Meatloaf is a popular recipe and has a special place in every family’s dinner and heart. But, were you cooking this recipe and realized you ran out of eggs and it is now asking yourself what are the best substitutes for eggs in meatloaf? We will list them below.
This dish has ground meat as a base, and it is made by mixing other ingredients to form a loaf shape to later be baked or smoked. The most common meat is ground beef, although lamb and pork can be good alternatives if you want to make something different.
The eggs role in this recipe is to keep all the ground meat together – as an actual “glue” for the meat, so you can shape in the loaf form, bake and cut in that form without it falling apart. It also helps to moist the mix of the other ingredients you may want to add so your meatloaf does not get too dry to be eaten.
Substitutes For Eggs In Meatloaf
But, even though the eggs play an important part in the recipe, they can be replaced by other ingredients that you probably already have at home. So, there is no need to rush to the supermarket.
1. Olive Oil
Olive oil is an ingredient that almost everyone already has it at home ready to be used. But what most people do not know is that it is the best substitution for eggs in meatloaf. There are even recipes for meatloaf that are originally made with olive oil instead of eggs.
This ingredient is a liquid fat obtained from olives and it is used in the entire world for cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, soaps and even as fuel for oil lamps. Many uses for this versatile ingredient.
The extra virgin olive oil is the most recommended and has a lot of nutrients and health benefits, such as vitamins E, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties and so on. So, it will even make your meatloaf more nutrition if you are trying to have healthier eating habits.
If you are making a vegan meatloaf and using something else instead of meat for it, the olive oil will make the recipe 100% vegan.
But since the olive oil is oilier than eggs it will moist your meat more easily. So, add the oil in parts and see how the recipe is going. It is not recommended to use 1:1 proportion.
2. Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise or just mayo, is another ingredient that you probably already have sitting at your fridge ready to be used.
It is an emulsion of oil, egg yolk and vinegar that you can buy at every grocery store or supermarket. And, because of its composition it can be used in meatloaf as a replacement for eggs since it has this moist and binding property from the oil and egg yolk.
But if you are looking on the health side, mayo is very caloric and would not be good if you are one a diet or trying to eat healthier. It has almost 90 calories in one tablespoon.
Also be careful with the texture, since it is thicker than the eggs and olive oil. Add small portions of it to your recipe, mix, and see how moist the meatloaf is. It will probably add volume to your meatloaf too.
3. Aquafaba
You may not know what aquafaba is or be surprised to see it on this list, but this viscous water is incredibly famous and commonly used in vegan diets, since it can replace egg whites in a lot of recipes.
Aquafaba is a direct replacement for egg whites in vegan cooking, so it can be used to make marshmallows, meringues, ice creams, cocktails, meats, and every recipe that requires those foaming, gelatinizing, bindings, and thickening properties that eggs can offer.
It is easier to find than you thought, and you probably already have it at home: aquafaba is simply that leftover liquid from the can or box of beans or chickpeas. It can be easily done by boiling or microwaving pulses in water.
Do not worry about the taste of the aquafaba. The water will not taste like the beans or chickpeas after you cook it, so it can be used in any recipe you want, sweet or savory.
Just be careful with the proportions, since you will need approximately 3 tablespoons of aquafaba to replace one egg. But it will work just fine to be added in your meatloaf.
4. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes have an incredible moist texture and will work incredibly well in your meatloaf or other recipes that calls for an airy and wet texture.
Make sure not to season the potatoes so they do not add any extra taste to the meatloaf mix and add some more milk or butter to make it even more creamy. But, if you are making a vegan meatloaf by using the potatoes add almond milk to moist it, or any other milk of your preference.
The proportion of it is around ¼ cup of mashed potatoes for each egg you would use to make the meatloaf.
Conclusion
Meatloaf is a popular recipe and it is loved by almost everyone. It is present on the dinner table of many families every day.
But, if you do not want to use eggs in it because you ran out of it, are vegan or just do not like eggs at all, we listed above the best egg’s substitutes in meatloaf.
The four replacement options mentioned here are super easy to be found and made – we are sure you already have most of them stored at home – and can be included in many recipes, not only on the meatloaf. Just see what function the eggs are specifically performing on the recipe and use your creativity to make the substitutions.
Let us know if you used any of the options listed in this article and if they made your meatloaf even more delicious and special.
