Meatloaf. I find people either love it or hate it. But the more I bring up the subject, the more I find that those that dislike it, dislike it because they've been served bad meatloaf. You know the kind I'm talking about: dry, tasteless. Well, now everyone can become meatloaf lovers because this recipe really does make the Best Ground Turkey Meatloaf! This turkey meatloaf recipe is moist and full of flavor, with minimal preparation! It's the perfect recipe to turn meatloaf haters into meatloaf lovers!
Meatloaf is one of those dinners that gets prepared pretty regularly in my Midwest kitchen. My family loves it. I usually serve it up with a heaping helping of mashed potatoes and buttered peas for a classic taste.
Two of our favorite meatloaf recipes are Best BBQ Meatloaf and Easy Homestyle Meatloaf, both made with beef. But, our love affair with meatloaf actually started with this meatloaf made with ground turkey!
Ground turkey ( 93% lean, 7% fat) is a fairly healthy choice when it comes to protein and a great choice for this Ground Turkey Meatloaf recipe. That makes this dish a healthy comfort food.
However, make sure you purchase the right lean to fat ratio of ground turkey. I do not recommend using ground turkey with less fat than 7% in this turkey meatloaf recipe. Some fat is needed to retain moisture and flavor in the loaf.
This Best Ground Turkey Meatloaf recipe really lives up to its name. I have been making this recipe for a many years with great results. It's a tried and true recipe for turkey meatloaf and one that I hope you will try!
How to make meatloaf with ground turkey
Making meatloaf with ground turkey is not that different from making meatloaf with other proteins like ground beef, ground veal, or ground pork. Put all the ingredients in a bowl, mix, shape, and bake. Very easy.
One slight difference making a meatloaf with ground turkey has compared to beef, veal, or pork, is that it tends to be a little more moist in its raw form. Because of this, I don't add extra liquid to the loaf mixture, like I do when I make meatloaf with the other proteins.
Tips for making a ground turkey meatloaf
- Mix with your hands. When it comes to shaping and mixing this ground turkey meatloaf (or any kind of meatloaf), I like to use my hands. It's the way mom taught me and the best way to make sure the ingredients don't get over mixed. Over mixing will ruin your turkey meatloaf! You will know when it's mixed enough, as everything will start to come together like a giant meatball. That's when you know, you've mixed it enough.
- Let it rest. Allow the meatloaf to sit once it's shaped for about 10 minutes before I put it in the oven to bake. I find that this helps keep the meatloaf from falling apart. Once you remove it from the oven, let it rest again! This will help redistribute the juices and keep it moist.
- Bake it on a broiler pan. Shape and cook your meatloaf on a broiler pan. This allows the drippings to move through the slats away from the loaf and settle on the bottom. If you cover the bottom of the broiler pan with foil, it makes for easy clean up too! If you don't use a broiler pan, you can use any pan that can fit the loaf, but still allow for space on all sides. I don't like to use a loaf pan for meatloaf. I don't like the bottom of my meatloaf to be soggy with drippings.
Cooking time for Ground Turkey Meatloaf
Most ground turkey is available in two pound packages. This makes turning the ground turkey into this meatloaf recipe simple, because this recipe calls for 2 pounds of ground turkey! For this recipe, baking at 350 degrees F for 1 hour and 10 minutes will produce a finished product that's cooked all the way through.
To be certain of doneness, at the end of the cooking time, insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey meatloaf. It should read around 165 degrees F. Read more about recommended cooking temperatures here.
Once you remove the meatloaf from the oven, it's important to tent it with foil and allow it to rest at least 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. This will allow the juices to redistribute and assure that the ground turkey meatloaf is moist, flavorful, and ready to eat.
