Meatloaf Without Eggs • Recipe for Perfection (2024)

FAQs

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

Eggs are an ingredient in nearly every meatloaf, and they have two distinct roles. Egg yolks, which are mostly water but contain a good amount of protein and fat, add flavor, richness, and moisture. They also help bind the meat together and get the loaf to set in a stable form without the need to overwork the meat.

Here's the secret: You can still make an exceptionally flavorful and moist meatloaf without eggs. Their binding power is minimal, particularly when the appropriate ratio of liquid and breadcrumbs are used, and the protein and fat can easily be replaced.

Use high-fat meat.

The leaner the meat, the dryer and grainier the meatloaf. For an all-beef meatloaf, always use a higher-fat cut, at least 15 percent. For a meatloaf made with a leaner beef or turkey, consider mixing in some ground pork and/or veal in order to achieve a moist, tender meatloaf.

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.

In meatloaf, this is most commonly the eggs and breadcrumbs. Your binding ingredient is only second to the meat itself in your recipe and the reason why meatloaf crumbles. When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs.

The most traditional meatloaf binder is probably torn up bread soaked in milk, but you can also use bread crumbs, Panko, dehydrated potato (instant mashed potatoes), or just about any other grain.

The wet ingredients you add to meatloaf make it juicy. Using whole milk will add more richness and fat that keeps it from going dry. Along with ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, it gives meatloaf a marvelous texture.

What happens if you skip eggs in baking? ›

Without eggs, the cake may not hold its shape properly and may crumble or fall apart. Moisture: Eggs contribute moisture to the cake, helping to keep it moist and tender. Without eggs, the cake may be drier and more prone to becoming dry and crumbly.

You can determine whether or not it's fully cooked by sticking an internal thermometer into the center of the loaf. If the meatloaf is over 160°F, or 165°F if you used chicken or turkey, it's fully cooked and safe to consume even if it's still pink inside.

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.

The reason? It balances out the flavors. Calling it a "secret ingredient," Southern Living says a good-tasting meatloaf must have ketchup in it, while other ingredients can be switched out (breadcrumbs for biscuits, etc.).

While both are great options for cooking your meatloaf, each has its own advantages and you will get slightly different results. Sheet pans have more surface area which exposes more of the dish's surface area to the oven's direct heat to create a crunchier crust that's nicely browned.

If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes!

Mayonnaise. If you have a jar of mayo in the fridge, you can use 3 tablespoons in place of one egg. "Mayonnaise has been used as an egg substitute because of its moistening properties and is best suited for cakes with strong flavors, like spice cakes and chocolate cakes," Tutunjian says.

Basically, eggs are used in meatloaf as a binder, but there is no absolute rule that says you have to use them. In a pinch, you can substitute 1/4 cup mayonnaise for 1 egg (mayo is an emulsion of egg and oil), as a bonus the extra oil from the mayonnaise makes a moister meatloaf (okay, and a few more fat calories).