An own goal five minutes into the second half from Reading defender Tom Holmes had set Forest on course for a much-needed victory but Meite hammered home a shot nine minutes from time to leave The Reds without a win in four matches ahead of Wednesday's visit of league leaders Norwich City.
Chris Hughton made four changes to the side that was beaten at Watford last weekend as an injured Joe Worrall was replaced at centre half by the returning Scott McKenna while Ryan Yates, Anthony Knockaert and Luke Freeman was replaced in the starting line-up by Cafu, Sammy Ameobi and Joe Lolley respectively.
The opening quarter of the game was a fairly dour affair as both sides struggled to create chances at a blustery City Ground. Ameobi sent a shot wildly over the bar and into the Bridgford Stand before Filip Krovinovic curled an effort straight into the arms of Reading goalkeeper Rafael Cabral.
The chances were beginning to come thick and fast after a slow opening to the contest and Rafael had to be alert at his near post to keep out a header from Glenn Murray before Lolley curled an effort just wide of the Brazilian's left-hand post while sandwiched in between was a shot straight at Brice Samba from Royals top scorer Lucas Joao.
Lolley was forced off with a hamstring injury on 34 minutes to be replaced by Knockaert and Forest were fortunate not to be behind soon after. Joao scuffed his shot inside the box from a short corner, it wrong-footed Samba but hit the outside of the post and trickled slowly behind for a Forest goal-kick as The Reds breathed a sigh of relief.
It hadn't been the most eventful first half in memory but Forest didn't care about that when they took the lead five minutes after the interval. Ameobi beat full-back Omar Richards to the ball and drilled a low ball into the six-yard box which Holmes could only turn into his own net under pressure from Murray as Forest made the all-important breakthrough.
Having grabbed the opening goal, Hughton's men were beginning to play with more confidence and Cyrus Christie fired a shot just wide of Rafael's far post before the Reading number one was called into action once again to palm away a powerful strike from Ameobi after he had cut in from the right-hand side.
Reading boss Veljko Paunovic brought on Meite and Sone Aluko in an attempt to get something from the game and it changed the complexion of the contest. The visitors began to attack at will and Andy Yiadom saw a close-range effort come back off the outside of the post before Joao headed the ball over when well-placed inside the Forest penalty area.
The visitors did get their equaliser with nine minutes to play as Meite, playing in his first game since early February, sent a stinging strike through Samba's grasp and into the back of the Forest net as The Reds were left to look at a lead that had evaporated late on.
The final opportunity of the afternoon fell to Holmes who was left unmarked at the back post but the defender couldn't gain redemption for his earlier own goal and planted his header into the side netting as the game ended all-square on Trentside.
Forest: Samba; Christie, Figueiredo, McKenna (c), Bong; Garner, Cafu; Ameobi, Krovinovic (Freeman 80'), Lolley (Knockaert 34'); Murray (Grabban 72')
Subs not used: Smith, Mbe Soh, Mighten, Yates, Blackett, Taylor
Goal: Holmes (o.g.) 50'
Booking: Figueiredo 90'
Reading: Cabral; Yiadom, Holmes, Moore (c), Richards; McIntyre; Semedo (Meite 60'), Laurent; Olise; Joao, Puscas (Aluko 74')
Subs not used: Southwood, Esteves, Baldock, Gibson, Tetek, East, Camara
Goal: Meite 81'
Referee: Stephen Martin