Moist Turkey Meatloaf with Grated Veggies
Trust me, this recipe will turn even the biggest meatloaf haters into meatloaf lovers! The trick to really good ground turkey meatloaf is packing it full of ingredients that help give it flavor and keep the meatloaf moist, like shredded carrots, onion and chopped fresh spinach. It’s also all about the homemade glaze, which takes just 5 minutes to whip up.
Packed with ingredients like shredded carrots and fresh spinach, this recipe for turkey meatloaf is not only delicious, but it is also packed with vegetables!
You might be thinking, “but isn’t turkey meatloaf dry and tasteless?” Not at all! This recipe is a perfect example of how ground turkey meatloaf can be just as tasty and moist as its beef counterpart. With the right combination of ingredients and a homemade meatloaf sauce that’s sweet and tangy, you won’t even miss the beef. Out of all of my recipes with ground turkey, this one is a favorite!
If you’re anti meatloaf but love ground turkey, then check out these quick and easy ground turkey meal ideas. And if you’re still not convinced, then try my Turkey Meatballs or this Bolognese sauce with ground turkey. You won’t be sorry. I’ve got tons of quick and easy dinner ideas and this one is no different.
This recipe features simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, making it a great midweek meal for busy families. And it pairs incredibly well with a heaping side of Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes.
Watch how easy it is to make
Why you’ll love this recipe
- This turkey meatloaf is incredibly moist and packed with flavor thanks to the addition of shredded onion, fresh spinach, cheese and a homemade glaze.
- The recipe is easy to follow and requires minimal prep work, making it a great choice for busy weeknights.
- Leftovers are just as delicious as the day you made them, making it a great option for meal prep!
Key Ingredient notes
- Ground Turkey – You can also use ground beef, ground chicken or a mixture.
- Vegetables – I love the mix we have but use whatever veggies you like or have on hand.
- Shredded Mozzarella – Really helps create moisture.
The Home Cook’s Guide to Salt
Learn about the basics of salt, plus the best salt for cooking (hint: it’s Kosher salt!) with this easy-to-understand guide to salt for home cooks.
How to make moist ground turkey meatloaf?
The trick to really good meatloaf if packing it full of flavor, with ingredients that help keep it moist. I shred the onion to create lots of juice and tons of flavor. Also adding a bit of cheese really helps.
Recipe Tips
- Use lean ground turkey to avoid excess fat in the meatloaf. Look for ground turkey labeled “93% lean” or “95% lean” for the best results, as excess fat can lead to a greasy and dense meatloaf.
- Shred the onion and carrots finely to avoid any large chunks in the meatloaf. Use a grater or food processor if needed.
- Don’t overmix the meatloaf mixture – this can result in a dense and tough meatloaf. Mix the ingredients just until they are evenly combined.
- Let the meatloaf rest for a few minutes after baking to allow the juices to redistribute and avoid a dry meatloaf. For best results, cover the meatloaf with foil and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Double the recipe and freeze the leftovers for a quick and easy meal later on.
Variations
- Add diced bell peppers or mushrooms for extra nutrition and flavor.
- Use a different type of cheese, like cheddar or feta, for a different taste.
- Swap out the ketchup for BBQ sauce for a smokier flavor. Use your favorite BBQ sauce in place of the ketchup in the meatloaf and glaze.
- Top the meatloaf with bacon for a crispy and savory touch. Lay bacon strips over the top of the meatloaf before baking.
- Add diced jalapeño or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Use different herbs and spices for a different flavor profile. Experiment with different herbs and spices, like thyme, oregano, or cumin.
- Use a different type of glaze, like honey mustard or teriyaki.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing: To freeze, wrap the meatloaf tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating: The best way to reheat turkey meatloaf is in an oven or toaster oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the meatloaf on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until it’s heated through. You can also reheat individual slices of turkey meatloaf on a microwave-safe plate for 1 minute per side.
Moist Turkey Meatloaf with Grated Veggies
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven baked
Description
Trust me—this recipe will turn even the biggest meatloaf haters into meatloaf lovers! The trick to really good ground turkey meatloaf is packing it full of ingredients that help give it flavor and keep the meatloaf moist, like shredded carrots, onion and chopped fresh spinach. It’s also all about the homemade glaze, which takes just 5 minutes to whip up.
Ingredients
- 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 (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Mix together the ingredients in a small bowl.
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I went back and forth on what to make for dinner, and then I remembered how much I love this recipe. I’ve made it several times, but just wanted to let you know how much we love it. It is resting now and my mouth is watering.
Love when we find old recipes that we love!
This is literally the best meatloaf I have ever eaten – all 3 of my kids love it too- even when you make it with 99% fat free ground turkey, it turns out delicious and it’s never dry – anyway, do yourself and your family a favor and try this meatloaf –
Thank you Lisa!
What a keeper! This recipe is truly exceptional. It’s easy to prepare, pleasing to the eye and wonderfully satisfying. We will be enjoying this often. Thank you for sharing it!
Thanks so much, Elaine!
A family favorite! I make it with 1lb of Turkey and 1lb of ground beef for extra juiciness and extra leftovers.
