This Meatloaf Without Eggs is a delicious variation of your favorite classic comfort food. It's sweet and tangy glaze is the perfect topping for this savory dish. There is also a lower carb and sugar free option of the recipe.
Why this recipe is so good....
- No eggs required: Whether you have an egg allergy or have run out of eggs, there are some simple substitutions. Your meatloaf will not fall apart and it will be moist, savory and perfectly delicious!
- Easy prep: The meatloaf mixture is so easy to put together. There is no chopping involved. We took some shorts and used basic dried seasonings in the recipe.
- Leftovers are fantastic the next day: Truth be told, I love leftover meatloaf sandwiches. With mayonnaise and ketchup.... I know, some say yuck but I'm in the yum camp. Either way, you can eat it cold or heat up for another meal.
- Some other beef recipes that make great leftovers are Teriyaki beef and broccoli, Dutch oven Eye Round, Hot and Spicy beef.
Ingredients
You need these simple ingredients to make this easy eggless meatloaf:
- ground beef (85/15 percent fat)
- milk
- Panko breadcrumbs*
- dried minced onion*
- sweet chili sauce*
- ketchup*
- Worcestershire sauce
- Italian seasoning
- garlic powder
- salt
- black pepper
- Glaze
- ketchup
- brown sugar*
- dried minced onion
Ingredient Notes
- Substitution for eggs: Meatloaf needs a binding agent to hold it together. Eggs are usually used for moisture and the binding ingredient, along with breadcrumbs. In place of eggs, we are using a mixture of Panko crumbs and milk. Also make sure there was plenty of added moisture from the chili sauce and ketchup.
- Ground beef: we are using a 85/15 percent fat blend. Just enough fat to moisten and flavor the beef but not too much to saturate the meatloaf. You can also use a meatloaf blend of ground pork, veal and beef or ground turkey.
- Breadcrumbs: This recipe uses Panko crumbs. According to The Kitchn, they are Japanese style breadcrumbs made without the crusts from bread. They are a bit healthier and lower in calories, but I like them for the texture as well. You can use regular bread crumbs. I also frequently use homemade breadcrumbs or crumbs made from grain free, gluten free bread for a low carb option.
- If you would like to try a Keto Meatloaf or Salisbury Steak recipe, they do not use any breadcrumbs.
How to make easy eggless meatloaf:
This are the basic directions to make this recipe. See recipe card for full details.
Preheat oven to 360°F. Line a roasting pan or casserole dish with parchment paper. Lightly spray with nonstick oil.
Mix the panko and milk in a small bowl and let sit and absorb for 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, stir together the ground beef, chili sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, seasonings and moistened Panko crumbs. The mixture should be combined well but not overly handled or it could toughen the meat.
Shape the meat mixture into a large oval or rectangle. Place in the casserole dish.
Spread half of the glaze mixture on top of the meatloaf.
Bake for 20 minutes. Remove casserole dish or pan from oven and carefully pour off as much of the fat without the meatloaf sliding out of the pan. Spread the rest of the glaze on meatloaf.
Bake for another 20 minutes. Test with a meat thermometer through the side of the meatloaf. It is done when the internal temperature registers at least 160°F. If not, cook another 10 minutes.
Let rest for at least 5-10 minutes. The temperature will rise to 165°F and the meatloaf will firm up as it rests.
Recipe Additions and Substitutions
Here are some options to change up the flavors or ingredients:
- Instead of the dried seasonings, you can use finely chopped onion and garlic.
- Half and half, heavy cream or 1% fat milk can be used. Also, some people like to add cheese such as parmesan or cheddar to the meatloaf.
- For a bit of a spicy flavor, add some red pepper flakes or some chili powder. A little goes a long way!
To lower some of the sugar and carbohydrates, try some of these swaps:
- Use chili sauce and sugar substitute to substitute for the sweet chili sauce.
- There are some brands of sugar free ketchup you can use. No one will know the difference!
