This Gluten-Free Barbecue Meatloaf is made without breadcrumbs and tastes like your mama’s meatloaf but better for you! This healthier meatloaf is smothered in a smokey BBQ sauce and can be made with ground chicken, turkey, or lean beef! Easy to make and freeze for meal prep!
This is not your grandma’s Sunday meatloaf, that’s for sure. In fact, it’s better for you and gluten-free! Perfect for that someone who’s trying to swap out those not so healthy comfort food dishes for healthier and gluten-free versions.
It’s lighter, more flavorful, and perfectly acceptable to serve all year round. Heck, make it a potluck dish with a “bucket-o-beans” (yes, that’s actually a plastic tub of beans below) and you’ve got yourself a Texas BBQ.
Lovely BBQ Beans hand model courtesy of my cute niece. She was serving us.
Can You Make Meatloaf Without Breadcrumbs?
I figured I could easily adapt my grandmother’s recipe and make it my own! A little mixture of wholesome, gluten-free ingredients such as lean ground meat, eggs, fresh herbs and spices, and ground gluten-free crackers in place of traditional breadcrumbs.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions for this recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details.
Organic ground chicken, lean turkey, or 95% lean ground beef
I use lean ground chicken instead of beef for my meatloaf. It is very flavorful and not greasy. Feel free to use lean ground turkey, bison, or beef, just adjust the cooking times with higher fat ratio.
BBQ seasoning or an everything seasoning of choice – Make sure it’s gluten-free and not too high in salt.
White or red onion
Fresh garlic
Egg
Your favorite BBQ sauce
Look for a BBQ sauce that’s naturally sweetened and lower in sugar. You can even make your own, like the one I use when I make BBQ salmon bowls. Or use my Nightshade-Free Barbecue Sauce.
Balsamic glaze to top (optional)
Smoked salt flakes or kosher salt
How to Make Gluten-Free BBQ Meatloaf
Grind gluten-free crackers in a food processor into a panko like texture.
Combine ground meat, onion, and egg. Then add in ground crackers and seasonings and mix again until meatloaf batter is evenly combined.
If you are using beef, you might need an extra 1-2 tablespoon of ground crackers due to fat content of beef.
Press batter into pan, brush top with BBQ sauce, and bake.
Remove from oven and brush on more BBQ sauce.
Drizzle with balsamic glaze and pinch of kosher salt or flakes.
Meal Prep
This lighter-than-most-meatloaf is actually a great dish for meal prep! Make it, wrap in foil (or freezer friendly container) freeze it, bust it out to reheat for an easy weeknight dinner. Serve with some air fryer green beans, dairy-free mashed potatoes, and a kale salad for a complete meal.
Gluten-free meatloaf without breadcrumbs smothered in smoky barbecue sauce. It tastes like your mama’s meatloaf but it’s better for you! Paleo meatloaf option.
Ingredients
UnitsScale
Olive oil spray or coconut oil for pan
½cupground flavored gluten-free crackers (herbed, sea salt, seedy, cheddar, smokey flavor, etc.) We’ve made this with paleo herbed crackers.
Balsamic glaze to top (optional). Smoked salt flakes or kosher salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Oil an 8×11 bread pan and set aside.
Place the gluten-free crackers in a food processor to to ground into a panko like texture. You can also finely Crush in a ziplock bag, just be sure it’s enough to thicken the meat/egg batter. Set aside. (see notes)
In a small bowl or stand mixer, place your ground meat, onion, and egg. Add in your ground crackers and seasonings and mix again until meatloaf batter is evenly combined. If you are using beef, you might need an extra 1-2 tablespoon of ground crackers due to fat content of beef.
Press batter into pan and bake, cover with ½ to ⅔ sweet bbq sauce. Save extra sauce to brush on before serving.
Place meatloaf pan in oven at 400F for about 35 minutes. Check around 35 minutes to see how it’s baking. If edges are browning but inside is not done, then cover and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes. IF the outside is not browning around 35 minutes, continue baking uncovered for 10 more minutes. The beef version might take closer to 45 minutes.
Remove from oven. Warm ¼ cup of the leftover BBQ sauce in sauce pan or microwave for 30 seconds. Brush on top, if desired, before serving.
Drizzle with optional balsamic glaze and pinch of kosher salt or flakes for extra “tanginess”
Notes
If you are using beef that’s higher fat, you might need an extra 1-2 tablespoon of ground crackers due to fat content of beef. It also will take longer to cook.
For Paleo option, use Simple Mills crackers.
Nutrition shown is amount per serving with ground chicken and naturally sweetened BBQ sauce
Hi, y’all, I’m Lindsay Cotter, a Nutrition Specialist with a focus on Gluten-Free eating. I love creating delicious nourishing food that anyone can enjoy.
what seasoning product did you use personally when you made this? Is Season-All ok? suggestions would be great; I would like to try this recipe this week…can’t wait 🙂 we are exploring into healthIER eating so I am so happy to find your blog 🙂
Sure! I would Blend an herb seasoning with rolled oats then use that in replace for the ground crackers. Does that make sense? I think the texture might be a little different but still delicious
I love the whole concept of making a comfort food healthier, this meatloaf does look amazing, and yeah the word meatloaf is kinda weird! never heard of that British dish before..lol…great recipe and post 🙂
Girl, I’m with you. The name has got to go! Lol. This looks seriously delicious. I haven’t had meatloaf in probably 20 years, because it’s one of those foods I never liked as a kid. But this makes me want to try it again!
I used to hate meatloaf as a kid, a few years ago I started making it with BBQ sauce…game changed! Love that you add crushed crackers to yours, totally trying that next time!
what seasoning product did you use personally when you made this? Is Season-All ok? suggestions would be great; I would like to try this recipe this week…can’t wait 🙂 we are exploring into healthIER eating so I am so happy to find your blog 🙂
Sure! I used something like this. https://amzn.to/2t5OUPr
Made this last night and it was excellent and very moist.
So glad! Thanks for the feedback Jack!
The texture, the sauce, EVERYTHING about this looks absolutely amazing. Now this is a seriously amazing meatloaf.
This recipe looks delicious! Any idea if substituting the crackers for oats or oat flour would work?
Sure! I would Blend an herb seasoning with rolled oats then use that in replace for the ground crackers. Does that make sense? I think the texture might be a little different but still delicious
YESSS girl! I’m all for the healthy versions of our fave comfort food!
I love the whole concept of making a comfort food healthier, this meatloaf does look amazing, and yeah the word meatloaf is kinda weird! never heard of that British dish before..lol…great recipe and post 🙂
OBSESSED. I am so making this!!!
Love the tweaks you made!
I hate the word meatloaf too lol! but it sure does look delicious!
Girl, I’m with you. The name has got to go! Lol. This looks seriously delicious. I haven’t had meatloaf in probably 20 years, because it’s one of those foods I never liked as a kid. But this makes me want to try it again!
right?! Haha I totally agree! Meatloaf reinvented!
I used to hate meatloaf as a kid, a few years ago I started making it with BBQ sauce…game changed! Love that you add crushed crackers to yours, totally trying that next time!
right?! I so agree! Meatloaf totally needs that BBQ flavor!
I have wondered about spotted dick so many times. Have you ever tried it? I just can’t…
I can with the meatloaf too. Especially with ground chicken. I think this would be Vegas approved too. HA!
I do this almost exactly with ground turkey for Alex’s lunches! Twinsies
You are so my twin! And when Emmie is old enough, I know she will love your turkey meatloaf!