This is the ultimate keto meatloaf recipe! Super juicy and flavorful, it comes out perfectly every time. And making it in your crockpot means clean up is a snap.
Have you ever made keto meatloaf in a slow cooker? Trust me, once you try it, you may never make it any other way again. It’s so tender and juicy, it almost melts in your mouth.
Paired with some creamy mashed cauliflower, it’s a hearty and healthy comfort food meal. And slathering it in a little Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce doesn’t hurt either.
My family adores this keto meatloaf recipe, so I turn to it frequently. It’s nice to have one of those sure-fire hits in your dinner repertoire. Happy tummies and no complaining make it one of our favorite easy keto dinners.
Fans love it too! I first published this recipe in 2015, and decided it needed a bit of an update. I didn’t change the fantastic flavor, but now it’s even lower in carbs.
Why you must try this recipe
Cooking meatloaf in a slow cooker has several distinct advantages. Slow cookers produce a gentle, moist heat, ensuring that your keto meatloaf doesn’t dry out.
You can also time your meal to be ready when you are. Simply program your crockpot for a delayed start, or let the finished meatloaf stay warm in the pot after cooking. Either way, it’s ready when you get home from work.
And clean up is easy too! Just pour out the juices and soak your crockpot insert in soapy water.
Reader Testimonials
“This was the best keto meatloaf we’ve tried. The texture was excellent, very flavorful and you couldn’t tell it was low carb. EXCELLENT!!!” — Jill
“Super love this meatloaf! This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!” — Allyssa
“This is one of my favorite weeknight meals. Not too dry, but very moist. My family loves this!” — Sandy
Ingredients you need
- Ground meat: I like to use a combination of ground beef and ground pork for more moisture and flavor, but you can use ground beef alone.
- Onion: Finely chop or grate your onions so the meatloaf holds its shape better and the flavor will be mixed in evenly.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds more flavor, but you can also use garlic powder.
- Cracker crumbs: The keto-friendly cracker crumbs from RealPhat Foods make the perfect filler for recipes like keto meatloaf. I also use them in my keto meatball recipe. But you can also substitute with regular almond flour or crushed pork rinds.
- Eggs: Meatloaf holds together best when you use eggs as the binder.
- BBQ Sauce: I always use my easy Keto BBQ Sauce for this meatloaf. You can use store-bought sugar free bbq sauce, but many are made with aspartame or sucralose, which I find unpalatable. A few good choices are Yo Mama’s No Sugar Added BBQ Sauce and Keto Primo.
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Step by Step Directions
This recipe is so easy and results in perfectly juicy keto meatloaf every time!
1. Mix the ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, onion, cracker crumbs, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper. Add in the eggs and mix well with your hands until fully combined.
2. Prepare the slow cooker: Set a trivet into the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker. Take a large piece of tinfoil and poke a few holes in it with a kitchen skewer (this allows the fat and liquids to drain away from the meatloaf).
3. Form the loaf: Shape the mixture into a loaf roughly 5 x 9 inches on the foil. Lift the foil by edges and place on the trivet, then place the lid on the slow cooker.
4. Cook: Cook the meatloaf on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. In the last half hour of cooking, brush the top and sides with about ⅓ cup barbecue sauce. Use two serving forks to lift the meatloaf out of the slow cooker and onto a serving platter. Slice and serve with remaining barbecue sauce.
Expert tips
Preparing your crockpot: Placing a trivet in the slow cooker keeps the meatloaf off the bottom so that it cooks more evenly. It also allows some of the fat and juices to drain off. Poking holes in the foil also allows the fat and juices to fall to the bottom.
Cook on low or high: Depending on when you need it, you can cook this meatloaf on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. Because it contains ground pork, you want the loaf to reach at least 160ºF in the center.
Brush with sauce: I like to brush it with some sauce in the last half hour of cooking, so that it bakes on. Then I serve the rest at the table so that people can add more as they like.
Oven-baked method: Transfer meat mixture on a baking sheet with parchment paper and form into a loaf about 5 by 9 inches. Bake 40 to 50 minutes at 350F, until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cracker crumbs from Real Phat Foods work really well as a binder for keto recipes. They are harder than almond flour or crushed pork rinds, so they soak in the moisture of the meat and eggs a little more during cooking. But any of these options work well and result in juicy keto meatloaf.
This keto meatloaf recipe has 4.4g of carbs and 1g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.4g net carbs per serving.
Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the finished, cooked meatloaf. Wrap it up tightly to avoid freezer burn and freeze for up to two months.