Yield: 4 servings
Best Ground Turkey Meatloaf
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 1 H & 10 MTotal time: 1 H & 25 M
Best Ground Turkey Meatloaf is moist and full of flavor, with minimal preparation! It's the perfect meatloaf recipe to turn meatloaf haters into meatloaf lovers!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 pounds of ground turkey ( 93 % lean, 7 % fat )
- 1/2 cup seasoned dry breadcrumbs
- 3/4 cup Heinz Hot and Spicy flavored tomato ketchup, divided (or plain ketchup)
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- 1 tsp. worcestershire sauce
- 1 to 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tsp. dried marjoram
Instructions
- In small nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray, saute onion and garlic until onion is tender ( about 5 minutes). Set aside to cool. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- In large bowl, combine the ground turkey, bread crumbs, 1/2 c ketchup, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and marjoram and the cooled onion/garlic mixture. Mix gently ( using your hands is best) until just combined. Do not over mix
- Spray broiler pan top or glass 9x13" pan with cooking spray and shape into a loaf in middle of pan. Spread the remaining 1/4 c ketchup on top. Bake uncovered, in 350 degree oven for 70 minutes. If you like a thicker sauce, baste meatlaof with an additional 1/4 cup ketchup during last 10 minutes of cooking. (not included in nutritional values) Remove from oven, tent with foil, and allow to rest for 10 - 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
*NOTE: if you can't find the Heinz Hot and Spicy Tomato Ketchup and you want that zing it brings to this recipe, just add several shakes of hot sauce to regular ketchup to get the same flavor. Nutritional Values are an Estimate
Nutrition Facts
Calories
399.36Fat (grams)
7.4 gSat. Fat (grams)
2.02 gCarbs (grams)
25.34 gFiber (grams)
1.32 gNet carbs
24.03 gSugar (grams)
11.54 gProtein (grams)
59.12 gSodium (milligrams)
1648.09 mgCholesterol (grams)
206.73 mgNutritional Information is an estimate
Copyright © 2018 Renee's Kitchen Adventures
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*Note: This recipe for Best Ground Turkey Meatloaf first appeared on Renee's Kitchen Adventures in October 2010 as Basic Turkey Meatloaf.
I've updated the post to include more information and republished it because it's an excellent Ground Turkey Meatloaf recipe that I think everyone should know about! The recipe hasn't changed.
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Hey! I'm so glad you left a comment on my blog! I'm trying to get back to eating healthy, and your blogs seems like a helpful tool. :) Thanks! That meatloaf looks great.
ReplyDeleteThank you Christina! Let me know how you liked it if you make it! :)
ReplyDeleteI wish my husband liked meatloaf..this looks delicious! I am saving this recipe for when someone with a tasteful palate comes for dinner ;)
ReplyDeleteI have a recipie which is half turkey and half hamburger , I cant give you exact amounts cause I dont cook like that but anyway, half ground turkey, half lean ground hamburger, onion minced, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, sage, parsley, milk equal to the bread crumbs mixture should be quite wet form into pan and bake. This is actually Grandpas recipie or and I almost forgot the sauce ketchup with brown sugar and powdered mustard put on about 30 minutes before meatloaf is done.
ReplyDeleteRECIPIE=="RECIPE THANK YOU CONNIE..
Delete@ Connie...sounds delicious! :)
ReplyDelete@ Nicole...make a small one and freeze what you don't eat for when he is out of town! :)
This was excellent! We had it for lunch today and everybody loved it. Is this points+ or old points? Thanks!
ReplyDelete@ Evacuee...thank you for reviewing this recipe and I am glad you liked it. What is listed is old points. Points plus would be 7 points plus per serving. I am going to update the recipe now with the new info. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteHOW ABOUT LETTING US SHARE ON FB, TWITTER AND YUM. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM??? ALL I CAN DO IS PIN IT...
ReplyDeleteHi Marie! You should be able to share on FB, Twitter and Yummly using the colored sharing buttons on the side (desktop) or on the top (mobile). Hope this helps!
DeleteGood recipe! Worked out fine! Almost good as my mothers recipe. She used ground sirloin back in the day!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review!
DeleteDoesn’t this taste like regular meatloaf?
ReplyDeleteI was vegetarian for 13 years and just recently took up eating poultry and fish again. My husband loves my homemade meatloaf (regular beef) and then I always made a smaller pan of a vegetarian meatloaf for myself. Well he isn’t too big of a “try new things” eater.. he does like turkey though. And this would save me on having to make two different meatloafs for dinner if it tastes similar to regular meatloaf?
