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Moist, flavorful and packed with protein, this carrot and zucchini Gluten-Free Meatloaf is an easy healthy dish to enjoy any day of the week. Ground lean turkey gets teamed up with zucchini, carrots, and lots of seasonings before baking into the perfect melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. It’s Gluten-Free + Low-Calorie + Paleo + Low-Carb!

Gluten-free meatloaf cut to show the inside with a slice laying over in the front.
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I’m bringing back meatloaf to your table in a leaner, protein packed way with this paleo meatloaf with zucchini and carrots! You get all your veggies in one slice, and it’s low in carbs and sugar. Oh yeah, it’s pretty freaking delicious too.

If meatloaf is comfort food for your family, you’ve got to give this upgraded, healthier version a try. It packs in all the flavor, and needs just 15 minutes of prep time to put together. 

This is also an excellent recipe to use up those leftover carrots and zucchini you might have. I love using zucchini to make my red pepper zucchini frittata for breakfast or zucchini taco boats when I’m in the mood for a delicious and healthy meal. 

Sometimes, I also batch make some healthy zucchini biscuits, but this time, I just had a few that I wanted to use up. 

Why You’ll Love This Gluten-Free Meatloaf Recipe

  • Healthy and delicious: Packed with protein and healthy ingredients, this meatloaf makes for a delicious meal that you can savor guilt-free. It’s suitable for gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo diets!
  • Family friendly: It’s perfect for the family. This meatloaf is a great weeknight meal that everyone will enjoy!
  • Easy to make: With just minutes of prep time, you’ll be able to put this delicious paleo meatloaf together.
  • Meal-prep friendly: It’s great for meal-prepping too. Perfect for those rushed weekdays when you want to put something healthy on the table. 

Looking for more healthy meatloaf recipes to try? Check out my chicken loaf or this meatloaf with 1 pound of ground beef!

Ingredients

Ingredients to make gluten-free meatloaf on the table before mixing.
  • Ground turkey: I used extra lean ground turkey breast. You could use chicken or lean ground beef too. 
  • Carrots: For their incredible juiciness and sweetness. 
  • Zucchini: Grated fresh zucchini adds a ton of moisture and texture to the meatloaf. 
  • Almond flour: To help the meatloaf hold its shape. If you don’t have this, swap with any other gluten-free flour of your choice though these may not be paleo.
  • Egg: To bind everything together.
  • Seasonings: Just a dash of garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning make the flavor pop! And of course, some salt and pepper too. 
  • Ketchup: I love using my homemade low sugar ketchup here. It tastes fantastic! 
  • Parsley: For a bit of freshness and flavor. 

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations & Dietary Modifications

  • Spicy: Add a dash of cayenne pepper or paprika into the meatloaf mixture to lend it a nice kick of heat. 
  • Extra flavor: Along with ketchup, use some gluten-free Worcestershire sauce to make the zucchini meatloaf more flavorful. 
  • Herby delicious: Experiment with different flavors by adding fresh or dried herbs like marjoram, thyme, rosemary and cilantro into the mix. 

How to Make Gluten-Free Meatloaf

Start by preheating the oven to 375 F. Prepare the pan by greasing it with a bit of olive oil or some cooking spray. 

Meatloaf ingredients in a mixing bowl before mixing.

Step 1: Prepare and assemble. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground turkey, carrots, zucchini, egg, almond flour and seasonings.

Hands mixing the paleo meatloaf ingredients together.

Step 2: Make the meatloaf mix. Combine everything together until you get a uniform mixture. 

Turkey meatloaf mixture placed in a loaf pan.

Step 3: Transfer to the pan. Transfer the mixture to the greased loaf pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 20 minutes.

Meatloaf in a pan partially cooked.

Step 4: Remove from oven. After baking for 20 minutes, remove the meatloaf from the oven.

Adding ketchup on top of the meatloaf.

Step 5: Spread ketchup. Top this with some of the ketchup.

Meatloaf brushed with meatloaf.

Step 6: Bake, cool and serve. Bake for 40-45 minutes longer or until nicely done. Let the loaf rest for 10 minutes and then slice and serve.

Storage Directions 

  • Storing: Storing your leftover low carb meatloaf is pretty easy. Slice it up and transfer it to an airtight container before you refrigerate it. It should stay good for up to 3 days or you can store in the freezer for up to three months. You can freeze it whole, or in individual slices, which is what I prefer. 
  • Reheating: You can reheat the sliced meatloaf in the microwave or the oven. If it’s frozen, allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Zucchini meatloaf on the table cut into slices and surrounded by bowls of ingredients on the table.

