My turkey meatloaf recipe will become a staple at your kitchen table. It’s so delicious and flavorful. It’s perfect for those days you are craving American comfort food. If you are not a fan of meatloaf or have bad memories of eating meatloaf as a kid now is the time to give it a second chance.
The hisory of Meatloaf
Although classic meatloaf dates back to the late 1800’s it really became popular during the Great Depression in the 1940s. Home-cooks found that it was a way to extend the precious protein and feed more people with less. The same could be true today and it really is a way to get the most bang for your buck. Cooking on a budget for many is an essential way of life and there is no reason this turkey meatloaf can’t be flavorful and affordable at the same time!
Here’s what you need to make this turkey meatloaf:
First things first, let’s talk meat! This recipe calls for ground turkey, but you could mix half turkey and half ground beef. Another way to go is to pick up a premixed “Meatloaf Mixture” at your local store. This meat mixture is usually a combination of beef, pork, and veal. Whatever meat you decide on it’s up to you. I like turkey to keep it on the lighter side, but all are good choices.
You’ll also need about half an oinion, a couple cloves of garlic, an egg, dried thyme, Tobasco, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, milk, quick oats and some parsley.
What makes this recipe different than all the rest?
Many meatloaf recipes out there call for diced or grated onion. I personally don’t like to bite into a piece of onion that’s still a little raw. So I decided to cook the onion and fresh garlic before adding them to my meat mixture. After letting it cool you’ll add it in. I also use quick oats oatmeal instead of bread or breadcrumbs. This holds the meat together and gives it a texture that I like.
How to make the turkey meatloaf?
After you sauté the onions and garlic until soft you will set them aside to let cool. In one large bowl, you will lightly beat an egg with thyme, salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Tobasco, and milk until combined. Next, you’ll add the ground turkey, quick oats, onions, garlic, and parsley and stir it all up until fully combined. Lastly, you’ll dump the meat mixture onto a foil-lined baking sheet and form it into a rectangle. Top with my homemade glaze and bake for about an hour.
What goes on top of the turkey meatloaf?
Often times the topping is just ketchup or tomato sauce, which is totally fine, but I wanted something more. I created this simple glaze with only a few ingredients. It has ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. I pour some on the top so it gets baked, but I also heat the remainder up so it can be served alongside the meatloaf and people can dip in it if they’d like to. Not feeling the glaze, no big deal to leave it off and just serve it on the side. I also really like barbeque sauce as another option. All of it works, just depends on what your taste buds want!
Turkey meatloaf is my idea of classic American comfort food. I like to serve it with Easy Mashed Potatoes or crispy smashed potatoes and some kind of vegetables like my crispy brussels sprouts or roasted green beans. This recipe is easy to prepare and it comes together pretty quickly. If you double the recipe, (which I recommend you do if you want more than 4 servings) you will end up with leftovers! I am so excited for you to try my recipe and fall in love with this classic dish once and for all.
What do I do with the leftover turkey meatloaf?
Make meatloaf sandwiches, obviously!!!! First, I like to toast sourdough bread. Then I spread a layer of mayonnaise on each slice. Sometimes I like a little yellow mustard as well. I add one or two slices of Swiss cheese then the meatloaf and top it all with crispy Iceberg or Romain lettuce. The lettuce is crucial for the crunch, so don’t leave it off. Take a bite and enjoy!!! It’s one of the reasons to make meatloaf in the first place.
FAQ’s
Can I double this recipe? Yes, definitely! In fact, I would recommend it. This recipe only gives you about 4-5 pieces of meatloaf. So if seconds or leftovers is what you want then please double the recipe!
I don’t like ground turkey can I use a different kind of meat? Absolutely, any meat of your choosing works in this recipe.
Can I make this gluten-free? Yes, just substitute gluten-free rolled oats.
I’m lactose intolerant, can this be made without milk? Yes, this recipe can be dairy-free. Try substituting with unsweetened plant-based milk like oat or almond.
Turkey Meatloaf
This turkey meatloaf recipe will become a staple at your kitchen table. It’s so delicious and flavorful. It’s perfect for those days you are craving American comfort food.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp Tobasco
- 1/4 cup whole milk or plain yogurt
- 1/3 cup quick cook oatmeal or 8 saltine crackers crushed
- 3 tbsps fresh parsley or 2 tsps dried parsley
Glaze Ingredients:
- 1/4 ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp Worcestershire
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
1. Add 1 tsp olive oil to a sauté pan and warm over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic. Cook until softened and stir occasionally for about 5 minutes. Set aside to let cool.
2. In a large bowl, lightly beat the egg. Then add thyme, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire, Tobasco, and milk. Stir to combine.
3. Add turkey, oats, parsley & cooled cooked onions. Gently mix with a wooden spoon until evenly combined. If meat sticks to the bowl add a little bit of milk or yogurt to release it. Try not to over-mix.
4. On a foil-lined baking sheet, put the meat mixture onto the pan. With wet hands, pat and mold the meat mixture into an even rectangle. Brush with half of the glaze.
5. Bake the loaf for about 1 hour.
6. Remove from oven and let cool for about 5-10 minutes.
7. While the loaf is cooling, warm up the remaining glaze either in the microwave or on the stove-top until slightly thickened.
8. Cut meatloaf into slices and serve with glaze on the side.
Notes
- I recommend doubling this recipe if you want to have more than 4 pieces.
- I recommend using whole or low-fat milk. avoid using nonfat milk as it makes it a bit watery. You can also use plain yogurt instead of milk.
- As noted in the recipe, you can also use saltine crackers instead of quick oats. Just crush about 8 crackers up and add them in place of the oats.
