It’s either the end of times or the beginning of a beautiful new era, because after two decades of loathing, I am now head-over-heels in love with this juicy Turkey Meatloaf!

Turkey meatloaf cut into slices

Pin this recipe on Pinterest to save for later

Pin It!

Of all the foods I despised as a kid (there were many), meatloaf was the king villain.

Ben had similar feelings, so I promised in our wedding vows I’d never cook it (kidding, but now you see our level of fervor).

Except…I couldn’t stop thinking about meatloaf.

  • Turkey meatloaf is easy, protein rich, relatively inexpensive, and feeds a crowd; all qualities I esteem in a dinner recipe.
  • My sister makes it for her family regularly and has been pestering me to give it another chance for years.
  • When you step back and think about it, meatloaf is essentially a giant Baked Turkey Meatball; meatballs are one of our favorite foods.

So what’s the deal with meatloaf’s perceived maliciousness?

Perhaps the first problem is the word “loaf,” which sounds decidedly unappetizing when placed directly after “meat.”

Let’s call this a giant turkey meatball and believe in its potential!

A moist turkey meatloaf on a plate

Other valid gripes are that a lot of meatloaf is dry and bland, the taste of raw onions is overly pervasive, or the meatloaf is greasy, all problems this recipe solves.

(My other major problem with meatloaf is the traditional ketchup topping, but I realize I’m in the minority there. In case you share my aversion, I have a scrumptious alternative in the recipe notes.)

To make the best, most moist meatloaf, I scoured the internet and pulled nuggets from popular recipes like Ina Garten’s turkey meatloaf, classic turkey meatloaf (think Pioneer Woman and Betty Crocker), and more complex versions from gourmet food magazines.

I simplified where I could (easy turkey meatloaf is what we all need), lightened things up to keep this turkey meatloaf healthy, and used a few little tricks to ensure this meatloaf has stellar flavor.

Buy a lotto ticket, folks, because miracles do happen—Ben and I both ate our words in the form of second helpings!

A slice of turkey meatloaf being cut with a fork

How to Make the Best Turkey Meatloaf

A great meatloaf is a 1. moist and 2. tender meatloaf with layers of complex flavor.

The secrets to moist meatloaf are:

  • Use meat that is 93% lean or less, never more.
  • Include liquid like milk or chicken broth.
  • Add eggs, which make the turkey meatloaf moist and keep it from falling apart.
  • Be gentle with the meat. If you compact it, your meatloaf will be tough.
  • Do not overcook the meatloaf—bake turkey meatloaf until an instant read thermometer registers 160 degrees F, then let it rest.

The secrets to flavorful meatloaf are:

  • Take your time caramelizing the onions.
  • Add finely chopped mushrooms. You can’t taste them but they really boost the umami factor and make this recipe special.
  • Include simple but powerful enhancers: smoked paprika and Worcestershire sauce.

The Ingredients

  • Ground Turkey. Using ground turkey for this recipe helps keep it light without sacrificing flavor. Turkey is also an excellent source of protein and iron. (Don’t worry, it’s moist!)
  • Onion. Letting the onions caramelize brings out their natural sweetness, which tastes scrumptious in this meatloaf.
  • Mushrooms. Chock full of umami goodness, mushrooms add essential flavor to the meatloaf. They’re super finely chopped so no one will know they are in there, promise.
  • Spices. For complexity of flavor I used a mix of smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper.
  • Chicken Broth. Liquid is critical for creating a moist meatloaf.

Substitution Tip

You can swap the broth for milk if you prefer.

  • Worcestershire. The second swing of the 1-2 umami punch.
  • Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs. Another secret to a perfectly moist meatloaf. Using Italian seasoned breadcrumbs helps add extra flavor.

Substitution Tip

If you don’t have breadcrumbs on hand, I think you could swap quick oats for a turkey meatloaf with oats. Add a pinch of salt and Italian seasoning to replace the flavor that the breadcrumbs would have added.

  • Eggs. Critical for moisture and to hold the meatloaf together.
  • Ketchup. Although it’s not my favorite choice for a meatloaf topping, I know many people enjoy it. For those who also dislike ketchup on meatloaf, see the recipe notes below for my easy swap.

The Directions

Chopped vegetables in a skillet
  1. Cook the onion, mushrooms, and spices. You want the onions to be softened but not browned.
A mixture of vegetables in a bowl
  1. Transfer the vegetables and spices to a bowl, then stir in the broth and Worcestershire.
Egg, ground turkey, and breadcrumbs in a bowl
  1. Add the turkey, bread crumbs, and eggs.
Meatloaf being prepared in a bowl
  1. Mix until combined.
Red sauce being spread on top of meatloaf
  1. Shape the mixture into a loaf. Spread the ketchup over the top. Bake this healthy turkey meatloaf on the upper rack for 60 to 70 minutes at 325 degrees F. Let cool, then DIG IN!

Tip!

To keep the top of your meatloaf from cracking, place a casserole dish filled partway with water on the oven rack below it as it bakes.

Storage Tips

  • To Store. Refrigerate meatloaf in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
  • To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.
  • To Freeze. Slice and freeze meatloaf in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Meal Prep Tip

Up to 1 day in advance, cook the mushrooms and onions with the spices as directed. Refrigerate the mixture until you’re ready to finish the recipe.

A fork slicing a piece of turkey meatloaf on a plate

Leftover Ideas

Turn leftover meatloaf into a pizza topping (Whole Wheat Pizza Dough makes the perfect base) by crumbling slices onto the pizza before baking. You could also use crumbled leftovers to create a unique homemade chili.

How to Serve Turkey Meatloaf

A turkey meatloaf cut into pieces

What to Serve with Turkey Meatloaf

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Stainless Steel Skillet

This heavy-duty, high-quality skillet can be used on all types of cooktops and is oven-safe too.