Serving Suggestions

This gluten-free turkey meatloaf is incredibly versatile. I love pairing it with a simple tomato cucumber salad or a low-calorie pasta salad

If you’re a big fan of potato side dishes, serve the meatloaf with a simple low-calorie potato salad or my favorite healthier mashed potatoes and cauliflower

For low-carb options try this dish with my cauliflower mash or some roasted cauliflower or roasted broccoli.

Recipe Tips

  • Use a meat thermometer: To check if the meatloaf is done cooking, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. If it reads 165 degrees, it’s ready to come out of the oven.
  • Let it rest: Letting your meatloaf without breadcrumbs rest for 10-15 minutes after cooking allows all the juices to soak back into the meat rather than oozing out as you cut into it! This time will make the meat more juicy and flavorful.
  • Use fresh: I used garlic powder and onion powder here, simply because they’re more convenient and easy to use. You can totally use fresh garlic and onion too, if you have them at hand.

Recipe FAQs

What’s the best way to grate the vegetables?

I used my blender or food processor to pulse the carrots and zucchini. It shreds them in two seconds which I highly recommend you do instead of grating by hand. If that doesn’t work for you, you can use a box grater to get the perfectly shredded carrots and zucchini.

What other veggies can I add to the paleo turkey meatloaf?

I’ve used just carrots and zucchini here, but you can also use celery, mushrooms, spinach and red bell peppers if you want to.

Paleo meatloaf on a piece of parchment on a cutting board sliced and a knife to the side.

More Gluten-Free Recipes

If you tried this gluten-free meatloaf recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.

Gluten-free meatloaf made with zucchini and carrots on a cutting board cut into slices.
5 from 1 vote
Servings: 6 slices

Zucchini Meatloaf Without Breadcrumbs

Your classic meatloaf recipe just got a healthier upgrade! This protein-packed gluten-free meatloaf makes for a great healthy lunch or dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
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Ingredients 

  • 1 lb extra lean ground turkey breast, another meat will work
  • ¼ cup carrots, shredded
  • ½ cup zucchini, grated (~1 small zucchini with skin)
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup almond flour
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the Topping

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 F. Prepare a loaf pan by lightly greasing with cooking spray or extra virgin olive oil.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add ground turkey breast, carrots, zucchini, egg, almond flour, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
  • Using your hands, mix the ingredients together just until combined. Do not over mix as it will toughen the meat.
  • Transfer the meat to the prepared loaf pan and spread into an even layer.
  • Place the pan in the oven and bake 20 minutes at 375 F.
  • After 20 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and spread the ketchup over the top of the meatloaf.
  • Return the pan to the oven and bake another 40-45 minutes until the center is cooked.
  • Allow the loaf to rest 10 minutes then sprinkle with dried parsley, slice and serve!
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

Notes

  • To check if the meatloaf is done cooking, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. If it reads 165 degrees, it’s ready to come out of the oven.
  • Letting your meatloaf rest for 10-15 minutes after cooking allows all the juices to soak back into the meat rather than oozing out as you cut into it! This time will make the meat more juicy and flavorful.
  • I used garlic powder and onion powder here, simply because they’re more convenient and easy to use. You can totally use fresh garlic and onion too, if you have them at hand.
  • My Amazon shop has more products similar to those used for this recipe and that I recommend to my nutrition clients.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 164kcal, Carbohydrates: 6.1g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 6.6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 67.8mg, Sodium: 113.9mg, Fiber: 1.9g, Sugar: 2.9g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Megan

Megan is a nutritionist who coaches women 35+ lose weight sustainably. She is the author of the Low Calorie Cookbook, fitness instructor, host of the Dish On Ditching Diets Podcast and creator of Skinny Fitalicious where you get lighter, higher protein recipes. Follow Megan on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and Instagram for the latest updates.

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7 Comments

  1. RSN says:

    I’m so glad to have come across your blog! So many food sites claim to be healthy and then you look at the ingredients and it’s a ton of butter, sugar, salt, etc. I just don’t understand how they get away with it. I love that your recipes have natural and genuinely healthy ingredients and I’m excited to start going through and trying a bunch of them out!

  2. Michelle says:

    Hi! I’m allergic to almonds, so I can’t use almond flour. Have you found anything that might be a good substitute? Maybe chickpea flour?

    1. Megan says:

      Oat flour would work. It would not be Paleo, not sure if that matters to you.

  3. Whitney says:

    For nutrition information, is serving of this recipe one gram?

    1. Megan says:

      It is 1 slice.

  4. Lindsay Cotter says:

    Same here! I ate it like every week. I think now people are missing out! I love it, and actually just updated an old meatloaf recipe. This one looks fab friend

    1. Megan says:

      Aww thanks lady! YEAH for meatloaf!