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.
Just perfect. Even my non-meatloaf liking son LOVED it! That is huge andI thank you!
My husband proclaimed this was a very nearly perfect meatloaf. When I asked what would make it perfect he was stumped and then said, it’s perfect. I used half ground turkey, and half organic ground beef, and seasoned gluten free bread crumbs. Delicious.
Easy and delicious!
I served this to my bridge buddies who are also good cooks. It was loved by all! Thanks for a healthy recipe!
This recipe is a keeper!! It was super delicious!!
This is the our favorite meatloaf! I have made it many times. I use all ground turkey, and my family and I love it. I have been making meatloaf for over 20 years and this is the best recipe. It’s quick and easy to put together. No chopping. It’s moist, flavorful and makes fantastic meatloaf sandwiches the next day. I double the recipe and bake in a 9×13. I follow the recipe, no changes are needed. I use half ketchup and half BBQ sauce with the brown sugar on the top. I skip the panko when I’m out and it still comes out great. Thank you for this simple and delicious recipe. It has become my go to.
Very nice. Moist and flavoursome and so easy to make
this was the best turkey meatloaf I’ve ever had and I’ve made many. They were fighting over the last crumb.. thank you!!!
I kept same amounts for all other ingredients but did 3 lbs of turkey and it was perfect!
Truly amazing flavor, I made it as the recipe said, with the addition of fresh basil and rosemary. It was soo quick and easy to make as well. This will be my go to recipe!
Best turkey meatloaf I’ve made so flavorful
I only had 1 pound of ground turkey and 2 percent milk instead of whole so I added 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the meatloaf mixture, and halved all the other ingredients (easy to do!) The meatloaf turned out great! Very moist and flavorful. This one’s a keeper!
Glad it was so good and worked out great!
This turned out perfectly and was delicious. I used the fresh substitutes you suggested for onion, garlic, and parsley. This is definitely a keeper!
It’s delicious, it’s easy, and it stays together when you cut it!
Great recipe. My family LOVED it.
This is the second time I’ve made it we just love it!! I make it in a loaf pan so I add time to the cooking. The bottom is still extremely juicy. Should I cut some of the milk or add more panko or cornstarch?
Either of those solutions works great! I am happy to hear that you love this turkey meatloaf.
This was delicious! My go to ground turkey meat loaf recipe from now on! So flavorful! I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I bake my beef meatloaf at 400. Could I do this with the Turkey meatloaf to reduce the cooking time?
I haven’t tested it out, but it may make the meat a little more dry. Slow and lower helps the juices absorb :)