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Turkey Meatloaf

Jan 20, 2017 / by / 118 Comments(updated Aug 2, 2021)
★★★★★ from 39 reviews

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The best Turkey Meatloaf on the planet. This is the meatloaf that changes meatloaf haters into meatloaf lovers! You don’t want to miss this recipe!

Turkey Meatloaf

I know what you’re thinking. Turkey Meatloaf = Boring, dry, bland, grandma. Why does meatloaf make me think of grandmas? I don’t ever remember my grandmother making meatloaf. I think I just hear so many horror stories about other people’s experience with it.

Well, I promise. This ain’t yo mama’s meatloaf. And it ain’t yo grandmama’s meatloaf either.

Turkey Meatloaf

If you’re anti meatloaf, this recipe will change your mind. Promise promise.

The trick to really good meatloaf if packing it full of flavor, with ingredients that help keep it moist (Ugh. That word).

Turkey Meatloaf

Look at all those veggies! There’s everything from carrots, to spinach, to cheese! Cheese?! I actually think the cheese is the secret weapon.

Turkey Meatloaf

Oh, and secret weapon #2? That glaze. OH, that glaze!!

Turkey Meatloaf

A little sweet, a little tangy. It’s perfect on this savory loaf. Brush a little a lot on top and sprinkle with some fresh herbs to finish. It’s SO good.

Turkey Meatloaf

There’s something so homey and comforting about a really really good meatloaf. Sorry grandma, it’s all mine! If you’re into comforting, easy meals, let me do the meal planning for you with my free 5 Days of Dinner guide! These are meals that everyone loves and they’re all so easy to make (just like this meatloaf!).

Turkey Meatloaf
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Turkey Meatloaf

★★★★★ 4.9 from 39 reviews
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Description

The best Turkey Meatloaf on the planet. This is the meatloaf that changes meatloaf haters into meatloaf lovers!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs (or almond flour)
  • 1 cup shredded onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3/4 cup shredded carrots, about 1 large carrot
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach
  • 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Glaze

  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add all the ingredients into a large bowl (minus the ingredients for the glaze). Using a fork or clean hands, mix until everything is fully incorporated.
  2. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and pour meat onto pan. Use your hands to form into a loaf shape, trying to keep it level so it cooks evenly.
  3. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove and brush glaze all over. Place back in the oven for another 30 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with chopped parsley to garnish.

For the glaze

  1. Mix together the ingredients in a small bowl.

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Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment & rate this recipe

    If you love this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means the world and is greatly appreciated!

    xo, Laney

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Comments

  1. Dawn

    My mom can no longer have red meat and I had been craving meatloaf so against my own better judgement I said wth and made this meatloaf. I was amazed by this meatloaf and I am noooo fan of turkey meat at all! Also that glaze is tha bomb!! I will be making this again thank you for restoring my faith in Turkey meat again.😘

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  2. Christina

    My dad loves your meatloaf recipe so much that he asked for it to be his birthday dinner meal! Thanks so much, Laney!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  3. Sara

    This is the best meatloaf I have ever made, including ones made with beef. My husband loves it and I like how veggies get snuck into it

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  5. Frasier

    So glad I found this because my turkey is going to go bad if I don’t do something creative with it. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply

  6. Sarah

    Making this for a second time, right now! It’s the only time my fiancé will entertain the idea of ground turkey! Thanks!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  7. Pamela

    Do you know what’s so odd about this recipe? That my husband… LOVED IT!!! He can’t stop talking about how good the meatloaf was! It’s really good! It has flavor! I used 1 pound of ground turkey, almond flour and I forgot to put in the parsley. Next time I’ll remember. You won’t be disappointed!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  8. Courtney

    My husband doesn’t like turkey and was so skeptical of this, but he loved this recipe! I used Panko bread crumbs. So tasty!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  9. Angela

    You were right Laney! This recipe turned my meatloaf-hating husband into a meatloaf-loving husband! Have made this recipe 3 times now and we’ve loved it each time. I can only find ground turkey in 1 or 1.25lbs so I just use 1 egg instead of 2 so it’s not as wet, and it still comes out perfectly. Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  10. Sam

