This turkey meatloaf is moist and flavorful and every bit as tasty as the classic beef version, but a little lighter and healthier. It's topped with a sweet tangy glaze and it's a true family favorite. Plus it's really easy to make too!
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Why this recipe works
Meatloaf is a classic comfort food dish and always a family favorite. This version swaps out the usual ground beef in favor of ground turkey to make a slightly healthier dish, but the recipe will work with beef too if you prefer.
The turkey is mixed with breadcrumbs and flavorful seasonings then mixed with milk and eggs to bing it all together. Finally it's topped with a sweet and tangy sauce to balance the savory flavors of the meat.
The result is a moist flavorful meatloaf that is sure to be a family favorite for years to come!
What turkey to use
I like to use 92-93% lean turkey (the percentage varies slightly by brand) in this recipe. It's got a little more flavor and a little more fat which helps produce a moist meatloaf. The leaner 99% lean ground breast meat tends to be fairly bland will dry out too much.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground Turkey - you'll need 2 pounds of 92-93% lean meat
- Onion - 1 medium onion finely diced
- Bread crumbs - plain bread crumbs work great but you can use Italian flavored if that is what you have on hand.
- Eggs - 2 large eggs
- Milk - Just a ¼ cup needed. You can use chicken broth if you prefer a dairy free alternative.
- Seasonings - For this recipe you'll need salt, pepper, dried thyme, and Worcestershire sauce.
- For the topping you'll need ketchup and brown sugar.
How to make the meatloaf
You'll start by heating a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for around 4 minutes until it's softened and translucent. Remove from the heat and allow the onion to cool for a few minutes while you gather the remaining ingredients.
Add the turkey, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, thyme, eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, and the cooked onion to a large mixing bowl and stir thoroughly until well combined.
Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan or form into a loaf on a sheet pan coated with cooking spray.
Mix the ketchup and brown sugar in a small bowl then spread evenly over the loaf.
Bake the meatloaf at 325 degrees F for around one hour until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
Slice the turkey meatloaf and serve warm. It goes great with green beans and mashed potatoes, or if you want to lighten up the sides too, mashed cauliflower is a great choice.
This recipe is also great for making turkey meatloaf muffins. Just use a muffin tin instead of a loaf pan and reduce the cooking time to 30-45 minutes. Again cooking to an internal temperature of 160°F. These meatloaf muffins are perfect for meal prep!
Recipe tips and FAQs
If you want to make the meatloaf ahead it's best to combine all of your ingredients in step 3 and then cover the bowl and refrigerate up to a day. When you're ready to cook remove the mixture and proceed.
Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 300°F oven until warmed through or reheat individual portions in the microwave.
This meatloaf should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Avoid going over as the meat will begin to dry out.
For a different flavor try topping the turkey meatloaf with BBQ sauce instead of the sweet ketchup based sauce. This gives it a smokier flavor.
More comfort food favorites
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Tomato Soup
- Homestyle Chili
- Classic Beef Stew
- Chicken and Spinach Lasagna
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Easy Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
📖 Recipe
Turkey Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground turkey, 92-93% lean
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ¾ cup plain breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Topping
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar, packed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F
- In a medium sized pan sauté the onion in olive oil for 4-5 minutes until softened then allow to cool slightly.
- Add onion to a large mixing bowl along with the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Add mixture to a 9x5 loaf pan or form into a loaf on a sheet pan coated with cooking spray.
- Mix ketchup and brown sugar until well combined then spread evenly on top of loaf.
- Bake for around 1 hour until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Slice and serve warm.
Nutrition
* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.
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