This family favorite turkey meatloaf is a lighter spin on a classic comfort food made with lean protein. This ground turkey meatloaf is flavorful, juicy and impresses any skeptics!
Best Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
Whenever I’m looking to lighten up ground beef meatloaf, I’ll make this turkey meatloaf recipe. It’s now become a staple in our house and is a favorite healthy dinner idea, sometimes I even make it crockpot turkey meatloaf in the slow cooker.
Substituting ground turkey for beef makes this turkey meatloaf leaner without sacrificing taste just like in this turkey sloppy joe recipe! It’s juicy and flavorful and you can lighten it up a bit more by using half the amount of the meatloaf sauce.
Key Ingredients
- Ground turkey: I love to use a lean ground turkey, which doesn’t produce a lot of grease. Do not use shredded turkey, it won’t work.
- Breadcrumbs: This will help bind the meat together. You can make your own homemade breadcrumbs if you’d like or use almond meal or rolled oats to keep it gluten free.
- Egg: This will also help to bind the mix together.
- Seasonings: Don’t skimp on the seasonings, these will bring all the flavors together.
- Sauce: For the sauce, I like to do a mix of ketchup and BBQ sauce. It adds the perfect flavor. If you like it sweeter add some brown sugar.
How To Make Turkey Meatloaf
- Mix. Combine the meatloaf ingredients in a large bowl and mix just until combined. Be careful not to over mix or the meat won’t be as tender.
- Combine. Mix together sauce ingredients.
- Form and coat. Place mixture on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or a 9×5″ loaf pan. Shape into a loaf on top of a baking sheet. Pour sauce on top of meat.
- Bake. Bake in the oven at 375°F for about 45 minutes, or until center reaches 160°F on a meat thermometer. Let rest on pan for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
Meatloaf Tips and Variations
- Do not over stir the meat, as overworked meat will not be as tender.
- If your family is not used to ground turkey, I would start with half ground turkey and half ground beef. This is how I converted my kids.
- If you’d like a little bit of a kick, add hot sauce, sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes to the meat or sauce.
- You may substitute fresh onion and garlic (1/2 cup onion, 4 garlic cloves minced), however make sure to sauté them with a little olive oil before adding to the meat.
- Turn this into mini meatloaf muffins by pressing the meat mixture into cupcake tins. You could also make smaller loaves and bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Double the recipe by doubling all the ingredients and then forming it into two loaves.
- The best way to tell when turkey meatloaf is done is to insert an instant read thermometer into the center. It should read 160°F and no longer be pink.
Favorite Sides To Serve Alongside
This really is the best turkey meatloaf recipe! We love to serve it with scalloped potatoes or try turning it into a one pan meal by making sheet pan meatloaf!
Freezer Instructions
Ground turkey meatloaf makes a great freezer meal. Mix the meat and form the mixture into a loaf shape (or in a loaf pan) and cover tightly with plastic wrap. You could even make smaller loaves and freeze half for later.
Store in freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge overnight when ready to enjoy, then coat with sauce and bake according to directions.
Looking for more meatloaf recipes? Try this BBQ meatloaf recipe, mozzarella stuffed meatloaf or sheet pan meatloaf!
More Ground Turkey Recipes
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Turkey Meatloaf
Video
Ingredients
Meatloaf:
- 2 pounds 90% lean ground turkey , or 1 pound ground beef and 1 pound ground turkey
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup whole milk , or beef broth, plus more as needed
- 2 large eggs , whisked
- 2-3 Tablespoons fresh parsley , or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1 ¼ teaspoons Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Sauce:
- ½ cup ketchup or BBQ sauce , I like to mix half and half
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet or 9×5-inch loaf pan with foil. Lightly spray with nonstick spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix the turkey, breadcrumbs, milk, eggs, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until combined. Don't overmix or the meat won't be as tender.
- Form the mixture into a loaf shape on the baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix together the ketchup and/or BBQ sauce and brown sugar. Pour over the top of the meatloaf. Add pepper on top, if desired.
- Bake meatloaf 45 to 55 minutes, or until the center reaches 160°F. Allow to rest 5 to 10 minutes before slicing into 8 to 10 slices.
Notes
- You may substitute fresh onion and garlic (1/2 cup onion, 4 garlic cloves minced), however, make sure to sauté them with a little olive oil before adding to the meat.
- If you prefer a little heat, add in a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat or a few dashes of chili sauce or sriracha to the meatloaf sauce.
- If you want to make this gluten free, use gluten free bread crumbs or old fashioned oats.
- If you prefer your meatloaf extra saucy, you can always mix up another batch and brush more on the last 10 minutes of cooking or use it for dipping.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Reader Favorites
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Yummy! Tastes even better the next day.
Just sent the recipe to my sister😊
Lorna
Can you make it in a crockpot
Yes, follow these instructions: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/crockpot-turkey-meatloaf/ :)
Delish!!!!!!! 5 stars
I really liked this healthier version of a meatloaf. I made 2 smaller meatloafs and put the 2nd in the freezer for another night since we are empty nesters. I will certainly make again.
We have made it multiple times and we love it!!!
This was so delicious.
Everyone in the house loved it, my dad kept going back to get more.
Super easy and quick with minimal clean up for busy parents/caregivers.
Definitely making this again as it’s now added to family favorites.
Was great. My husband loved it. Used up the next day on white bread with turkey gravy that was frozen at Thanksgiving time. Will make it again.
Sounds great! So glad you enjoyed the turkey meatloaf!
Solid recipe. I use Italian seasoning panko
Thanks Sharon! Glad you enjoyed the turkey meatloaf
This really is the very best Turkey meatloaf recipe I have ever made. And I have made many. The milk and eggs add plenty of moisture. I also like to ramp up the veggies in my meatloaf so I sautéed carrots and celery with the onions, plus a half pound of shiitake mushrooms finely minced before cooking them. I didn’t have panko so I subbed regular progreso breadcrumbs. Made a double batch of this. The texture is light and it’s so juicy. Others have commented that there was a lot of liquid on top after cooking that they poured out. DON’T. Let it sit there as it cooks and it reabsorbs. Don’t loose all that moisture and flavor.
This is my go-to recipe for all of my meatloaves!!
Family favorite!!! Love love love this recipe!
This was absolutely delicious. I added a half onion, finely chopped, 1/2 red pepper finely chopped and 1/4 feta cheese. It was a huge hit with the whole family.
So glad you enjoyed the turkey meatloaf! Sounds delicious with red pepper and feta, I’ll have to give it a try :)
have you every made this one day ahead and then cooked the day of?
I haven’t, but that should work fine. I would just wait to add the sauce. Let us know how it goes!
Absolutely delicious! My new go to recipe!
Love to hear that Donna. Thanks for your review :)
Excellent flavor! We really enjoyed this meatloaf.
So glad you enjoyed the meatloaf :)
delicious! made last night and making again tonight!
when it was done, there was a lot of liquid on top that i just poured out. could this be because I used fresh onion and garlic?
Glad you enjoyed the turkey meatloaf! It’s normal for the meat to release juices. I usually just dab with a paper towel or pour out half way through cooking.
I had to throw it out! My old recipe that is
Great, easy, tasty meatloaf.
Definitely a KEEPER!
So glad you found a new favorite, Fran! Thanks for the feedback.
Favorite turkey meatloaf recipe!!
So glad you liked it, Christina! I hope this is a favorite for years to come.
Loved it! Made it in cupcake tins. With the “icing”. So good!
So glad you enjoyed the turkey meatloaf!