• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Contact
  • Podcasts
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Classes
    • Gift Certificates
    • Testimonials
  • Videos
  • Articles
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Articles
  • Cooking Classes
    • Gift Certificates
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Contact
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • A platter of Grilled Mustard Chicken with Apple Rings in front of a row of red apples.
      Gluten Free Grilled Mustard Chicken
    • A bowl of gluten free pasta with white wine sauce, fresh sorrel, green beans, zucchini, tomatoes and feta cheese.
      Gluten Free Pasta with White Wine Sauce
    • Cut up pieces of Sweet Chili Root Beer Ribs glazed with sauce on a plate with cooked corn.
      Gluten Free Sweet Chili Root Beer Ribs
    • Someone holding a Vietnamese Banh Mi, a lemongrass chicken sandwich wrapped in wax paper and cut in half showing the carrot, cucumber and cilantro filling.
      Gluten Free Vietnamese Banh Mi
    • A bowl of gluten free Spicy Sesame Noodles with green beans and a sprinkling of fresh chives and the blossoms.
      Gluten Free Spicy Sesame Noodles
    • A dish of Avocado Chipotle Sauce surrounded by grilled shrimp, fresh lime wedges and cilantro.
      Avocado Chipotle Sauce
    • A tray of tomato bocconcini & basil skewers drizzled with balsamic glaze.
      Tomato Bocconcini Skewers with fresh basil
    • A bowl of homemade Potato Salad with radish slices, snipped chives, a sprinkling of paprika and a few chive blossoms.
      Homemade Potato Salad
    • Three pieces of gluten free Sesame Baked Chicken with potato salad and radishes beside it.
      Gluten Free Sesame Baked Chicken
    • Three images; an outdoor granary turned covered eating area, a bouquet of flowers from the garden and a dish of freshly dug vegetables for our Farm to Table dinner.
      Dinner Club: Farm To Table Menu
    • A jar of raspberry syrup beside a dish for freshly whipped Raspberry Butter and the dirty beaters.
      Homemade Raspberry Butter
    • A Mason jar of homemade Raspberry Sauce surrounded by a raspberry branches and fresh berries with a ladle to serve it.
      Easy Homemade Raspberry Sauce
    Home » Recipes » Gluten Free Main Course

    Italian Meat Loaf with Pesto

    Published: Nov 10, 2017 · Modified: Sep 30, 2024 by Cinde LittleThis post may contain affiliate linksLeave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Gluten free cooks know that meat loaf doesn't always need breadcrumbs. This Italian Meat Loaf with Pesto and Pine Nuts is my version of an everyday meat loaf. Serve it with homemade or store bought tomato sauce for a delicious weeknight dinner.

    Italian Meat Loaf with Pine Nuts served with homemade tomato sauce.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Italian Meat Loaf with Pine Nuts

    Ingredients

    • ground pork
    • pine nuts
    • egg
    • Parmesan cheese
    • pesto sauce
    • store bought or homemade tomato sauce

    See recipe card for exact amounts.

    Instructions

    My mom always cooked meat loaf in a standard loaf pan but I cook mine shaped into a loaf and placed on a baking sheet. This method requires less time and allows the grease to slide away from the cooked meat.

    Variations

    There are more than two ways to make meat loaf. Meat loaf muffins or cupcakes are popular so if that inspires someone to cook by all means let them experiment. As always, make some notes because when it works out perfectly you will wish you knew how you did it.

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe or just tried this with a different recipe.

    Slices of Italian Meat Loaf with Pine Nuts served with fresh tomato sauce, green beans and roasted potatoes.

    Italian Meat Loaf with Pine Nuts

    Italian Meat Loaf with pesto and pine nuts is my version of an everyday basic meat loaf with a twist. Everyone needs a recipe like this.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: meat loaf with pine nuts
    Author: Cinde Little

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb ground pork
    • ⅓ cup pine nuts
    • 1 egg
    • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 3 tablespoon pesto sauce

    SERVING

    • 1½ cups tomato sauce
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
    • In a large bowl gently mix the pork, egg, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, pesto, salt and pepper until combined.
    • Dump into the middle of the prepared baking sheet. Dampen your hands and shape into a loaf.
    • Place in preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes or until an instant read thermometer registers 160°F.
    • Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Top each serving with tomato sauce.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @everyday.gf.gourmet!

