Here’s a simple recipe for Turkey Meatloaf made with stealthy veggies mixed in for moisture and to make it more healthy, and it’s topped with a sweet and tangy glaze. Serve it for Sunday supper or make it ahead and bake it on a weeknight. Just make sure to save the leftovers for meatloaf sandwiches!

A plate of food on a table, with Meatloaf and Turkey

This post contains affiliate links. I originally shared this recipe on October 19th, 2019. I have updated some of the text to share it with you today.

Why You’ll Love This Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

Whether you’re in the mood for a comfort food dinner that’s on the healthy side, or you need a prep-ahead family-friendly entree, this Turkey Meatloaf is a star!

I am going to share with you the key to getting the perfect texture for your turkey meatloaf. So if you are transitioning to using less red meat in your diet and want to get your family on board with turkey instead, think of this recipe as a gateway recipe to ground turkey!

This meatloaf was absolutely delicious! My 15 year old son made it for our family of five and everyone loved it…not a speck leftover! My husband said it is his favorite meatloaf ever (and he doesn’t like mushrooms). The veggies added wonderful texture, moisture and flavor. The glaze is so yummy. Served with roasted potatoes and simple steamed green beans. Definite keeper!

~Willow

We have used several tricks to make this hands down the best turkey meatloaf you will ever try:

  1. Stealthy veggies add texture, nutrition, bulk and moisture. Read more about why they are key to this recipe!
  2. The sweet, tangy and slightly spicy glaze will turn any meatloaf-phobe into a meatloaf lover.
  3. We tested this recipe time and again to get the perfect texture. We’ll share our tips how to get the ideal texture.
  4. If there are any leftovers, this makes a seriously delicious meatloaf sandwich.

This recipe is great for a Sunday supper or for meal prep because it can be prepped ahead. Sometimes I will make it in the afternoon when I have time, refrigerate it until about an hour before dinner, then it is ready to pop right into the oven.

I also think that it is a great recipe for serving for entertaining because it serves eight people! It could be an elegant yet comforting dinner with Roasted Green Beans and Root Vegetable Mash. In warmer months, pair it with Grilled Asparagus and Grilled Potatoes!

Ingredient Notes For This recipe

ingredients for turkey meatloaf

Ground Turkey

The key to great texture is to buy turkey labeled 95% lean. Any leaner than that, and you end up losing some of the flavor and the meatloaf can become dry and sawdust-like. You can also use fattier turkey, like the 85% lean, and this is a specially helpful option for families who are just making the transition from beef to turkey.

Bell Peppers:

I grew up with peppers in meatloaf, so I am always expecting peppers in mine. I love them in fact. But if you do not expect them, or you don’t like them, simply omit the peppers and use 1 ½ cups total onion and 1 cup total chopped mushrooms.

Add Fillers/Binders for Texture

Egg and breadcrumb are our binders and are what keep the texture fork tender without becoming spongey. They help to bind and bulk the ground turkey with the veggies and seasonings and giving it a nice soft texture that is not too dense.

Where most turkey meatloaf recipes fall short is that you can’t necessarily treat turkey as you would beef. Because turkey is leaner and soft and sticky compared to beef, you have to be more cautious with your fillers.

The key to great texture is to use just enough breadcrumbs to let the moisture of the ground turkey and vegetables to come through, but not so much that the proteins in the turkey created a sad and impenetrable meat rock. With the right amount of breadcrumbs, your turkey meatloaf texture is moist and soft, but not spongy.

Stealthy Veggies

To the turkey I add in a good amount of vegetables: Bell Peppers, mushrooms, onions and garlic. The reason I do this is four fold.

Added Nutrition:

One is for added nutrition. If you are aiming to get your 5 to 9 servings of produce a day, adding veggies to your recipes will help you get there. Here peppers, which are high in vitamin c, onions and mushrooms which are high in antioxidants And inflammation fighting selenium are my veggies of choice.