Turkey meatloaf cut into slices

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you thought!

Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe.

Meatloaf, great big turkey meatball, meat log—by any name, this easy turkey meatloaf is legitimately delicious.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make Gluten Free Turkey Meatloaf?

Yes, you can easily make this recipe gluten free by swapping the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs for gluten free breadcrumbs. If your breadcrumbs are plain, add a pinch of salt and Italian seasoning.

What Other Sauces Can I Use On My Meatloaf?

If neither the ketchup nor tomato paste option sounds appealing to you, you can take your meatloaf in a different direction. Some recipes call for a topping of Barbecue Sauce (yum!) or even Alfredo sauce (try my Chicken Alfredo Bake sauce and add some fresh parsley).

Can I Make this Meatloaf with Ground Beef?

While we enjoy using ground turkey in this recipe, you could absolutely swap ground beef if you prefer it.

Turkey Meatloaf

5 from 6 votes
This healthy turkey meatloaf is unbelievably moist! Layers of flavor from caramelized onions make it the most flavorful classic recipe.

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 1 hr 20 mins
Total: 1 hr 30 mins

Servings: 6 (to 8) servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 8 ounces cremini (baby bella) mushrooms very finely chopped (you can’t taste these!)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup chicken broth or milk
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 pounds ground turkey use a max of 93% lean or the meatloaf will be dry
  • 3/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup ketchup see notes* to make meatloaf without ketchup

Instructions
 

  • Place racks in the upper middle position of your oven and the lower position and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
  • In a large skillet heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion, mushrooms, thyme, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms are browned, about 15 minutes. Adjust the heat as needed so that the onions soften but do not brown. Don’t shortcut this step as it is key to the meatloaf’s flavor.
  • Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the broth and Worcestershire sauce and mix well. Let cool for about 5 minutes.
  • To the bowl, add the turkey, breadcrumbs, and eggs.
  • With your hands (they really do work best for this), gently mix until all of the ingredients are evenly combined.
  • Wet your hands, then use them to shape the turkey mixture into a 9×5-inch loaf in the center of the prepared baking sheet. Spread the ketchup evenly over the top.
  • Fill a 9 x 13“ casserole dish with about an inch of water and place it on the lower rack (this will create steam in the oven to make the meatloaf extra moist and keep the top from cracking). Bake the meatloaf on the upper third rack for 55 minutes, then take its internal temperature to gauge progress. Return to the oven and continue baking until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F at the thickest part, about 5 to 15 minutes more depending upon your oven and the shape of your loaf. Let the meatloaf cool for 10 minutes, then slice and enjoy.

Video

Notes

  • *If you share my aversion to ketchup in general or just like your meatloaf without ketchup, instead mix 1 tablespoon tomato paste with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Brush over the top and sides of meatloaf during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
  • TO STORE: Refrigerate meatloaf in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
  • TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.
  • TO FREEZE: Slice and freeze meatloaf in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 6)Calories: 365kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 34gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 174mgPotassium: 671mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 389IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 91mgIron: 4mg

Join today and start saving your favorite recipes

Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes and access FREE meal plans.

Sign Me Up

More Ground Turkey Recipes

Did you try this recipe?

I want to see!

Follow @wellplated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!

Share this Article

Pin

This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

You May Also Like

Free Email Series
Sign Up for FREE Weekly Meal Plans
Each includes a grocery list, budget, and 5 healthy dinners, helping you save time, save money, and live better!

Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

Learn more about Erin

Leave a Comment

Did you make this recipe?

Don't forget to leave a review!

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




20 Comments

Leave a comment

  1. I’ve been known to use mashed cruton cubes if I didn’t have any bread crumbs, plus you get extra flavor~~!

        1. Hi Glenna! Possibly! I’ve only tested it with the mushrooms, so it would be hard for me to say for sure. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!

    1. This was SO good! Literally did a happy dance in my kitchen. This was the first time I’ve used ground turkey and actually had it come out edible. 5 stars from my picky eight year old and even pickier husband (even after I told him about the mushrooms) too!5 stars

  2. This was a HUGE HIT with the entire family. Founded recipe to a T, must admit was dubious about how it would come out but it was AMAZING! Kids loved the leftovers too (mind you, we had only 2 pieces left :0 )5 stars

  3. I made it and loved it. Only thing I don’t have an oven & cooked it in my Air Fryer. Came out delicious & moist. Hubby loved it.5 stars

  4. This was super moist as you said it would be. I would recommend people cook the mushrooms until the liquid is out. I didn’t but it was fine.. I just wasn’t sure about it. I also put the tomato paste on too early. oops. My thermometer was low battery so it wouldn’t work, but cooking it 70 minutes worked. I am looking forward to meatloaf sandwiches.5 stars

  5. I made this last night, it was perfect. Of course, I could not wait for lunch today, as I thought about a turkey meatloaf sandwich, which was yum! I did not change anything except when I looked in my pantry for Italian breadcrumbs, I was out…..I used oatmeal instead with a T of Italian seasoning…it was juicy and wonderful.
    Thanks again!5 stars

  6. My husband was SO skeptical when I told him this meatloaf was made with turkey, but after trying it, he ended up eating almost half the loaf! It had so much flavor and wasn’t the least bit dry. He has already requested for this to be on our dinner recipe rotation!5 stars

  7. How do you caramelize onions and them not turn brown? You cook onions a long time to get them caramelized.

    1. Hi Patti! Brown in the sense that you don’t want them to burn. They will be a nice caramel color. This is done by cooking them low and slow.

    1. Hi Patti! There is no draining involved. You shouldn’t have any liquid coming off them that would require you to drain them.