    __________________________________________________________________________

    New here? I've got help to get you from frustrated to confident, cooking gluten free food everyone wants to eat. Download 29 Tips for cooking with GF flour now.

    Get the 29 TIPS to make delicious gluten free food.

    🎉 Exciting news! Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the Top 100 Gluten-Free Blogs on the web, Top 20 Canadian Gluten Free Blogs and Top 40 Gourmet Food Blogs, WOW! FeedSpot curates the best blogs across the internet and I’m honoured to be mentioned. Thanks for following along, a star rating on any page is the best way you can support me!

    _________________________________________________________________________

    More Main Course

    • A bowl of Gluten Free Grilled Perogies with Sausage and onions, all grilled and tossed with a mustard dressing.
      Gluten Free Grilled Perogies with Sausage
    • Grilled Salmon with White Barbecue Sauce on top of cooked asparagus with a purple pansy garnish.
      Salmon with White Barbecue Sauce
    • A platter with skewers of Lemongrass Chicken surrounded by lemongrass, carrots, cucumber and lemon wedges.
      Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Skewers
    • A hand holding one perogy above a counter covered in circles of dough ready to make more perogies.
      Gluten Free Perogy Dough Recipe
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Cinde Little, the Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet, in her kitchen holding a bowl of soup.

    Hi, I'm Cinde!

    As a foodie and health educator I'm here to help you learn to cook gluten free. Every gluten free journey is unique but we all need to eat. I share recipes that work, resources to learn about GF flours and tips for success in the kitchen. Subscribe NOW to get the help you need.

    More about me...
    Badge showing Top Gluten Free Food Blogs.

    Healthy Recipes

    • A green smoothie in a bowl, half covered with a garnish of cut up apple and kiwi, sprinkled with granola.
      Gluten Free Fruit Smoothie Bowls
    • Cinde in her kitchen surrounded by an array of 30+ fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and more.
      30 Plants a Week: A Gluten Free Food Challenge
    • A bowl with rice, falafel balls, hummus, chopped cucumber, roasted peppers, radish, olives and spinach. There is a bowl of pomegranate dressing on the side.
      Gluten Free Falafel Bowls
    • A bowl filled with brown rice, cucumber, spinach, cabbage slaw, mango and roasted peanuts; with peanut dressing on the side.
      Gluten Free Buddha Bowl

    HELP FOR GLUTEN FREE COOKS

    Someone holding a strainer with gluten free flour coming out onto a pile of flour.

    How To Use Gluten Free Flour

    Read more →

    Cinde in her kitchen set up for a virtual cooking class with lights, camera, laptop and pizza that just came out of the oven.

    Cooking Classes

    Class Calendar →

    A small tin of Chipotle Chiles in Adobo Sauce with a dish of them beside it and a mound of chipotle chile powder beside it.

    GF Ingredients

    Pantry essentials →

    How To Start a Gluten Free Gourmet Dinner Club

    Dinner Club

    7 complete menus →

    GLUTEN FREE BAKING HELP

    • Gluten free Strawberry Shortcake on a plate filled with strawberry sauce and whipped cream; with a bowl of strawberry filling beside it.
      Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake
    • The word 'starch' drawn in a pile of tapioca starch.
      How To Use Starch in Gluten Free Baking
    • A sifter with rice flour coming out of it onto a pile of flour below.
      How to Use Rice Flour in Gluten Free Baking
    • A stack of gluten free Molasses Ginger Cookies on a clear plate.
      Gluten Free Molasses Ginger Cookies

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Cinde
    • New to Gluten Free?
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign up here for updates and free resources

    Cooking Classes

    • Class Calendar
    • Gift Certificates

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Disclosure Policy

    Copyright © 2025 Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required