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By Sophie Van Tiggelen 34 Comments

AIP / Paleo Apple and Sage Elk Meatloaf

AIP / Paleo Apple and Sage Elk MeatloafIf you are not familiar with elk meat, this recipe is a good way to break the ice!  It is really hard to mess up a meatloaf and they always taste good (well, most of the time!).  Actually I would put meatloaf in the comfort food category.  It is also something you can make ahead of time and serve for dinner on week-day nights.  Perfect!

I once posted on Instagram a picture of our dinner showcasing some elk burgers.  A follower asked me if it was legal to purchase and to eat wild game meat like this.  That made me laugh so hard because I pictured myself in the woods, wearing some baggy camouflage outfit, traipsing around, trying to “catch” something.  Fortunately for me I just have to drive down to our local Natural Grocers to purchase elk meat.  I know,  we are quite fortunate that our neighborhood store sells elk meat at all!  They also sell beef liver and ostrich meat!  I haven’t tried ostrich yet though.

However the question was pertinent!  Reading the food safety information page of the US Department of Agriculture,  I learned  that wild game species that can be legally hunted under Federal or State regulatory authority cannot be sold, but can be harvested for personal consumption.  However, game species raised on farms under appropriate regulations can be sold.

AIP / Paleo Apple & Sage Elk MeatloafApple and Sage Elk meatloaf
Make ahead – Comfort Food
Great for Leftovers

AIP / Paleo Apple & Sage Elk MeatloafRoughly chopped bacon, onions, and apples give a little rustic feel to this delicious elk meatloaf.  The sage I use comes from our very own vegetable garden!  It grows like a small bush during the summer and I dry whatever is left at the end of the season.  I hang it upside down in our kitchen in a warm, dry place.  After a few weeks, you can take it down and crunch it into small pieces that you can use throughout the winter.

AIP / Paleo Apple & Sage Elk Meatloaf

AIP / Paleo Apple & Sage Elk Meatloaf

AIP / Paleo Apple and Sage Elk meatloaf
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
60 mins
Total time
1 hour 10 mins
 
This recipe is 100% autoimmune protocol compliant.
Author: Sophie
Recipe type: Meat
Cuisine: Paleo Autoimmune Protocol
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds ground elk meat (can be swapped for any other ground meat of choice)
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped Granny Smith apple
  • 2 tablespoons dried sage
  • 4 slices of bacon, diced
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Set the rack in the middle of the oven. Grease a loaf pan (8½" x 4½") with olive oil.
  2. I a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well with your hands. Press meat mixture evenly into the loaf pan.
  3. Bake until meatloaf starts to pull away from the sides of the pan or reaches an internal temperature of 150°F, about 60 minutes. Serve hot.
3.5.3226

This apple and sage elk meatloaf has been shared on the following link parties: Fat Tuesday – Allergy Free Wednesday – AIP Recipe Roundtable – Natural Family Friday – Awesome Life Friday.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate links or Amazon affiliate links”. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Filed Under: AIP Meat recipes Tagged With: apples, autoimmune paleo diet, autoimmune protocol, bacon, elk, game, meat, meatloaf, onions, paleo, rustic elk meatloaf, sage, venison

About Sophie Van Tiggelen

Sophie Van Tiggelen is a passionate foodie, recipe developer, author, and photographer. Diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 2009, she used the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) to reverse her condition, and today, Sophie lives a full and vibrant life free from the anxiety and flare-ups that often accompany autoimmune diseases. With her food and lifestyle blog, A Squirrel in the Kitchen, Sophie shares her AIP experience and empowers others to develop new habits to promote good health and wellness. Through years of experience, she has developed simple strategies to be successful on AIP, including numerous mouth-watering, allergen-free recipes that everyone (even those without autoimmune diseases) can enjoy. Sophie is on a mission to make the Autoimmune Protocol - and all that it encompasses - more accessible and sustainable for anyone looking for a more nutritious, more delicious, more health-conscious life.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Megan says

    March 5, 2015 at 9:53 am

    What a creative and flavor filled recipe. So healthy too!

    Reply
  2. Julia @ Swirls and Spice says

    March 6, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    Sounds delicious! Hopefully I can track down some elk meat in the months ahead.

    Reply
    • Sophie says

      March 7, 2015 at 6:41 am

      Hello Julia! I purchase all my elk meat at our local Vitamin Cottage – Natural Grocers. Do you have one like that close by?

      Reply
  3. Charlotte says

    March 8, 2015 at 7:50 pm

    This sounds so good! And I do love some Elk meat…. I can see a visit to the farmerns market to buy some in my future!

    Reply
    • Sophie says

      March 9, 2015 at 7:33 am

      Hey Thanks Charlotte 🙂 Let me know how this elk meatloaf turns out for you!

      Reply
  4. Laura says

    April 5, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    We don’t have elk in our country – is there another meat we could use? Many Thx

    Reply
    • Sophie says

      April 6, 2015 at 7:22 am

      Hello Laura!
      You can use beef or bison instead! Good luck 🙂

      Reply
    • michael says

      April 9, 2016 at 8:16 am

      Reindeer works well also I did this and it was a hit!

      Reply
  5. Cindy says

    June 15, 2015 at 11:07 am

    I have a very hard time digesting apples…any other ideas on a substitution I can use that is AIP? I am craving a good tasty meatloaf. 🙂

    Reply
    • Sophie says

      June 15, 2015 at 1:50 pm

      Hello Cindy!

      I would suggest to use chopped butternut squash instead! Butternut squash goes well with sage 🙂 Good luck!

      Reply
      • Sarah says

        April 25, 2019 at 8:38 am

        Does the bacon need to be cooked first?

        Reply
        • Sophie Van Tiggelen says

          April 25, 2019 at 8:43 am

          No, it does cook at the same time as the rest of the ingredients. – Sophie

          Reply
          • Sarah says

            April 25, 2019 at 3:49 pm

            Thank you so much

  6. Elise says

    November 23, 2015 at 11:42 am

    THE MOST RIDICULOUS-DELISH meat dish I have had in a long time!! So easy to make as well. Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Sophie Van Tiggelen says

      November 23, 2015 at 11:45 am

      Hello Elise 🙂
      Thanks for stopping by! And I am so glad you like this amazeballs meatloaf 🙂

      Reply
  7. Alicia says

    July 29, 2017 at 10:22 pm

    Thank you for this receipe! Made it today with beef mince and ground sage and it was delicious! Loving your receipes. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Claire says

    December 10, 2018 at 2:02 pm

    Hi! Are there any possible substitutes for onions? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sophie Van Tiggelen says

      December 11, 2018 at 10:02 am

      Are you following a low-FODMAP diet? If so, I would try some kale or chard instead.

      Reply
  9. Sarah says

    April 25, 2019 at 3:53 pm

    I don’t have ground elk right now. Would this be okay cooked with ground venison? Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Sophie Van Tiggelen says

      April 29, 2019 at 3:21 pm

      Yes, you can use any ground meat you like!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Sophie - welcome to the blog! I am using the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) to live well with my autoimmune condition (Hashimoto's). Let me show you how I recovered my health and energy through diet and lifestyle adjustments!

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