Meatloaf disguised as an animal style burger! Filled and slathered with rich caramelized onions, crunchy sweet pickles, and tangy special sauce. This meatloaf doesn’t know it’s a meatloaf!
So recently, I found a pack of my favorite ground meat hanging out in the freezer and became obsessed with the idea of meatloaf!
But not just any old meatloaf, I wanted this meatloaf to taste like biting into a big juicy burger! Then I became obsessed with the idea of making it taste like a protein style burger from in and out. Then I remember animal fries and the rest is history.
Well not exactly history, first I had to try something that I’ve wanted to try for a very long time. Caramelized onions in the slow cooker!
It’s really really easy I promise! Just slice five onions thinly, add to slow cooker and toss with three tablespoons melted butter or oil. Cook on low for 10 hours.
If they are super juicy,
leave the lid ajar for the last two hours of cooking. Mine was perfect, so I kept the lid on. You will get about 4 cups from the recipe, they will keep for up to a week in the fridge or can be frozen! Now you’ve got plenty of onions to make all kinds of delicious recipes, starting with this meatloaf.
Once you’ve got your onions, you only have six ingredients to throw together and then form into a meatloaf! Pull the sides away from the pan and sprinkle with coarse salt or steak seasoning.
Meatloaf is one of the best things to make because once you get it in the oven, it’s hands off until it’s ready, about 45-55 minutes later. Let it rest 10-15 minutes before you start smothering it with all the good stuff!
This meatloaf was everything I wanted it to be. It was super savory, moist, and full of flavor. It tastes exactly like a protein style burger met animal style fries.
We ate up so fast I could hardly believe it! It made great meal prep for Mr. Hungry’s lunches and mine as well; I just didn’t put mine in little meal prep containers.
PS this would make a GREAT meal prep recipe – freeze it raw (but you would have to use fresh meat), then thaw it and cook it. Or freeze it cooked and thaw pieces as needed!
Now that I’ve told you all about this recipe let’s do a little check-in. How is your week going? Mine is FLYING by super fast; it’s always like that when the semester starts.
Mr. Hungry is doing well post hernia-op, but I have to get up with Nala in the middle of the night, usually Mr. Hungry’s job. I’m not a huge fan of that, but Mr. Hungry will be back to nighttime Nala duty soon!
Plus we have a TON going on with What to Eat? Meal Plans. We launched our social media website and are in the process of developing a website; I’m super excited!
Tomorrow I’ll be checking in with a little catch up of what life is like lately, so I’ll catch you all for that! PS don’t forget to enter yesterday’s giveaway as well!
Animal Style Paleo Meatloaf
Animal Style Paleo Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 85/15% ground meat I get mine from Butcher Box
- 3 tablespoons coconut flour
- ½ cup almond flour
- 3 tablespoons thousand islands I used Sir Kensington's
- 1 tablespoon relish
- 2 eggs
- sea salt a sprinkle of course salt or steak seasoning
- 1 cup caramelized onions I made mine in the slow cooker, but you can do the traditional skillet method as well!
- 5 onions
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make your caramelized onions. For mine I used the slow cooker method: Slice 5 onions thinly, add to slow cooker and toss with 3 tablespoons melted butter or garlic. Cook on low for 10 hours. If they are super juicy, leave the lid ajar for the last two hours of cooking. Mine were perfect so I kept the lid on. You will get about 4 cups from the recipe, they will keep for up to a week in the fridge or can be frozen!
- Preheat oven 375F.
- Combine all the ingredients for meatloaf (meat, coconut flour, almond flour, thousand island/special sauce, relish, eggs, and caramelized onion). Place in a greased 9 x 5 pan, kind of pull the edges away so they aren’t flush. Sprinkle the top with coarse salt and steak seasoning.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 160F. Remove from oven and let rest 10-15 minutes (do not skip).
- Optional – top with more special sauce, caramelized onions, and relish!
Nutrition
More delicious ways to use ground beef!
Easy Paleo Taco Salad with Plantain Chips
Jalapeno & Cheddar Stuffed Salsa Verde Burgers
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Drooling over those caramelized onions – they are my favoriteeee. I’ve never tried them in a crockpot. This looks so good!
it was super easy! thanks girl!
I will have to try this, I love carmelized onions but I’d never thought to make them in the crockpot. Thanks for sharing!
I saw it on Pinterest and it looked so easy, then I tried it and it was SUPER easy! I LOVE caramelized onions, I ate the leftovers in eggs all week!
I love to try this meatloaf
thank you for sharing this recipe
Let me know how it goes!