Turkey Meatloaf
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Looking for the best turkey meatloaf recipe? This one’s packed with flavor, perfectly juicy, and topped with a sweet-tangy glaze. It’s kid-friendly, too.
Swapping ground turkey for ground beef is a great way to make meatloaf a little healthier, but ground turkey can be tricky—it’s often dry and bland. The key to a good turkey meatloaf recipe is adding flavor and moisture without adding fat, which would defeat the whole purpose of making it lighter. I season my turkey meatloaf with onions and garlic, and also add some of the sweet and tangy sauce directly to the meatloaf to make it extra flavorful and juicy.
One tip if you’re making this for kids: chop the onions very finely—most kids aren’t fans of finding bits of onions (or anything else!) in their dinner. Serve the meatloaf with mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes or mashed cauliflower for comforting meal.
“My husband gave this a 10, and I loved it too! I loved that I could freeze one for another night’s dinner.”
What You’ll Need For this Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
- Ketchup, dark brown sugar, apple cider vinegar & Dijon mustard – These make up the glaze: ketchup adds that classic tomato flavor, brown sugar brings sweetness, vinegar adds brightness, and Dijon gives it a tangy kick.
- Olive oil, yellow onion & garlic – The aromatic and flavorful base of the meatloaf.
- Paprika, dried thyme & Worcestershire sauce – These seasonings add warmth, smokiness, and umami, enhancing the flavor of the turkey.
- Eggs & Italian seasoned breadcrumbs – Bind the meatloaf together and keep it moist and tender with the right amount of structure.
- Ground turkey (93/7) – Lean but not too lean; 93/7 gives you a moist, flavorful meatloaf.
- Fresh parsley – For a pop of color and fresh finish.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and mustard until smooth.
Step 2: Cook the aromatics. Next, heat the olive oil in a small pan and add the onions. Cook until they’re softened, then stir in the garlic and cook for another minute or two.
Step 3: Make the flavor base for the meatloaf. In a large bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup of the glaze, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, paprika, thyme, salt, pepper, and eggs until well combined.
Step 4: Add the rest. To mixing bowl, add the onion mixture, bread crumbs, and turkey.
Step 5: Mix it all together. Use your hands to mix everything until well combined.
Step 5: Shape the meatloaves. Form two loaves directly on a foil-lined baking sheet and spread the remaining BBQ glaze over top.
Pro Tip: Skip the loaf pan—free-form meatloaf is easier to clean up, and the excess fat has room to cook off for a healthier meatloaf.
Step 6: Bake. Pop the meatloaves in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until cooked through.
Step 7: Slice and serve. Scrape the fat away from the loaves, transfer to a platter, and slice. The cooked meatloaf will keep in the fridge for several days and can be reheated in the microwave. Leftovers make excellent meatloaf sandwiches and freeze well, too.
More Ground Turkey Recipes You May Like
Video Tutorial
Turkey Meatloaf
Ingredients
For the Glaze
- ⅔ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup (packed) dark brown sugar
- 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
For the Meatloaf
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 large eggs
- 2 lb 93% ground turkey
- ¾ cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- A few springs chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Set oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil; grease the foil with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray.
- Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Set aside.
- Make the Meatloaf: Heat the olive oil in a small sauté pan over medium heat. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Do not brown. Set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, eggs, and ¼ cup of the BBQ glaze. Whisk until well combined. Stir in the onion mixture. Add the ground turkey and breadcrumbs and mix with your hands until evenly combined.
- Transfer the meat mixture into two even piles onto the prepared baking sheet. Shape into two long loaves about 1½ in (4 cm) high x 6 in (15 cm) long x 4 in (10 cm) wide. Spread the remaining BBQ glaze over the loaves, letting it drip down the sides a bit. Bake for about 45 minutes, until the meatloaves are cooked through. Scrape any fat away from the sides of the loaves, then transfer the loaves to a platter. Slice and garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
Pair with
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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If I made this again I’d eliminate the thyme and cut the brown sugar in half. The concensus around the dinner table was too sweet and too herby.
Yes! I agree. Way too sweet for my family’s taste.
Made this for dinner last night and it was delicious! I love that it made enough for two loaves – one went into the freezer for a busy weeknight. So good!
I made the turkey meatloaf this week. I very rarely make anything with ground turkey, however after reading the reviews I decided to give it a try. We liked it for the most part. I have decided I do not like thyme for the most part so that is my own issue. If it wasn’t for the thyme I thing I would have really enjoyed it. Is there a different seasoning I could use to replace the thyme? Thanks for all your delicious recipes.
Hi Kim, oregano would be a good substitute for the thyme.
Made this last night and followed recipe exactly but came out a little dry. My oven is a little wonky but still delicious
I really enjoy cooking recipes from this website and I have made many. This is pretty good, but could use a little more moisture – I will perhaps cut down on the breadcrumbs a bit next time. Flavor is good but I agree with a previous comment that perhaps add some additional yellow or red bell pepper.
Jenn, we love your site and have many wonderful recipes from you that we have shared with family and friends.
My husband doesn’t like onions that he can see in meatloaf. If I substitute onion powder, will the meatloaf still be moist or do I need to add something?
Hi Maryalice, it should still be moist without the onions. And so glad you like the recipes! ❣️
I made turkey meatloaf with this recipe and OMG it is awesome. It tastes so delicious especially with the glaze. I added some green and red peppers to the mixture. So good!!!! this is a melt in your mouth meatloaf. I will definitely be making this meatloaf again.
Great meatloaf! My husband and I love the flavor and we don’t miss ground beef at all. I found it the first time you posted it and it’s been a regular at our house ever since. I don’t make it in loaves, but bake it in a rectangular baking dish because it’s easier and still yummy. Thanks for a
wonderful recipe!
How might this come out with subbing ground chicken for the turkey?
Hi Wendy, I’ve never made this with ground chicken, but a few readers have commented that they have, and have been happy with the results. Hope you enjoy!
I would like to use less sugar. Could I sub tomato sauce for ketchup and perhaps less sugar in bbq sauce, or what would you suggest?
Hi Linda, both of your suggestions will work. You could also replace the bbq sauce with tomato sauce. Hope you enjoy!
Yum! Made this for my son & his wife who came for dinner before he went on night shift. He’s a firefighter so I wanted to make something good & hardy for him. I made it exactly as indicated in the recipe and served with rustic mashed potatoes, roasted acorn squash & your broccoli with garlic recipe, it was a hit!
This was the first recipe I’ve tried of yours Jenn, and one of the first internet recipes that came out exactly as I hoped, I’m so excited to dive into more! Thank you!!