Turkey Meatloaf Recipe With Oats Faq
Do you cover meatloaf when cooking?
The answer to this question is, it depends on the recipe. For this turkey meatloaf, cook it uncovered for the first half, then cover it after I put the tomato mixture on top, to keep the topping from drying out.
Why does my turkey meatloaf fall apart?
The key to ensure your meatloaf doesnt fall apart after cooking is to have enough binding ingredients. For meatloaf, these are breadcrumbs and eggs. These two ingredients help to hold the ground turkey meat together.
What is the best binder for meatloaf?
As mentioned above, the best binder for meatloaf i.e., the ingredients to keep it from falling apart are breadcrumbs and eggs.
How do you make turkey meatloaf not mushy?
To ensure your turkey meatloaf doesnt get mushy, use a mixture of oats and breadcrumbs. Too many breadcrumbs can make it turn to mush. Also, if using homemade breadcrumbs, make sure they are not fresh. The drier the better!
What is the best temperature to cook meatloaf?
It depends on the ingredients in your meatloaf recipe. Most often, I find 350 degrees is a good temperature there is enough heat to cook the meatloaf completely without drying it out.
How long do you bake ground turkey meatloaf?
Bake turkey meatloaf until it reaches 165 degrees on an instant read thermometer.
What Makes This The Best Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
Besides being delicious, I love how incredibly easy this meatloaf is! Basically, you mix all the ingredients in one bowl, press it into the loaf pan, and bake.
This meal is so simple that my tweens and teen know how to make turkey meatloaf, and it comes out great each time. They feel so accomplished! If your kids are younger, let them help with measuring and mixing.
You may have noticed that packages of ground turkey come in different sizes. For some reason, they’re often 20 ounces rather than 1 pound like ground beef. This easy recipe is meant for a 20-oz package. We love how moist and juicy this meatloaf comes out!
If you use more or less ground turkey, keep in mind that you want the dry bread crumbs to balance out the moistness of the turkey and the other wet ingredients, so you may need to change the amount accordingly.
Can You Freeze Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
Freeze: I usually make 2 meatloaves. You can freeze cooked, cooled and sliced ground turkey meatloaf in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat in the microwave or simmer in a covered pot with a splash of water. I do not like to warm up meatloaf in the oven because it dries out.
You May Like: Campbell’s Tomato Soup Recipes With Ground Beef
How To Make Ahead Meal Prep Store & Freeze:
- To Make Ahead: Bake the turkey meatloaf fully, bring to room temperature, and place in an airtight container. When ready to serve, heat it in a 325 degrees F oven for 10-15 minutes or until warmed throughly. Spread it with the glaze and broil for 5-7 minutes.
- To Meal Prep: Make it for meal prep by simply doubling the recipe and bake each loaf on two baking sheets. Enjoy one for dinner and completely cool, slice, and freeze the other in an airtight container or plastic freezer storage bag with small squares of parchment between each slice. To reheat, bake in a 350-degree oven for 10-15 minutes, or until thoroughly warmed through.
- To Store Leftovers: Bring leftovers to room temperature and place them in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3-4 days. Slice and make into sandwiches for lunch throughout the week.
- To Freeze: Bring it to room temperature. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and place in a freezer friendly container. Freeze up to a month. To thaw, let it defrost in the fridge overnight. When ready to serve, bake in a 350-degree oven until warmed throughly.
Can You Freeze Meatloaf
Yes, meatloaf is great for freezing. I usually make two, one for dinner and one to freeze for another night. It takes about the same time to make 2 as it does to make 1. To freeze, let it cool, then slice the loaf. Transfer to freezer safe containers and freeze up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator the night before, then microwave in 30 second increments until heated through.
Don’t Miss: Red Skin Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients For Turkey Meatloaf
- Ground turkey: Lean or extra lean ground meat. Just know if package says 1 lb and 3 oz it is fine, most are that weight, not exactly 1 lb.
- Egg: It helps to bind all ingredients and add moisture.
- Oats: Quick or rolled oats work. I used quick cooking steel cut oats. If using steel cut, soak them for 1 hour.
- Milk: You can use regular milk or any dairy free milk. Water works too, just less flavor.
- Onion and garlic: Not only do they add flavor but make meat more juicy.
- Seasonings: Balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper.
- Ketchup: 3 tbsp of preferably organic ketchup goes a long way for the easy glaze.
How To Store Turkey Loaf
Fridge: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Eat as is or make meatloaf sandwiches!
Keep Warm: I kept meatloaf warm along with Instant Pot mashed potatoes until dinner. It was my lucky day I made those potatoes because in a food bloggers life dinner is usually ready at lunchtime.