Added Bulk:

Vegetables are relatively low in calories per volume. What I mean by that is two ounces of bell pepper for example, is much lower in calories (23 calories) than two ounces of turkey (about 107 calories.) So subbing in some of the volume of turkey for the veggies is going to reduce the overall calories of the final dish, but not the portion size.

Added Flavor:

Even though the onions and mushrooms virtually disappear into the turkey, they add so much savory flavor to the meat, you would miss them if they weren’t there. This is particularly important with lower fat meats, as fat is a flavor carrier, so with less of it, you need to amp the flavors with veggies and seasoning.

Added Moisture:

The vegetables are naturally high in moisture content, so when they are mixed with the vegetables, they add natural moisture to the meatloaf.

How to Make Turkey Meatloaf

Cut and Sauté the Vegetables First:

cutting the mushrooms and sauteeing the veggies

Step 1: Chop the veggies

I like to chop the mushrooms very finely because my daughter hates mushrooms and if I cut them really well she doesn’t even know they are there.

Step 2: Saute the veggies

As much as I would prefer to eliminate this step because it adds 20 minutes to the total prep time, this is a necessary step for the best texture.

Not only does it soften the vegetables so they melt right into the meat and become unnoticeable, but it also reduces the amount of moisture they add. Yes there could be too much of a good thing! The mushrooms in particular have a lot of water in them so they need to be cooked on the stove top before going into the turkey mixture.

At the end of the cooking time I add in the herbs to give them a little boost. Heating them up lets them give off their essential oils which contribute flavor to the overall dish.

let the veggies cool and combine the filling in a bowl

Step 3: Let the Cooked Vegetables Cool:

It’s tempting to add the hot vegetables into the meat, but it is best to let them cool before mixing them into the meat and egg. Otherwise they would start to cook the egg and meat and give the meatloaf an uneven texture. Instead, let the veggies cool for about 5 or 10 minutes.

I like to spread them out over the surface of the mixing bowl (yes even up the sides) so they come in maximum contact with the cold bowl and air to cool them off as fast as possible. When they are in a single layer they won’t insulate themselves holding in the heat.

Step 4: Add the Meatloaf Ingredients

Once the veggies are no longer hot, you can add the egg and mix it together. Then add in the turkey, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire and salt to the bowl.

knead the meatloaf ingredients in a bowl and then shape into a loaf

Step 5: Blend The Turkey Mixture

Mix the turkey and the fillers and veggies together first with a silicone spatula. I am not a huge fan of having my hands in raw meat (is anyone?) so by mixing it together with the spatula first, we limit the amount of time we’re digging right in.

Next I will take my clean hands (use gloves if you like) and work the turkey, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire (for umami flavor) and vegetable and egg mixture in the bowl until the ingredients are evenly distributed. With turkey meatloaf you don’t have to worry about overworking it. Because it is so soft, you actually can’t really over work it.

Step 6: Shape the Meatloaf on a Pan

  • My mom (and grandmother) always made meatloaf in a loaf pan, but ever since I was an adult I have made mine on a sheet pan, mounded into a loaf shape. I learned this at one of the restaurants where I was a prep cook when I was in my early twenties. I adopted this method as soon as I learned about it because my favorite part of meatloaf has always been the crust and glaze, so when the meatloaf baked on a sheet pan it has more surface area for optimal crust and glaze.
  • Additionally as it is cooking, excess moisture seeps away onto the pan, so that the outside of the meatloaf doesn’t simmer in it’s own juices.
  • It also means that you can make it much bigger than a loaf pan (I use two pounds) so you can be assured there will be enough for leftovers, which means meatloaf sandwiches is key to living a happy and fulfilled life!
  • I also love how easy it is to clean up when I line the sheet pan with foil. Yay, less time washing dishes!
  • To shape the meatloaf, I just take handfuls of the meat mixture and pile it in the center of the foil on the sheet pan. Then I pat it until it forms a nice 12-inch long loaf shape. It’s about 4-inches wide and then just patted down to an even thickness across.
make glaze and brush over the meat

Step 7: Mix the Glaze

Once you have shaped the meatloaf, all you have to do is mix the glaze together. Whisk the ketchup and brown sugar together in a small bowl. Add in Tabasco to taste.