Hi Lena! Thanks for asking. Yes, in my opinion, it tastes very much like a meatloaf made with beef. I hope that you will give it a try and see if your husband likes it! My son actually prefers this meatloaf over any beef ones I make.:)
DeleteI made this recipe tonight and it truly lived up to its name. In contrast to the cooking notes, I baked it in a baking dish. Then, I used a turkey baster to transfer the juices to a small sauce pan, added a few dashes of Worcestershire Sauce and simmered until it reduced by about half. Made a delicious gravy for a great meatloaf!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review and so happy you enjoyed it! Love your adaptations!
DeleteTook 45 extra minutes in the oven for the internal temperature to reach 165 F for some reason. Very tasty and moist though! Definitely adding to my favorites!
ReplyDeleteHi MikeyLikesit! Thanks so much for your review. I'm so happy you enjoyed it! All ovens cook differently so it's great that you checked the internal temperature for doneness.
DeleteAwesome recipe! I had mushrooms and bacon so I fried it up with the mushrooms and added it with the onions and garlic.My husband loved it!
DeleteHello! And thank you for your comment. I love your additions. You can never go wrong with bacon!
DeleteI love a good meatloaf and this was honestly the BEST meatloaf I’ve ever eaten. I followed your instructions to a tee and ended up with a moist, flavorful meatloaf that was healthy as well. I made it into two loaves instead on one and shared one with a coworker who doesn’t cook. She’s been raving about it to everyone in the office ever since!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe - it’s a keeper!!
ReplyDeleteHello! Thank you so much for your review. I'm so happy you all enjoyed this meatloaf recipe!
DeleteMy first time cooking ground turkey. So glad I chose this recipe. It was DELISH! It's nice to try a recipe that actually came out good.
DeleteI followed exactly except that I did not saute onion and garlic first. I forgot and had already tossed them in to the turkey. Also, I used regular ketchup with a few dashes of Piri-Piri hot sauce. All was fine!
I will say I cooked it about 20 minutes longer to get it to my liking (1.5 hrs total). Even my son was surprisingly pleased. I will be making this meatloaf often. Thank you Renee.
Hi Cleeo2! So happy you enjoyed this recipe and thank you for leaving a review!
DeleteI only have to feed a family of 3 so I will need to half the recipe. How long should I cook for if I only use a pound of Turkey?
ReplyDeleteHi Char Char. Thanks for your question. I've never halved the recipe. I make a full recipe and then freeze or eat the leftover on another day. But, if you halve the recipe, I'd say start with cooking for 40 minutes and check the internal temperature of the loaf. You want it to be within a few degrees of 165 degrees F. Add additional time as needed to reach that internal temp.
DeleteI made this last night and absolutely LOVED IT, and I don’t even like meatloaf!
ReplyDeleteI made it with the following substitutions based on what I had on hand:
85/15 ground turkey
Unseasoned panko bread crumbs + approx 1T Italian seasoning, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder
1/4 C Ketchup with 1T Sriracha sauce (in both meat mixture and glaze topping for last 10 mins of baking)
2 garlic cloves instead of 1
1/4 C minced red bell pepper sautéed with garlic and onion
All other ingredients added as written in original recipe.
Baked on broiler pan and agree, the greasy puddle was nonexistent vs when it’s baked in a loaf pan
Served with mashed red skin potatoes and cooked frozen peas. Easy Peasy!
I loved this recipe! It was easy and delicious and will definitely prepare it again! 😃
Hi Gayle! Thanks for the review and I'm so pleased you enjoyed this recipe. I love that you put your own spin on it.
DeleteYummy!! I will definitely make this again! It was nice and moist and very tasty!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your review. I'm so pleased you enjoyed this recipe.
DeleteWonderful recipe! Thank you! So so good.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your review. Happy you enjoyed it!
DeleteThis turkey meatloaf is the best turkey meatloaf I have ever had. I make it several time. Thank you for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteHello and thank you for the review. I'm so happy you enjoy this recipe!
DeleteCan I use chili sauce instead of ketchup?
ReplyDeleteHello and thanks for your question. Sure, you could use chili sauce in place of ketchup if you like those flavors. Hope this helps.
Delete