    I made this for meal prep for the week, it turned out amazing! I even forgot the egg lol. I will absolutely be making this again, thank you for the recipe! I shared it with my parents and they loved it too!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  12. Lori Cordrey

    I have tried several different turkey meatloaf recipes in the past, but this is by far the BEST, 5 star all the way!! My husband and I both couldn’t get over how moist it was and the flavor was absolutely delicious😋. Thank you for sharing . . . . I will definitely be making this again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  13. Allison

    My favorite meatloaf! I never liked it as a kid but this recipe changes the game. All I can say is the glaze, the glaze, the glaze! No more burnt ketchup topping! This is a must try. It’s also really easy to adapt to make 4 instead of 6 servings.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  14. Susan Jevaltas

    This is the best turkey meatloaf recipe I have ever made or eaten, and I’ve had many a turkey meatloaf! The recipe is quite forgiving. I used 2 lbs. ground turkey and increased the chopped spinach to a cup or more. Fabulous, moist and comforting served with mashed taters.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  15. Abbeba

    Girl, this meat loaf was fan-freakin-tactic! I was bursting with flavor. I skipped the sauce and used vegan Parmesan instead of mozzarella. Perfecto! Next time I will try the sauce.

    Reply

  17. Cliff Marcev

    My family loved this meatloaf. I used pepper jack cheese instead of mozzarella and used barbecue sauce plus some Worcestershire instead of catsup for the glaze. The flavor was amazing and it felt very healthy!! Thank you!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  18. Megan

    LOVE THIS RECIPE!
    Made it many times.
    Question: If I wanted to make these into mini meatloaf muffins, you think I would I bake it for the same time?

    ★★★★★

    Reply

    • Life is but a Dish

      So glad you love it! I would start at 25-30 minutes for muffins and add time as needed!

  19. Kate Hannon

    Delicious. Love the addition of shredded carrots. I left out the cheese, because I didn’t want the added fat, and it still came out awesome.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  21. Anna Breton

    This was legit amazing! Doubled the recipe and made it in a muffin pan to control portions and diminish cook time. Baked them for 20 minutes, then glazed and baked for about 15 more minutes. They started to pull away from the sides and crisp up on the sides so I knew they were done! So glad we found this recipe. Thank you!!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  22. Angela Solorio

    Your #stupidrecipe was SO GOOD!!!! Super quick and easy to make. Left out cheese for non-dairy thanks to Laney’s suggestion and it was still delicious! Can’t even tell there’s veggies in it. 10/10 would recommend and do
    again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  23. Dianne

    Jumped on the turkey meatloaf train today. It definitely holds up on the hype. Everyone e loved it! Adding it to my rotation permanently ASAP! Thanks for the most amazing recipes but

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  24. Shawna

    The best meatloaf I’ve ever had! I’ve used a meatloaf recipe for years but this one changed the game, I will never go back.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  26. Kim

    More than 5 stars! I’m not a meatloaf lover but hubby is. This was AMAZING!! We had it with mashed sweet potatoes and really packed in the veggies! Thanks so much – really awesome!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  27. Angela

    Made this tonight. The flavor was delicious, but the texture of mine was mushy and I followed the recipe exactly. I let it set for 20 minutes too. I hope it has a better texture tomorrow. Th flavor though!!! So good!

    ★★★★

    Reply

  28. Lizzie

    I wish I could give this more than 5 stars. Before even trying it, we tripled the recipe and meal prepped for the week. NO regrets, only excitement for what’s waiting for me in my fridge! The grated onion is a must. Do not snooze on that step, but be ready to cry. A lot 😂. We formed many smaller meatloaves and had to cook for the same amount of time, in case anyone else is planning to modify. This recipe would make amazing meatballs too. WOW thanks again, Laney!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  29. Mel B

    So. Good. I’m in shock as we also “don’t like meatloaf” but we also know to trust our girl so we have it is try. Hubby and son declared it a winner. Thank you!

