf for 30-40 minutes until it is done. The actual time will depend on the size of your loaf pan and the depth of the meatloaf.

    You will know your meatloaf is done baking when it has an internal temperature of 160º F. (If you are using turkey or chicken you want the internal temperature to read 165º F on a digital meat thermometer.)

    If you are looking for a healthier version, you will love this Gluten Free Turkey Meatloaf recipe!!

    To Make As Mini Meat Loaves:

    Spread out the meatloaf meat in a muffin tin to bake.
    I used mozzarella cheese and fresh basil in this version.

    Spread the meat mixture out in a muffin tin to bake. Whip up this easy cream cheese mashed potatoes recipe and you can put it on top of the meat loaves to look like your frosting.

    These mini Italian gluten free meat loaves on a platter. Mashed potatoes are piled on top of the meatloaves so they look like cupcakes

    I updated this post from an older May 2015 post as you can see in the above photo. I had created this recipe in a muffin tin for an April Fool's Day joke on my family. Nobody was fooled for long, but it was fun. Feel free to make this meatloaf as one large meatloaf or smaller muffins.

    Tips and Recipe FAQ:

    Can you freeze this meatloaf?

    You can easily freeze this meatloaf. I recommend freezing this meatloaf in slices because it is easier to thaw. To thaw, bake the whole meatloaf in the oven at 325º F for 20-25 minutes, or for a slice 10 minutes. You can also thaw it quickly in the microwave oven.

    How do you store this meatloaf?

    Store the leftover meatloaf in an air-tight container.

    How long will this meatloaf keep fresh?

    This meatloaf will keep fresh for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 4 months in the freezer.

    Can you make this meatloaf with vegan meat?

    You can make this recipe with vegan meat, I think Impossible meat tends to work best.

    Sliced meatloaf on a serving plate.

    Meatloaf Side Dishes:

    Make it a full meal with one of these delicious side dish recipes!

    • Cinnamon Brown Sugar Carrots
    • Grandma's Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
    • Kid-Friendly Kale and Apple Salad (Yes, kids do love this!)
    • Pan-Fried Sweet Potatoes with Honey

    Click here to see all of the dinner recipes on this blog.

    More Gluten Free Dinner Recipe Ideas

    • Easy Gluten Free Stuffed Peppers
    • Gluten Free Skillet Lasagna
    • Gluten Free Quiche with Sausage and Tomato
    • How to Fire-Roast Hatch Chiles and The 12 Best Hatch Chile Recipes!

    Recipe

    Sliced meatloaf on a serving plate.

    Gluten Free Meatloaf

    Sandi Gaertner
    This is an incredibly easy gluten free meatloaf recipe. It is delicious and even your picky eaters will love it!
    4.95 from 34 votes
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 17 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Gluten Free Dinner Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 493 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 pounds ground beef * see note
    • ½ cup gluten free bread crumbs * see note
    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil * see note
    • 2 teaspoons dried basil
    • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
    • ½ cup ketchup optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350º F.
    • In a large bowl, add all of the meatloaf ingredients.
    • Mix well using a fork so the seasonings can really blend in.
    • Add the meatloaf mixture to a prepared loaf pan.
    • Optional, spread ketchup over the top of the meatloaf.
    • Bake for 30 minutes, or until the meatloaf has an internal temperature of 160º F for ground beef or 165º F for ground turkey or chicken.

    Notes

    1. Feel free to use any ground meat or vegan meat in this simple Italian meatloaf recipe.
    2. You can use gluten free bread crumbs or panko.
    3. I used sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil. I used this olive oil in the recipe as well as the sun-dried tomatoes.
    4. This meatloaf will keep fresh for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Store it in an air-tight container.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1sliceCalories: 493kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 30gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 567mgPotassium: 577mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 252IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 105mgIron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nichole

      December 30, 2019 at 12:34 am

      Can you substitute the green garlic with something else? Our grocery store didn’t have any so I’m assuming it’s out of season.

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        December 30, 2019 at 8:27 pm

        Hi Nichole, feel free to substitute 2 cloves of garlic. Mince them through a garlic press. Thank you!

        Reply
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