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A serving of clean eating meatloaf on a white plate with steamed vegetables.

Wholesome Weeknight Meatloaf

This wholesome meatloaf recipe is perfect for a weeknight family dinner, offering a nutritious and delicious meal packed with hidden vegetables.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6 people

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Loaf pan or baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Medium skillet
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Whisk

Ingredients
  

Meatloaf

  • 1 ½ lbs lean ground turkey or grass-fed beef
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 2 carrots grated or finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery finely chopped
  • ½ cup gluten-free rolled oats
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste (for the loaf)
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (check for clean ingredients)
  • 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

For the Glaze

  • ¼ cup tomato paste or sugar-free ketchup
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey optional
  • ½ tsp mustard powder or Dijon mustard

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a loaf pan or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Heat olive oil or water in a medium skillet and sauté chopped onion, carrots, and celery for 5-7 minutes until softened, then let them cool.
  • In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, cooled vegetables, oats, egg, almond milk, 2 tbsp tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Gently mix all ingredients with your hands until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
  • Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the prepared loaf pan or shape it into a rectangular loaf on the baking sheet.

Glaze and Baking

  • Whisk together the glaze ingredients (tomato paste/ketchup, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup/honey, and mustard) in a small bowl.
  • Bake the meatloaf for 40-45 minutes; then remove it from the oven, brush with the glaze, and return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
  • Once baked, remove the meatloaf and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

For a richer flavor, you can caramelize the vegetables slightly more before adding them to the meat mixture. Feel free to adjust the seasoning to your preference.