Step 8: Brush glaze on Top

Spoon or brush the ketchup glaze over the top of the meatloaf and coat the outside.

turkey meatloaf

FAQs and Expert Tips For This Recipe

How to Know When Meatloaf Is Cooked

The best way to know the meatloaf is cooked is to use an instant read thermometer. That way there is no guesswork as to whether or not the turkey is safe to eat.

Internal temperature of the meatloaf on digital thermometer display
  • Insert the probe of the thermometer horizontally into the length of the meatloaf so the center reaches the innermost part of the loaf.
  • Allow the temperature to max out on the thermometer, then slowly remove the probe.
  • Use the lowest internal reading.
  • You want your meatloaf to be 165.
  • Note that the temperature will rise slowly as it bakes at first, then rapidly for the last 15 or so degrees.
Can this be made ahead?

You can make the turkey meatloaf through step three up to 1 day ahead. Just cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one day.
Then remove the cover, preheat your oven and continue with step four.
Note that because it will be colder, you will likely need to add an additional 5 to 8 minutes to the cook time. Just go by the internal temperature to know when it is cooked through.  (A safe internal temperature of 165 degrees is what you’re looking for.)

Can this be made with gluten-free breadcrumbs?

You can absolutely use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this turkey meatloaf but I cannot say with 100% certainty that it will come out the way it would with traditional breadcrumbs. That is because there are many different brands made from different ingredients. Some have corn some rice etc. I would recommend trying this recipe with 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon of your favorite brand, and then adjusting from there. If it seems dry, you may need slightly less.

What can be used instead of mushrooms?

You can use very finely chopped zucchini instead of the mushrooms. They have a similar texture and water content, and neutral flavor.

What To Serve with Turkey Meatloaf

At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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A close up overhead of turkey meatloaf

Turkey Meatloaf


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 12 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

This turkey meatloaf is lean and healthy and yet juicy and flavorful with a sweet and tangy glaze. It has finely chopped and sautéed vegetables to add moisture and nutrition.


Ingredients

Scale

1 tablespoon avocado oil or organic canola oil

1 cup diced onion

3/4 cup diced bell pepper, green or red

3/4 cup finely chopped mushrooms (not sliced)

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 1/2 teaspoon dried

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 pounds ground turkey, preferably 95% lean

1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon dry breadcrumbs

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tablespoon brown sugar or maple sugar

4 to 10 dashes Tabasco sauce


Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, pepper, mushrooms and garlic and cook stirring often until the onion is starting to brown and the vegetables are soft, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in oregano and thyme and remove from the heat. Scrape into a large bowl, spread out as much as possible and let cool for about 5 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Coat it lightly with cooking spray.
  3. Add egg to the mixing bowl and mix to combine with the veggies. Add the turkey, bread crumbs, Worcestershire and salt and gently knead with clean hands until the ingredients are thoroughly combined. Pat the turkey meatloaf mixture into a loaf shape, about 12 inches by 4 inches on the prepared baking sheet.
  4. Stir ketchup, brown sugar and Tabasco in a small dish. Spread over the meatloaf and transfer the meatloaf to the oven. Bake until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center reads 165 degrees F, 38 to 45 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • You can make the turkey meatloaf through step three up to 1 day ahead. Just cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one day.
  • Then remove the cover, preheat your oven and continue with step four.
  • Note that because it will be colder, you will likely need to add an additional 5 to 8 minutes to the cook time. Just go by the internal temperature to know when it is cooked through.  (A safe internal temperature of 165 degrees is what you’re looking for.)
  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stove Top, Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 8th loaf
  • Calories: 246
  • Sugar: 7 g
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 26 g