    Reply

  30. Tammy

    I am not a meatloaf fan. Well, I wasn’t until I made this recipe! Seriously great and my hubbie has been known to lick his plate. With the added veggies plus lean turkey it also fits into our health conscious diet when paired with a veggie for a side. Thank you!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  32. Ashley

    Greatest meatloaf of all time!! My husband is a huge meatloaf fan so I like to find different recipes since it really is a versatile dish. Never again! We found our favorite!! Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  33. Laara

    Just made this for dinner tonight, it was incredible! Very flavorful! The best meatloaf I have ever tasted or made! Both of the kids even ate it right up! 🙂 This will definitely be in rotation at our house from now on. Thank you so much!

    Reply

  34. Savannah

    So delicious!! I used 1lb of meat, 1 egg, tried to reduce other measurements proportionately. Also used kale instead of spinach and oregano instead of parsley! Use what you have! Will definitely make again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  36. Shaunda McCreary

    This really is the worlds best meatloaf! I’m so glad I doubled the recipe my first go around. Our family enjoyed it so much and looked forward to being able to eat it two days in a row.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  37. Sara

    This is the best meatloaf recipe. I make it at least once or twice a month. I even made it for a friend’s family when they had someone in the hospital. They raved about it!! Plus it’s so healthy.

    Reply

  38. Michelle

    This is, hands down, the best meatloaf recipe I’ve ever tried! Is so moist and flavorful and I love that I’m getting a serving of veggies hidden along with it. And since turkey is so much lower fat than beef I don’t mind doubling the recipe and eating it generously all week long. It’s so good that I don’t even need additional ketchup for dipping! Thanks for my go-to meatloaf 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  42. Debbie

    The best meatloaf we’ve ever had, surprising because my family doesn’t even like meatloaf. It comes out delicious every time! It’s become a staple at my house.

    Reply

  43. Chris

    My family loves to eat meatloaf, I think I am going to make this recipe and not tell the, it is turkey to see what they think! You know how kids are with trying new food.

    Reply

  45. Mari

    Make your recipe once or twice a month. Easy to make and everyone LOVES it! Thanks for sharing it! Keep creating!

    Reply

  46. Jude W2AYV

    What a Great Tasting Meatloaf Recipe – I have now made this once a month for this past year but doubled so we could freeze one for later !

    Reply

  48. Julianna

    This was so flavorful and delicious – and as promised turned my husband and I into meatloaf lovers!! I’ve really been enjoying making your approachable recipes recently and this is one of my new favorites.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  49. Debbie Brown

    We are not big meatloaf lovers, but it was a cold day today, we wanted some “comfort food”, and I had some ground turkey in the fridge that had to get used up…this was absolutely delicious! I have never used a glaze on a meatloaf before, I didn’t think it was necessary, but it really put this over the top. Definitely a keeper!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  51. Alexandra

    Made this tonight and the family loved it! Even my almost 2 year old son picky eater. Definitely a keeper. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  52. Shelby

    I made this recipe today and it was delicious. I didn’t put onions in it because I don’t like them and it still came out great. Btw this is a good meal you can do meal prepping with!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  53. Jana Brinkman

    You’re right, this is the best meatloaf! Even my beef-loving husband said it was moist (sorry) and delicious. I’m never turning back! Thanks! (PS: I love your Trader Joe’s Monday’s and just your all around down-to-earth self.)

    Reply

  54. Jana Brinkman

    You’re right, it is the best meatloaf! Even my beef-loving husband admitted it was moist (sorry 😉 and delicious. I’m never turning back. (PS: I love your Trader Joe’s Monday’s and your all around down-to-earth self.)

    Reply

  58. Shannon

    This was just like grandma’s meatloaf but with healthy turkey, carrots, and spinach. My husband and all five of my kids loved This!
    This will be made often! Thank you

    Reply

  61. Jessica Wilkie

    I have made this meatloaf several times for my family, and they love it. My husband requested this for his Father’s Day dinner tonight. Thank you for sharing all of your amazing recipes!!!!

    Reply

  63. Mason

    I’m making this tonight, it sounds good. Think i’ll try making a little gravy to add on top before serving.

    Reply

  66. Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen

    I haven’t made meatloaf in so long! I love that yours has carrots and spinach in it; great way to get some extra veggies in there!

    Reply

  71. Kristen Chidsey

    Meatloaf makes me think of Grandmas too! Funny since my grandma NEVER made meatloaf–must be portrayed a lot 🙂 This looks fabulous. Love the cheese and spinach addition.

    Reply