Meatloaf Without Eggs • Recipe for Perfection (2024)

FAQs

What can I use if I don't have eggs for meatloaf? ›

After defrosting the meat (I used ground chicken), I realized that I didn't have any eggs. BOO! So, I googled and it said mayonnaise can be used as a substitution. So, I used 1/2 cup of mayonnaise in place of the eggs, but did everything else as directed apart from adding some ketchup to the top for the last 5 minutes.

Eggs: The yolks lend moisture and flavor, while the whites add structure and help the meatloaf maintain its shape. Bread crumbs: To make your own breadcrumbs, just pulse bread in a food processor or blender. Panko breadcrumbs work fine here, and some recipes use oatmeal.

Fruit puree will help bind a recipe in a similar way to applesauce. 1/4 cup will replace 1 egg. It is worth noting that using fruit to replace eggs can change the flavor of a recipe or dish.

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

Luckily, some of the same things that keep our meatloaf moist also keep it together: binders. The name should make it clear, obviously, but binders like breadcrumbs and eggs cook together to give your meatloaf structure. There is one more thing that helps to hold a meatloaf together, and that is mixing.

For recipes that use eggs as a binder or for moisture, substitutes like applesauce or oil can do the trick. If the eggs act as a leavening agent, try a combination of vinegar and baking powder. It's worth noting that the finished product won't be exactly the same as when you use real eggs.

How to stick breadcrumbs without eggs? ›

The typical three-step process is flour, eggs and then breadcrumbs. Instead of the egg, Moskowitz recommends a mix of cornstarch and water, which, when stirred together, forms a slurry. It, too, is an effective glue, and you may even notice more crispness to, say, your chicken parm.

Arrowroot Powder. Arrowroot powder serves as a gluten-free thickening agent and binder in meatloaf recipes. Mix 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder with 3 tablespoons of water to replace each egg and achieve a well-bound and tender texture in your meatloaf.

Whether you slather a thick layer of ketchup on top of the meatloaf before it goes into the oven, add a few tablespoons to the ground meat mixture, or serve extra ketchup on the side, this tangy-sweet, umami-rich condiment balances out the richness of the beef, making it an essential part of the dish.

The Basic Meatloaf Formula

All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

Chia seeds work as a great egg replacer. 2 tablespoon of Chia Seeds soaked in 3 tablespoon of water is the equivalent of one egg.

For recipes that use eggs as a binder or for moisture, substitutes like applesauce or oil can do the trick. If the eggs act as a leavening agent, try a combination of vinegar and baking powder. It's worth noting that the finished product won't be exactly the same as when you use real eggs.

The typical three-step process is flour, eggs and then breadcrumbs. Instead of the egg, Moskowitz recommends a mix of cornstarch and water, which, when stirred together, forms a slurry. It, too, is an effective glue, and you may even notice more crispness to, say, your chicken parm.

Ricotta cheese is a great alternative for the eggs in meatballs. A good rule of thumb is one cup of ricotta cheese for every pound of ground meat.