Easy Turkey Meatloaf

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Easy Turkey Meatloaf – Use ground turkey to make this flavorful, moist, tender and delicious turkey meatloaf recipe. Great comfort food that is healthy and tasty!

This post is sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Today, I am back working with the Arthritis Foundation.  You may remember when I shared my Indian Lentil Soup and Cauliflower Gnocchi Carbonara in partnership with them last year.  Arthritis is a disease that affects 1 in 4 people in the United States. My mom has suffered from arthritis for as long as I can remember, so I’m taking this opportunity once again to spread awareness about it since my mom is one of more than 54 million Americans that suffer from arthritis. 

The Arthritis Foundation is calling upon those with arthritis to share their voice through the Live Yes! Arthritis Network, which provides personalized help and support to adults living with all types of arthritis and rheumatic conditions and parents or guardians of children living with arthritis. The programs offers opportunities for connection, education and empowerment via Live Yes! Connect Groups, Online Community and conferences.

Make meatloaf that is just a little bit better for you. This uses ground turkey but is still tender, moist, and delicious!

 

I know the one thing that has helped my mom a lot with managing her arthritis on a daily basis is her diet.  Eating a healthy diet, reducing sugar, and upping spices with anti-inflammatory properties has definitely helped her to continue to be active and in the kitchen cooking. 

Arthritis Foundation

Great tips for around the kitchen if you have arthritis

  • Sit on a stool while cooking.  This just reduces so much stress on your body, and will make a huge difference
  • Go to the salad bar at your grocery store. Here you can get fresh chopped fruits and veggies that you don’t have to chop on your own.
  • Use the Instant Pot or Crock Pot.  There are times of the day that you feel great and can get a meal started.  Then later, your family can help finish and get it on the table if you can’t. 
  • Track your food.  Diet is a big part of a lot of diseases, but like everything, everyone is different.  So track what you eat, the source of your meat, was it fresh, frozen or canned food etc.  See if there is a pattern to what you ate and how you feel. 
Ground turkey meatloaf that is not only healthy but delicious

What You’ll Need

  • Ground Turkey
  • Old Fashioned Oats
  • Plain Breadcrumbs
  • Eggs
  • Onion
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Brown Sugar
  • Mustard

Meatloaf can have a reputation for being kind of dry and tough, but it doesn’t have to be!  The trick is to have a fool proof recipe that is full of ingredients to keep everything moist and tender.  My Best Meatloaf Recipe turns out perfectly every time.  But now it is time to break out the ground turkey and make a healthier version. Be sure to read the tips below for the perfect meatloaf every time!

How to Make Turkey Meatloaf

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.

  1. Mix Together – All of the ingredients get mixed together in a large bowl.  You want to make sure everything is combined, but not over worked too much.  If it is over worked it can be tough and not nearly as tender. 
  2. Form Into Loaf – Place the meatloaf mixture on a lined baking tray and form into a loaf. I like to just use my hands and form into a loaf.  
  3. Sauce – Mix together the ingredients for the sauce and brush over the entire surface of the meatloaf.  
  4. Bake – Bake until the meat is cooked through.  You can use a meat thermometer and cook until 160 degrees F. 

Can You Freeze Meatloaf?

Yes, you definitely can freeze it.  

  • If you have leftovers, I like to wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and then store in a freezer safe bag.  Then I can just thaw a slice at a time to use when I need it.  
  • You can freeze and entire meatloaf as well.  Make a double batch and then freeze one loaf for later.  Wrap in foil, without the sauce, and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.  Then bake thaw overnight before following the recipe to brush with sauce and bake.  

Can You Make Meatloaf Ahead?

You can definitely make meatloaf ahead of time.  It is great to freeze or even assemble the day before you want to bake it.  You can store it covered in the fridge and then brush with sauce before you want to bake it.  

Easy meatloaf that is healthy and tasty.

How Long to Cook Turkey Meatloaf

It usually takes about an hour to full cook.  I like to insert a meat thermometer until it reaches 160º F.  Then let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing to serve.  

What to Serve with Turkey Meatloaf

Tips for Turkey Meatloaf

  • I like to grate the onion for this recipe. It gets fully incorporated with the meat that way and really helps to make sure nothing dries out. 
  • I use 90% or 93% lean ground turkey.  You do not want to use anything leaner or the meatloaf will turn out dry and tough.  You need just a little bit of fat to keep things juicy.  
  • Cooking the meatloaf on a lined baking tray with a free form loaf does speed up the cooking time a little.  You can definitely cook in a loaf pan, but it could take 10-15 minutes longer to cook through in the center. 
  • Make sure to fully coat the meatloaf in the sauce.  Brushing it with the sauce really helps to lock in the moisture. 

If you think meatloaf is dry and boring it is time to rethink that!  This turkey meatloaf recipe is moist, tender, and full of lots of flavor.  Your family is going to love this and you are going to love how easy it is to make. 

close up turkey meatloaf on a cutting board

There are more than 54 million Americans with arthritis and I know this disease hits home for many of you and sometimes holds you back from cooking and experiencing life. Join the Live Yes! Arthritis Network to make connections and find support online and in person when the time is right. And be sure to check out this arthritis-friendly Turkey Meatloaf Recipe so you can still enjoy your love of cooking and time with family!

More Easy Dinner Recipes

A slice of meatloaf sitting on top of a wooden cutting board, with Dinner and Meatloaf
4 from 4 votes

Easy Turkey Meatloaf

By Erin
Easy Turkey Meatloaf – Use ground turkey to make this flavorful, moist, tender and delicious turkey meatloaf recipe. Great comfort food that is healthy and tasty!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

Glaze

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400º F. Line a baking tray with foil.
  • In a large bowl mix together all of the ingredients for the meatloaf until well blended.
  • Pour meat mixture onto prepared baking tray and form into a loaf.
  • Mix together the ingredients for the glaze. Pour over meatloaf and make sure entire surface is coated.
  • Bake for 55-60 minutes until internal temp is 160 degrees.
  • Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing to serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 630mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Erin
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 396
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

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About Erin S

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and Iโ€™m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, youโ€™ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

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8 Comments

  1. I love a classic recipe that can be made with healthier ingredients and have the same amazing flavor and texture.

  2. This is my kind of dinner recipe! Adding this to my dinner line up for the week; looks too good to pass up!

  3. 1 star
    The cooking instructions are terrible! You need to list the temperature to heat the oven, not just say โ€œcook all the wayโ€. Idiots.

    1. Step 1 says to preheat the oven to 400. And it proceeds to tell you how long to cook, as well as the internal temperature the meatloaf is supposed to be. Not sure what further instructions are needed.