What to serve with keto meatloaf
Besides the aforementioned mashed cauliflower, try one of these delicious sides:
Slow Cooker Keto Meatloaf Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork (or another pound beef)
- ¼ cup onion chopped fine
- ½ cup keto cracker crumbs (or almond flour)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1 recipe Easy Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, onion, cracker crumbs, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper. Add in the eggs and mix well with your hands until fully combined.
- Set a trivet into the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker. Take a large piece of tinfoil and poke a few holes in it with a kitchen skewer (this allows the fat and liquids to drain away from the meatloaf).
- Shape the mixture into a loaf roughly 5 x 9 inches on the foil. Lift the foil by edges and place on the trivet, then place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. In the last half hour of cooking, brush the top and sides with about ⅓ cup barbecue sauce.
- Use two serving forks to lift the meatloaf out of the slow cooker and onto a serving platter. Slice and serve with remaining barbecue sauce.
Anonym says
Hello,
This recipes looks delicious and i want to try it out. I’m don’t eat pork and are there any substitute for pork ?
Carolyn says
More ground beef.
Kathryn A Graves says
do you cover up the meatloaf?
Carolyn says
Cover it with what? It’s in the slow cooker, and you put the lid on, but other than that, there is no cover.
Nancy Leiter says
I have not tried it yet. Reviewers mention the use of whiskey. I do not see this in either the meatloaf or the sauce recipes.
Carolyn says
Hi there… that’s because I created a new easy BBQ sauce that I like much better so now it links to that. If you want the old one with whiskey, let me know!
Abby says
Have you ever made this in the instant pot?
Carolyn says
I haven’t, but I’ve made another meatloaf in the IP. Should be fine but you do want to raise it up above the bottom in a foil wrapper (top opened). Google IP meatloaf and then use that method but my recipe.
Anna says
This meatloaf is a winner! So delicious!
Julie says
This is so delicious! The sauce is amazing and perfect compliment to the meatloaf!
Kristyn says
Love the idea of a crock pot version! All the men in the family crave meatloaf, so I will have to try this next time, it’s on the menu!
Chelsea says
This is the best BBQ meatloaf ever!! Seriously sooo delicious! Thanks so much!
Laura says
ah, we loved this one!
Tiffany says
I want to try this recipe tomorrow… But I have a question about timing. I’m gone for most of the day so the slow cooker would be on for much longer than 6 hours (more like 10 hours). I’m assuming it’ll be overcooked at that point?
My other option is to turn it right on at 5PM. Can I set it to high and would it be done in half the time, by 8PM? Has anyone tried cooking this on the high setting?
Thanks in advance. 🙂
Tiffany
Carolyn says
I don’t think either of those are very good options. Does it have any programmable sort of settings where you can tell it to turn off and it will just stay warm?
Emily says
Can i use ground deer meat only?
Carolyn says
It might be a bit on the lean/dry side but I can’t see why not.
Carla says
All these comments, and I don’t see my question. So…in the ingredient list it calls for 1 cup bbq sauce. In the directions I can only find it mentioned at the end, where it’s talking about 1/3 cup of it. Maybe I’m being too literal, but what happened to the rest of the sauce? I don’t see it being mentioned to mix it in, or top the loaf when you start. Making it now, so I guess the answer will be for the future…
Carolyn says
At the end it says: Slice and serve with the remaining BBQ sauce.
lilly says
was wondering if u could share your bbq sauce
or if its somewhere in the recipes…
thanks
Carolyn says
https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/sugar-free-bbq-sauce/
Sandy C says
This is one of my favorite weeknight meals. Not too dry, but very moist. My family loves this!
Jocelyn says
I love that this meatloaf can be made in a slow cooker and is great reheated!!! Sounds like the perfect meal for busy nights!
Sabrina says
I’m obsessed with using my slow cooker! Having dinner ready at the end of a crazy day is the only way I stay sane!! This looks fantastic!
Anna says
This meatloaf is pure comfort food! Perfect for fall weekends!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This is definitely a must-make! Looks really good!
Katie says
I’m confused how to “ball up” the tinfoil to put in the bottom of the crock pot. Could you post a photo? Thanks.
Carolyn says
I don’t have a photo but just take two good size squares of foil and crumple them into something that will hold the loaf off the bottom of the cooker.
Trisa says
Do you need to cook the hamburger and pork before you put in the crcokpot? I want to make it tommorow night…
Carolyn says
No, you simply shape the meatloaf and put it in.
trisa blask says
Thanks!! It’s almost done but for some reason the top got hard and only been 5 hours so I got the barebcue sauce on top