The Best Gluten-Free Caramelized Onion Meatloaf Recipe

Meatloaf is a quintessential weeknight staple. We are stepping it up a notch by making the best gluten-free caramelized onion meatloaf recipe- that can also be made dairy-free.

We love meatloaf around here. So this easy gluten-free caramelized onion meatloaf recipe joins our collection of meatloaves including:

• THE BEST GLUTEN-FREE STUFFING STUFFED MEATLOAF RECIPE
• THE BEST GLUTEN-FREE STUFFED MEATLOAF WITH MUSHROOM, SPINACH, AND CHEDDAR CHEESE RECIPE
• THE BEST GLUTEN-FREE BACON-WRAPPED MINI MEATLOAF RECIPE
• THE BEST LEFTOVER MEATLOAF GLUTEN-FREE PASTA BAKE RECIPE

You can even prepare our gluten-free caramelized onion meatloaf recipe ahead of time and keep it well-wrapped in the fridge to bake later. Make the meatloaf on Sunday and bake it on Monday night. Not to mention that any meatloaf leftovers never go to waste.

The Best Gluten-Free Carmelized Onion Meatloaf Recipe

Ingredients:

For The Onions

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter – use non-dairy butter or all oil
• 3 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp each of salt, pepper, and granulated onion

For The Gluten-Free Carmelized Onion Meatloaf Recipe

• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 cup gluten-free unseasoned breadcrumbs (President’s Choice or Aurora)
• 2 tablespoons gluten-free Worcestershire sauce – I used French’s– Check out our list of gluten-free Worcestershire sauces.
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄2 tsp each of granulated garlic and granulated onion

Directions:

For The Onions:

• Chop onions, and set aside.
• Prep your garlic by peeling and mincing it, set aside.

Pro Tip: I pre-prep and freeze my garlic. Here is how I do it: buy bulk garlic or when it’s on sale. Peel the garlic and then mince it in the food processor. Divide it into sandwich bags, flatten it (you can even score the closed sandwich bags with the back of a butter knife to make squares,) and then place them in a Tupperware container. This way, you can break off as much garlic as you need. Preparing the garlic in this manner saves your garlic from going bad or drying out. This allows you to take advantage of sales. It also saves a LOT of time during the week. I like to write how many minced cloves are in each batch on the bag, this way I roughly know how much garlic is in each square.

• Heat the oil and butter (or non-dairy butter or all oil), in a pan, and add the onions.
• Allow the onions to cook over medium heat until tender and caramelized- stirring regularly.
• When onions are about three-quarters cooked, add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
• Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and granulated onion- stir well.
• Remove the onions from the pan and cool completely.

Pro Tip: Place the onions on a plate in an even layer. You can even put this mixture in the fridge (after it has cooled slightly) to ensure it is completely cooled.

Pro Tip: You can even cook the onions ahead of time. Pre-cooked onions and garlic in your fridge can be used for various dishes, including morning omelets.

For The Gluten-Free Carmelized Onion Meatloaf Recipe

• Preheat oven to 350°F degrees.
• Take a medium loaf pan, spray it with oil, line it with parchment paper, and then set aside.

Pro Tip: The parchment paper can be folded into a ‘sling’ to make removing the meatloaf- easier.

Pro Tip: You could line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Do this if you want a free-form meatloaf.

• Mix the beef, gluten-free breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, egg, salt, pepper, granulated garlic, and granulated onion in a large bowl.
• Add all but 2 tablespoons of the caramelized onion to the mixture.
• Set the remaining 2 tablespoons of the caramelized onion aside for later use.
• Mix until well combined.
• Either pack the meat evenly into the parchment-lined loaf pan, being sure to press down evenly, or form the mixture into an oval free-form shape on a cookie sheet.
• Spread the remaining 2 tablespoons of the caramelized onions evenly over the top of the meatloaf and gently press into the meat.

Pro Tip: Make sure the onions are pressed in well, so they don't fall off when you cut into the meatloaf.

• Bake for 1 hour or until a thermometer inserted in the middle of the meatloaf reads 170°F.
• Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Serve this delicious gluten-free caramelized onion meatloaf recipe with mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetables. Know that leftovers make great sandwiches, and can be eaten cold for lunch with a salad.

The Best Gluten-Free Carmelized Onion Meatloaf Recipe

Print Recipe/Tips

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

For The Onions

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter - use non-dairy butter or all oil
• 3 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp each of salt, pepper, and granulated onion

For The Gluten-Free Carmelized Onion Meatloaf Recipe

• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 cup gluten-free unseasoned breadcrumbs (President’s Choice or Aurora)
• 2 tablespoons gluten-free Worcestershire sauce - I used French's- Check out our list of gluten-free Worcestershire sauces.
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄2 tsp each of granulated garlic and granulated onion

INSTRUCTIONS/NOTES/TIPS

For The Onions

• Chop onions, and set aside.
• Prep your garlic by peeling and mincing it, set aside.
• Pro Tip: I pre-prep and freeze my garlic. Here is how I do it: buy bulk garlic or when it’s on sale. Peel the garlic and then mince it in the food processor. Divide it into sandwich bags, flatten it (you can even score the closed sandwich bags with the back of a butter knife to make squares,) and then place them in a Tupperware container. This way, you can break off as much garlic as you need. Preparing the garlic in this manner saves your garlic from going bad or drying out. This allows you to take advantage of sales. It also saves a LOT of time during the week. I like to write how many minced cloves are in each batch on the bag, this way I roughly know how much garlic is in each square.
• Heat the oil and butter (or non-dairy butter or all oil), in a pan, and add the onions.
• Allow the onions to cook over medium heat until tender and caramelized- stirring regularly.
• When onions are about three-quarters cooked, add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
• Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and granulated onion- stir well.
• Remove the onions from the pan and cool completely.

• Pro Tip: Place the onions on a plate in an even layer. You can even put this mixture in the fridge (after it has cooled slightly) to ensure it is completely cooled.

• Pro Tip: You can even cook the onions ahead of time. Pre-cooked onions and garlic in your fridge can be used for various dishes, including morning omelets.

For The Gluten-Free Carmelized Onion Meatloaf Recipe

• Preheat oven to 350°F degrees.
• Take a medium loaf pan, spray it with oil, line it with parchment paper, and then set aside.

• Pro Tip: The parchment paper can be folded into a ‘sling’ to make removing the meatloaf- easier.

• Pro Tip: You could line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Do this if you want a free-form meatloaf.

• Mix the beef, gluten-free breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, egg, salt, pepper, granulated garlic, and granulated onion in a large bowl.
• Add all but 2 tablespoons of the caramelized onion to the mixture.
• Set the remaining 2 tablespoons of the caramelized onion aside for later use.
• Mix until well combined.
• Either pack the meat evenly into the parchment-lined loaf pan, being sure to press down evenly, or form the mixture into an oval free-form shape on a cookie sheet.
• Spread the remaining 2 tablespoons of the caramelized onions evenly over the top of the meatloaf and gently press into the meat.
• Pro Tip: Make sure the onions are pressed in well, so they don't fall off when you cut into the meatloaf.
• Bake for 1 hour or until a thermometer inserted in the middle of the meatloaf reads 170°F.
  Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Did You Try This Recipe or These Tips?

How did it go? Let us know in the comments. Tag us on Instagram at @Gluten_Free_Foodee..

Click/Tap here to continue the gluten-free conversation with over 71k other gluten-free foodees in our Gluten-Free Foodee Facebook Group. Join us now!