Oh, I’ll have to try it with different meats!
One of my most favorite life is but a dish recipes and on top of it it’s healthy and flavorful. It’s been in the meal rotation upon my husbands request 🙂
Such a win when your people love it too!
I’ve made this before and it’s a keeper! I’ve sent it to many people and one of them baked mashed potatoes on top of it (WOW), but i’m wondering, do you think leaving out the spinach will change the recipe too much? Now, I would have to due to dietary restrictions and I’m not sure any of my other leafy green options would be a good substitution (dino kale, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts)
I’m so happy you love it! And you can totally leave out the spinach!
The recipe reads to add the ketchup to the sauce. However, the video shows to add it into the meatloaf mixture. Which one should I do?
It’s both! The directions are written in the recipe card.
This meatloaf slaps. I skip the brown sugar in the glaze and use unsweetened ketchup (primal kitchens). I’ve also done it with just 1lb of ground turkey and used a little less of everything else, still turns out super yummy. I’ve never tried another meatloaf recipe and never will.
Wow what a review! SO glad you love it!
This meatloaf was fantastic and my family loved it! This is definitely a keeper and I will be making it again & again! Thanks for sharing it!
Glad you love it so much! Thanks for leaving a review, Joanna!
Have made this a few times now (using beef instead) and we have loved it every time! I normally don’t love meatloaf but this is delish!
So glad you love it!!
This is the best meatloaf I’ve ever made or had. I make it when my parents come over because it’s my step-dad’s (former chef) favorite. But honestly everyone loves it, including my teenage son. The flavor is perfect. I’ve never been let down by any of your recipes. I always make your Cesar salad to go with this as well.
Thank you Monica! So glad you all love it!
Made it tonight, so good,my husband was raving! I would have taken a picture but it was all gone! I did use beef rather then Turkey. I save that for Thanksgiving only🙃
Not having time for a pic means it really was good! Thanks for leaving a review
My whole family loves this meatloaf!
That makes me so happy!
This meatloaf is SO good! The only way I make it now.
Thank you Tina! Love hearing that!
Where can I get the nutritional information for this turkey loaf ?
I have been making this for my husband and myself for years. My toddler now loves it, too! It is my favorite meatloaf recipe EVER. At times, I have subbed mozz with other types of cheese I have on hand (cheddar, Colby Jack, etc.) and it has been *chef’s kiss*. This recipe is a MUST!!! Make it a part of your monthly rotation!
I’m so glad you loved it! Thanks for leaving a review! And I love that your toddler loves it too!
All your recipes that I’ve tried are delicious and quick to prepare!
Thank you Becca!
Very good easy to make
Thank you Margaret!
Easy to make and taste’s awesome with less calories. Made sever times
SO happy you love it!
Laney! This is hands down the Best meatloaf recipe ever!! It has become our go to comfort dinner. Neither my husband or I were ever meatloaf people but your recipe changed that and we Thank you for that!! 😊
Ahhhhh! Love that Amy!
Love this recipe! I have made turkey meatloaf before but this one was the best!!! Made it exactly like the recipe and it turned out amazing. We made it with a side of mashed sweet potatoes and it was a perfect meal.
Thanks for the awesome review, Michele! So glad you love it!
When I found this turkey meatloaf recipe, I had already tried several turkeyloaf recipes trying to find THE ONE. This is it. It’s soooo flavorful, moist, and my kids even eat it! The ability to hide all these veggies without the kids saying “yuck” is a WIN! It’s now in my bi-weekly rotation and family fave. Thank you!
This is the best news Carissa! I’m SO happy you and your family loved it!! Thanks for the great review!
This is a recipe that we keep coming back to and making again and again. I don’t even consider myself someone who enjoys meatloaf and I LOVE this one! The glaze is amazing but so is the fact that there are veggies throughout. It is also so easy to make and we chopped all the veggies in a food processor today which made it even faster. Today we made smaller ones as a meal preps to freeze. We did halved the time to help.
I’m the same! This is my favorite meatloaf! So glad you love it and thanks for leaving a review 🙂
I made this incredible meatloaf for dinner tonight. The only change I made was to use oatmeal, which I ground up in my food processor, in place of the breadcrumbs. It was so flavorful, tender & moist. My husband loved it too & told me to add this to my keeper recipes. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe!
Love the oatmeal idea and so happy you loved it!
This was SO delicious!!!
I wondered if you have nutritional info for thr recipe?
SO happy you loved it! Sorry, I don’t have the nutritional info
This meatloaf was the best turkey one yet! Can’t wait to try some more of life is but a dish recipes! My guy is picky. He even enjoyed it and said best meatloaf he’s had! Thank you sooo much for my food prep this week! Bravo! 👏
Love to hear this Donna!! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it and thanks for the great review!
Really enjoyed this! Next time will probably just put ketchup on the top. Didn’t think the extra sugar was necessary. Definitely will make again!
I often leave the sugar out too! Glad you enjoyed.
Not only the best turkey meatloaf I’ve ever had, but the best meatloaf period! Absolutely delicious. Even my picky two year old loved it & had seconds. Will be making this again and again! Thank you for sharing!