Recommended Reading: Hello Fresh Chicken Demi Glace Recipe
Meatloaf Tips And Variations:
- Dont overwork the meat. Just like making meatballs, if you over work the meat it will become more dense. Its best to gently mix all the ingredients until just mixed in.
- Make it faster! If I want to make this quicker, I will make them into four smaller loaves and cook it for about 25 to 30 minutes. You can also make it in cupcake tins like I do in this Cupcake Meatloaf with Mashed Potato Frosting.
- Add heat! If you want to spice things up you can add some chipotle or sriracha to the ketchup.
- Use beef. If you prefer beef, swap the turkey for a lean beef around 90% lean.
- Make it low-carb or grain-free. Swap the breadcrumbs out for equal amounts of almond meal.
- Make it with oats. Swap the breadcrumbs out for equal amounts of rolled oats.
- BBQ Sauce. Replace the ketchup glaze with BBQ sauce to give it a smokey flavor.
- Make it juicier. I often use 93% lean for a juicier turkey meatloaf.
- Make it for Meal Prep! Double the recipe, make two and freeze one for another night.
- Leftovers. Leftovers are great for sandwiches. Refrigerate 3 to 4 days.
How To Soak Up Grease From Meatloaf:
Were using a simple trick to absorb the grease and liquid that releases as the meatloaf bakes!
Two pieces of sandwich bread placed under your meatloaf while baking will soak up all that extra liquid and fat. They easily peel right off after slicing.
Recommended Reading: Knorr Chicken Flavored Rice Recipe
Tips For Best Results
- Dont overwork the meat mixture: It will make your ground turkey meatloaf dense and less tender.
- Family not a ground turkey fan? Try using 1/2 beef and 1/2 turkey, to adjust their taste buds to the turkey.
- 1 lb. ground turkey or 1 1/4 lbs.: If your store only sells 1 1/4 lbs. ground turkey package, that is fine, no other adjustments needed.
- Oats: Quick or rolled oats work. I used quick cooking steel cut oats. If using steel cut, soak them for 1 hour.
- Mini meatloaves: Make 12 meatloaf muffins and bake for 35-40 minutes or so. Check with internal read thermometer for 160 degrees F doneness.
- Rest meat: If you have the time, let recipe for meatloaf with oats rest for 5-10 minutes after baking. This will redistribute meat juices and you will moist, juicy meatloaf!
What Readers Are Saying
I make this once a month. This is the best turkey meatloaf recipe Ive found. Its seasoned so well, you dont miss the beef. My entire family loves it, even those who dont usually like ground turkey. The only thing I change is the sauce topping I omit the brown sugar, as we dont like the sweet taste. Love the bread tip too! Sarah
Read Also: Recipe Ideas Based On Ingredients
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 meatloafbake 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 cant taste them but they really boost the umami factor and make this recipe special.
- Include simple but powerful enhancers: smoked paprika and Worcestershire sauce.
How To Make Meatloaf With Ground Turkey
This recipe for Turkey Meatloaf has 5 folds:
Recommended Reading: Beer Can Chicken Recipe Grill
Basic Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
Making meatloaf is as subjective as building burgers. Some people insist on using breadcrumbs to others, its sacrilege. Some people like to mix ground beef, pork, and veal, others swear by 100% ground beef. But today, lets put all that aside and talk turkey.
Turkey makes for a leaner and healthier version of classic meatloaf, with just as much comfort and taste as the original. There are endless versions of glazes and fillings, but this one is a basic, no-fail turkey meatloaf recipe that delivers an easy weeknight dinner in no timeespecially when paired up with meatloafs favorite sidekick, homemade mashed potatoes.
What Makes This Ground Turkey Meatloaf Healthy
- Lean protein: Ground beef with higher saturated fat is often used in meatloaf because the fat keeps meatloaf moist. Using lean ground turkey with soaked in milk oats plus onions, keeps this turkey loaf moist and light!
- Simple ingredients: Over the years I have tried to make one with breadcrumbs, shredded zucchini and sauteed veggies. With busy lives, though, I knew we needed simple ground turkey meatloaf recipe without extra steps, this recipe is it!
- Versatile: Adaptable to be gluten free, dairy free and even grain free if desired.
- Lower sodium: No worchestire sauce and minimal added salt keeps this dish lower in sodium.
- Low sugar: Only 3 Tblsp. of ketchup for the glaze, use a no sugar added ketchup for further reduction!
Don’t Miss: Chocolate Cake Recipe With Mayo
Why Should You Make This Recipe:
If you are looking for easy meals that you can get on the table fast, this healthy turkey meatloaf recipe fits the bill perfectly because:
- It can be ready in under 1 hour with every day ingredients. Plus, the best part is that you can make it ahead, meal prep or freeze for later.
