I really like meatloaf. Call me strange but I love it. I still remember being in elementary school and requesting meatloaf for my special birthday dinner. I went vegetarian for a couple years in college and became anemic. Nothing against vegetarians but it just didn’t work for my body. I love my meat I guess. Ever since I’ve been back to eating meat I’ve enjoyed going back to some of my favorite old foods and meatloaf is certainly one of them. This version is a twist on your regular meatloaf. It’s Paleo and made with turkey instead of ground beef but it’s just as good as your regular version. Trust me I have nothing against red meat either, but I do try to vary my meat sources so this is perfect. Any other meatloaf lovers out there??? Tell me I’m not crazy!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 1/2 medium zucchini
- 1 egg
- 2 tbs. olive oil
- 2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp. oregano
- salt and pepper
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl finely grate your zucchini.
- Next add in your turkey, almond meal, and egg mixing well.
- Add in your olive oil, sauce, and spices and mix again.
- Place in a loaf pan sprayed with olive oil. *
- Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Slice and enjoy!
*Little Tip: If you’re gluten free in a household with gluten eaters wrap a piece of foil around your loaf pan and then spray the foil and bake inside. It will prevent any cross contamination. It also just makes for a much easier clean up!
My apologies on the pictures. Meatloaf does not photograph nicely!
Anyone a Vegetarian? Vegan? Flexitarian? Meat lover?
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh that looks so good, I need to try it!! I love meat. Beef and chicken to be exact. And that it such a nice alternative to the ordinary roasted chicken or beef.
Yes definitely try it Lucie! I think you would like it!
I’m a eat-yummy-healthy-whole-foods-arian.
I’ve never attempted a meatloaf, and you make it seem easy. My mom used to make it all the time when I was growing up. I should give it a whirl!
It’s super easy! I hate cooking meat and this is probably the easiest thing to do!
I love meatloaf too! My grandma made an Italian meatloaf and a lightened up version was actually the first recipe I posted on the blog. I actually added zucchini to mine also. I do really like the simplicity of your ingredient list, but I also have to drizzle a little ketchup on mine.
I’ll have to check out your lightened up version. I love adding vegetables in mine too. Always have to sneak some extra veggies in!
I love meatloaf too! Have you tried paleOMG southwest meatloaf? It’s amazing. This looks yummy too. Great idea to add zucchini!
No but now I’m going to have to. Sounds good!
I love meatloaf too! I actually used to hate it as a kid, but now my taste buds have changed and I love it. I’ve never tried making it myself though – I need to do that!
It’s so easy to make Chelsea! You would make an amazing one I bet!
My husband is 100% carnivore!!! I’m an everythingtarian!! haha
A great mix!
I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never had meatloaf! It looks delicious though and definitely one that I’m going to try. Thanks for the recipe
Hope you like it Anna!
I am not the biggest fan of meatloaf, except for when my mom made a Mediterranean one with like olives and feta, it was amazing. But this doesn’t sound all that bad, I think I will make it!
I hope you like it Kaitlin! The one your mom made sounds amazing!
I love meat loaf! My mom made turkey meatloaf all the time growing up, and the first time I made it for my husband, he’s like “why’d you use turkey??” Ummm because that’s the way you make it! haha
hahaha too funny! I like turkey meatloaf better too
While I can’t say that I’m a huge meatloaf lover, I definitely love my meat. I went veggie for a few years thinking that protein was protein and I’d be fine as long as I made sure to get enough, but my health definitely suffered as a result.
I agree with you. I went through the same thing and actually became anemic while I was vegetarian. Just doesn’t work for my body!
I love meatloaf! You are not alone
Good to know
I became a vegetarian a little over a year ago, and it is funny because one of the first things that I really missed was my dad’s meatloaf. Since I no longer eat the “real thing,” I make my own version of a meatless meatloaf. It is pretty tasty and definitely mimics the taste of meatloaf, if I do say so myself
. I even have meat-eaters loving and making it! You can find the recipe on my blog, here: http://cleaneatingveggiegirl.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/vegetarian-meatloaf-as-good-or-better-than-the-real-thing/
I will have to check it out Hannah. Thank you for sharing it with me
I am on a ground turkey kick and just bought POUNDS AND POUNDS of it yesterday!!! This recipe couldn’t have come at a better time, BOO YA! Thanks Danielle!
yay! hope you like it!
Hahha you’re right, meatloaf is NOT cute in pics! But OMG I LOVE IT you’re not crazy! My mom makes an AWESOME turkey meatloaf. I love the spicy brown mustard she uses in it, and horseradish too! Hers is more crumbly than this loaf. I’d totally try your version!
I’d love to see her recipe too! Hope you like mine!
The hubby would love this. I have never been a fan of ground meat. I do like a good lentil loaf though!
Totally not paleo though…
I actually love lentil loaf too. Not paleo but amazing!
I super love meatloaf!! I need to make it again soon, I should put it on the menu for next week! thanks for the reminder
Your welcome
Kevin keeps trying to convince me I’d like some kind of paleo meatloaf. I’ve definitely eaten more meat over the past few months than I typically would.
I bet you would too