- I have make this recipe with breadcrumbs made from leftover grain free bread I had in the freezer. Also stores carry keto bread you can make into breadcrumbs. Either chop very fine or use a food processor preferably.
- Substitute sugar free brown sugar for the sugar in the glaze.
Recipe Tips
- If you use just ground turkey, it will tend to be dry. I would recommend 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil to add a bit of fat and moisture. Or combine turkey with another ground meat.
- If you are adding vegetables to the meatloaf, chop them finely and give them a quick saute' in a pan to soften a bit and increase the flavor.
- Avoid over mixing the meatloaf mix. I use my hands and lightly mix together. Over mixing can cause it to be dense and tough.
- If you have a cooking rack that fits inside a large pan, use that to keep the meatloaf up off the accumulated fat. If not, you can pour off the fat either during or at the end of cooking.
- Always let the cooked meatloaf rest for at least 10 minutes. It will redistribute the juices and help the meatloaf set up and make it easier to slice.
What to serve with Egg-free meatloaf
There are so many different side dishes to serve with this meal. Traditional meatloaf recipes are usually served with mashed potatoes and green beans. You can make noodles or rice to serve alongside.
Roasted vegetables like asparagus or Mexican green beans can cook along with the main dish. Or you can serve a light salad such as House salad or Butter lettuce salad.
For my low carb meal, I would make mashed or rice cauliflower. Or serve with two vegetables with the meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to USDA, if the meat has been previously frozen and defrosted in the refrigerator, you can prepare the meatloaf. However, it may lose quality since freezing and thawing causes loss of moisture.
Just prepare the meatloaf and double wrap it with some plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and never defrost meat at room temperature.
You can add so many things to increase the flavor and texture to a meatloaf. Try adding some parmesan or cheddar cheese to the mixture for a cheesy flavor.
And you can add many different chopped vegetables such as mushrooms, carrots and bell peppers.
I have made meatloaf grain free and gluten free using low carb bread and making my own crumbs. Also my Keto Meatloaf uses almond flour instead of crumbs. Check the labels on the sauces and ketchup and purchase gluten free items. And look for products that have no added sugar in the ingredients.
If you tried this recipe and enjoyed it, I'd love if you gave it a 5 star rating. This tells me what you like and want to see more of. Thank you!
Meatloaf Without Eggs
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This meatloaf without eggs is a delicious variation of your favorite classic comfort food. It's sweet and tangy glaze is the perfect topping for this savory dish. There is also a lower carb and sugar free option of the recipe.
Ingredients
- 1.75 pounds of ground beef (85/15 percent fat)
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs*
- 2 tablespoons dried minced onion*
- ¼ sweet chili sauce*
- ⅓ cup ketchup*
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Glaze
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar*
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 360°F. Line a roasting pan or casserole dish with parchment. Lightly spray with nonstick oil.
- Mix the panko and milk in a small bowl and let sit and absorb for 5 minutes.
- Stir together the ground beef, chili sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, seasonings and moistened Panko crumbs. The mixture should be combined well but not overly handled or it could toughen the meat.
- Shape the meat mixture into a large oval or rectangle. Place in the casserole dish.
- Spread half of the glaze mixture on top of the meatloaf.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove casserole dish or pan from oven and carefully pour off as much of the fat without the meatloaf sliding out of the pan. Spread the rest of the glaze on meatloaf.
- Bake for another 20 minutes. Test with an internal meat thermometer through the side of the meatloaf. It is done when it registers at least 160°F. If not, cook another 10 minutes.
- Let rest for at least 5-10 minutes. The temperature will rise to 165°F and the meatloaf will firm up as it rests.
Notes
*You can use regular dry breadcrumbs or ground low carb breadcrumbs.
*The dried onion can be substituted with 1 teaspoon of onion powder or 2 tablespoons of finely minced onion.
*Substitute sugar free chili sauce and sugar free ketchup for low carb options.
Leave a Reply