• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Contact
  • Podcasts
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet
  • Recipes
  • Membership
    • Gift Certificates
    • Testimonials
  • Videos
  • Articles
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Articles
  • Membership
    • Gift Certificates
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Contact
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • A Mason jar filled with Coconut Date Energy Balls surrounded by dates, apricots and walnuts.
      Oat-Free Coconut Date Energy Balls
    • 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 dish of raita topped with tomatoes and peppers topped with sauteed ginger and spices.
      Spicy Tomato Raita (Indian Yogurt Sauce with Green Chili)
    • A platter of gluten free Falafel Balls with bowls of Tahini Sauce, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges.
      Gluten Free Falafel Balls with Tahini Sauce
    • A tray of Vegetable Fritters, also known as pakora.
      Gluten Free Vegetable Fritters (Pakora)
    • A cast iron frying pan with cooked socca cut in wedges.
      Socca (Farinata or Cecina)
    • A cutting board with hoisin glazed pork ribs sprinkled with sesame seeds and chopped green onion with extra sauce on the side.
      Gluten Free Hoisin Glazed Pork Ribs
    • A bamboo placemat with two plates; one with whole pods of edamame beans, the other with shelled beans.
      Easy Edamame Bean Snack
    • A bowl filled with brown rice, cucumber, spinach, cabbage slaw, mango and roasted peanuts; with peanut dressing on the side.
      Gluten Free Buddha Bowls
    • A small plate of Chinese Chicken Balls with plum sauce on top of a plate with an Oriental pattern.
      Gluten Free Chinese Chicken Balls
    • A jar of homemade gluten free Chinese Black Bean Sauce beside the original container of preserved beans.
      Gluten Free Chinese Black Bean Sauce
    • A bowl of Gluten Free Chicken Fried Rice with chopsticks coming out of it.
      Gluten Free Chicken Fried Rice
    Home » Recipes » Gluten Free Main Course

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

    Gluten free cooks know that meat loaf doesn't always need breadcrumbs. This gluten free 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 an easy and delicious weeknight dinner.

    Italian Meat Loaf with Pine Nuts served with homemade tomato sauce.

    Keep it simple and serve a green salad with homemade vinagirette dressing. End the meal with the easiest dessert ever, Italian Affogatto.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Gluten Free Meat Loaf with Pesto

    Ingredients

    Meat loaf is simple ingredients so it's easy to put an Italian twist on it if your family loves it.

    • 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 has a shorter cooking time and whoever serves it, or cleans up, can enjoy the juicy bits all around the edge.

    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.

    Gluten Free Meat Loaf with Pesto

    Meat loaf doesn't always need breadcrumbs. This is an Italian take on everyday meat loaf with pesto and pine nuts served with tomato sauce to finish it off.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Keyword: gluten free meat loaf, meat loaf with pesto, meat loaf with pine nuts
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 475kcal
    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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4people | Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 1332mg | Potassium: 684mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 709IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @everyday.gf.gourmet!

    __________________________________________________________________________

    New here? Overwhelmed or frustrated with gluten free? Get started with this guide to understanding gluten free flour. I guarantee, you can learn to cook gluten free food everyone wants to eat.

    Download the 29 TIPS now

    🎉 Exciting news! Adventures in a Gluten Free Kitchen, a membership for gluten free cooks who want to learn together, is here. Click to learn more!

    _________________________________________________________________________

    More Main Course

    • A plate with pieces of baked Arctic Char covered in citrus sauce with whole segments of fruit and a sprinkling of chives.
      Arctic Char with Citrus Sauce
    • A platter of Mexican Pork Carnitas surrounded by tacos filled with the pork.
      Gluten Free Pork Carnitas
    • A wok full of Thai Pork and Vegetable Curry with cherry tomatoes and fresh mint leaves on top.
      Gluten Free Thai Pork and Vegetable Curry
    • A whole gluten free tourtiere on a platter with a dish of cranberry chutney and a few Christmas balls.
      Gluten Free Tourtiere (French Canadian Meat Pie)
    • Facebook
    • 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.

    GLUTEN FREE BAKING HELP

    • A wire rack with gluten free dinner rolls still together. Someone is holding one dinner roll broken open with a dish of butter in front of it.
      Gluten Free Soft Dinner Rolls
    • A stack of heart shaped gluten free sugar cookies drizzled with chocolate sitting on pretty pink paper surrounded by tiny heart shaped sprinkles.
      Gluten Free Sugar Cookies
    • Someone taking a piece from a tray of gluten free Raspberry Crumble Bars.
      Gluten Free Raspberry Crumble Bars
    • A heart shaped Quinoa Chocolate Cake with one wedge cut out and topped with whipped cream and raspberry syrup.
      Quinoa Chocolate Cake (gluten free)
    • A Cranberry Orange Scone topped with jam and whipped cream with a bite missing.
      Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Scones
    • Gluten free Pepperoni Pizza Cheese Buns in a muffin pan, and a hand dipping one bun into a dish of pizza sauce.
      Gluten Free Pizza Cheese Buns

    Healthy Recipes

    • A bowl filled with brown rice, cucumber, spinach, cabbage slaw, mango and roasted peanuts; with peanut dressing on the side.
      Gluten Free Buddha Bowls
    • 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
    • Cinde in her kitchen surrounded by an array of 30+ fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and more.
      30 Plants a Week: A Food Challenge
    • 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

    HELP FOR GLUTEN FREE COOKS

    Cinde wearing her Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet apron, standing in her kitchen and biting into a piece of pizza.

    Adventures in a GF Kitchen

    Join the community →

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

    How To Use Gluten Free Flour

    Read more or listen →

    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

    GF Dinner Club

    7 complete menus →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Cinde
    • New to Gluten Free?
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign up here for updates and free resources

    Cooking Classes

    • Adventures in a GF Kitchen
    • Class Calendar
    • Gift Certificates

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Disclosure Policy

    Copyright © 2026 Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




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