Oh my goodness what an amazing review, thank you and I’m so happy you all loved it!
AMAZING! I first had this as a Balanced Bites Meal and it quickly became my and my 15 year old son’s favorite. I’m so glad to have found the recipe for this. I made this for a family get-together this past weekend. My daughter does not eat turkey so I substituted ground chicken (2 lbs) and added a little extra of everything else, and cooked about 10 minutes longer. It was loved by all. My very picky 11 year old son had a second helping. He asked me today if we had any leftovers! This will definitely be on my bi-weekly meal rotation. Thank you for creating such a flavorful, veggie-packed meatloaf.
I love hearing this!! Thank you for the amazing review!
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.😘
Ahhhhh yay Dawn! So happy you enjoyed it!!
My dad loves your meatloaf recipe so much that he asked for it to be his birthday dinner meal! Thanks so much, Laney!
What a compliment!! Happy birthday to your dad!
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
I’m so happy you love it Sara! Thanks so much for leaving a review!
This is an amazing recipe! So easy and so flavorful. Thanks so much
Honestly the best meatloaf ever. My husband loves it and my father in law said it’s better than my mother in laws….shhh!
Omg best review ever!! Love this so much
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.
Making this for a second time, right now! It’s the only time my fiancé will entertain the idea of ground turkey! Thanks!!!
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!
My husband doesn’t like turkey and was so skeptical of this, but he loved this recipe! I used Panko bread crumbs. So tasty!
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!
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!
I’m looking for nutritional information for this recipe
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.
Whooohooo!! Thanks for this review Lori!
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.
I’m so happy you love it Allison!
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.
Thanks for the review Susan! So glad you loved it!
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.
Whooohoooo!!
Has anyone made this recipe in muffin tins? If so what is the baking time?
I think it would be about 25-30 minutes
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!!
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?
So glad you love it! I would start at 25-30 minutes for muffins and add time as needed!
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.
The absolute best meatloaf I have ever had. I will probably make this once a week.
It was perfect. Thank you.
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!!!!
I’m so glad you loved it Anna!
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.
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
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.
It needed to cook longer then stated. There were too much liquid . The glazed tasted more like kitchen.
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!
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!
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!!
Thanks for this amazing review Lizzie!!
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!
Whoooohoooo! Another convert!
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!!
Ohhhh so happy you loved it!
Did you cook spinach first?? Going to make this tonight
Nope!! Raw!
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!
I’m so happy!!!
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!
I’m so glad you loved it!
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.
I make this just about every 2 weeks. My family loves it.
So glad you love it so much! We do too!
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.
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.
I’m so glad you love it!
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 🙂
This made my day! I’m so glad you love it!
This truly is an amazing recipe! So easy and so flavorful. My Mom is very, very picky and she loves it as well.
I’m so glad!
Do you think it would turn out ok using oatmeal instead of breadcrumbs for gluten free?
I would suggest a gluten free breadcrumb or almond flour
Best meatloaf ever!! Leftovers are amazing too..
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.
Yeeeeeeeeeesss!!!
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.
Moist and flavorful and everyone loved it!
Make your recipe once or twice a month. Easy to make and everyone LOVES it! Thanks for sharing it! Keep creating!
SO glad you enjoy it!!!
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 !
I’m so glad!!
This was amazing, great recipe and thank you!
I’m so glad!
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.
I’m so happy!!
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!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed!!
I’ve made this twice now. SO GOOD! My son even eats the spinach!???????? Thank you!
Yay!!
Made this tonight and the family loved it! Even my almost 2 year old son picky eater. Definitely a keeper. Thanks for sharing!
Oh I’m so glad!!!!
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!
So glad you enjoyed it!
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.)
This just made my day!!!
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.)
Absolutely LOVE this meatloaf! The new family favorite ???? thank you for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed it! it’s one of our favorites as well!
This is a big hit at our house! Thank you!
Excellent feedback from my family, they loved it (me too!)!
Hooray!
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
Yes!!! Love that!!!
Do you serve anything with it? If so, what?
It would be great with mashed or roasted potatoes, or even just a simple salad!
Just finished this and it was fantastic! Love your blog ! Thanks for sharing!
Yay! Thank you so much! SO glad you liked it
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!!!!
I love hearing this!!!
I really do not meat loaf but I made this for my family and it was AMAZING!!!
Oh yay!! I’m so happy everyone loved it!
I’m making this tonight, it sounds good. Think i’ll try making a little gravy to add on top before serving.
I hope you loved it!
This recipe is DIVINE! I added sauteed mushrooms and left out the cheese. The sauce is fantastic too! This is a keeper!
Thank you! Love the addition of mushrooms!
Tried this tonight! Great recipe!
Yay! Thank you!! Glad you liked it!
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!
Thank you! And yes, a great way to add veggies!
Amazing photos. This made me want this right now!
Thank you!
Such a flavorful recipe.
Im definitely going to try this soon! BTW this is @ws_crabtreevalley
Hi Cassandra! Yay, I hope you love it!!
I want this for dinner!
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.
Ha! Why is that? And thank you!