- Made with lean ground turkey, it is a healthy alternative to ground beef meatloaf. It is also a dairy-free, protein and veggie-packed dinner your family can enjoy any night of the week!
If you are thinking about what to do with ground turkey, this healthy turkey meatloaf recipe might be your answer.
The Best Turkey Meatloaf We Have Ever Made
My family has tried so many different meatloaf recipes over the years. We’ve decided this is the Best Turkey Meatloaf we have ever made! We added and subtracted ingredients to get it just right. Now it’s one of our family favorite recipes.
This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Also Check: Quick Easy Pork Chop Recipes
How To Make Turkey Meatloaf:
Combine: Add ground turkey, stuffing mix, milk, Parmesan, onion, pepper, egg, salt, and garlic to the bowl and combine with your hands until well mixed!
Shape: Place two slices of sandwich bread on a sheet pan and form the meatloaf right over the bread. The bread helps to soak up any liquid/grease from the meatloaf. Pop in a hot oven for 30 minutes.
Meatloaf Sauce: In a small bowl mix together the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce. Remove the meatloaf from the oven after baking 30 minutes and then generously brush the meatloaf sauce over the top!
Finish: After adding the sauce return the turkey meatloaf to the oven and continue baking for another 30 minutes. The sauce will caramelize while it bakes for loads of flavor! Slice and serve!
How To Make Moist Ground Turkey Meatloaf
- Soak oats with milk: Do so while you are mincing onion, garlic, and getting other ingredients ready. For about 10 minutes. No need to drain the milk before adding oats to meat mixture. This step makes ground turkey meatloaf juicy and flavorful. My grandma always soaked bread in milk when making meatloaf.
- Combine ingredients: Ground turkey, egg, onion, garlic, soaked oats, balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well using your hands. Thats when rings come off.
- Shape meatloaf: Place in regular 9 x 5 loaf pan or shape 1 meatloaf on lined baking sheet or into 4 mini meatloaves. You dont have to own a loaf pan to make meatloaf. Ha!
- Bake: Single large meatloaf for 45 minutes or 4 mini meatloaves for 35 minutes in preheated 400 degrees F oven.
What temperature should ground turkey meatloaf be cooked to? Meatloaf is ready when internal temperature is 160 degrees check with the thermometer. Do not overbake because meatloaf will start drying out.
- Glaze meatloaf with ketchup: I used organic and just 3 tablespoons. Everything in moderation. I used to make fancy glaze with tomato paste and balsamic vinegar but not anymore. Remove from the oven and brush with ketchup. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
- Cut into 8 slices using sharp knife: No need to let meatloaf cool down. However, I would transfer meatloaf with spatula on a cutting board before slicing to avoid damaging the loaf pan, silicone baking mat or baking sheet.
Read Also: New York Times Tiramisu Recipe
What Side Dishes Go With Turkey Meatloaf
This easy turkey meatloaf is one of our favorite weekend dinners! We usually make baked potatoes and Roasted Brussels Sprouts to serve on the side.
Another favorite is Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower. Next time, I’d like to try these Oven Roasted Parmesan Green Beans from Ann’s Entitled Life.
If you’re eating low-carb, just skip the starches and serve turkey meatloaf with a large salad or other side dish vegetables.
Ground Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
I do prefer to use the 97% fat-free ground turkey for this turkey meatloaf recipe. Its a bit juicier and will give you a little more flavor, however, if youre accustomed to cooking with the 99% fat-free ground turkey and dont mind that texture and flavor, you can certainly use it for this recipe to make it even lighter.
I love cooking with ground turkey because its a healthier alternative to ground beef. In fact, my ground turkey stuffed peppers continue to be one of my most popular recipes here on the blog. If you havent tried this recipe yet, do not miss it!
Read Also: Easiest Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
Turkey Meatloaf Ingredient Notes:
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate and member of other qualifying programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ground Turkey A bit more lean and more economical than beef! Well season it well so that its packed with flavor.
Binder We use dry Stove Top Stuffing as the binder in this meatloaf. Makes it super moist and adds flavor. While you could sub with bread crumbs or oats, the turkey meatloaf wont be as moist or as well-seasoned.
Veggies Im adding some diced onion and green pepper to this turkey meatloaf. Chop them pretty small to avoid big chunks.
Seasoning Keep it simple with some salt, pepper, and garlic powder! The stuffing is already seasoned and well add a sweet and tangy sauce on top for even more flavor.
Meatloaf Sauce Youll need ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Bakes up thick, sweet, tangy, and irresistible.
Bread After shaping, well place the meatloaf of bread slices to soak up any liquid that releases. Optional, but keeps the pan looking nice and the bread can be eaten or discarded.