Easy Turkey Meatloaf

By Melissa Knific

Published July 8, 2024

  • Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour 20 minutes
Rating
5(4,189)
Comments
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There’s really no reason not to celebrate meatloaf — it’s simple, budget-friendly, cleanup is a breeze and there are almost always leftovers for next-day sandwiches. While beef is often the go-to choice for the meat, turkey is a flavorful alternative that can take on a slew of mix-ins. Here, seasoned bread crumbs, garlic powder and Worcestershire do the work, but a teaspoon of Italian seasoning or a palmful of fresh, chopped thyme or sage can be added for an extra boost. Grated apple ensures the meatloaf isn’t dry; use any variety you have on hand. A sweet, slightly vinegary sauce is spooned over the meatloaf after it’s formed, caramelizing when baked (if you have a favorite bottled or from-scratch barbecue sauce feel free to use ⅔ cup of it instead). Serve this meatloaf with mashed potatoes and a green vegetable.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings

FOR THE MEATLOAF

  • Nonstick cooking spray

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 ½ pounds ground turkey (90 percent lean)

  • 1 medium apple, cored and grated (6 ounces)

  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (1 cup)

  • ¾ cup seasoned panko bread crumbs

  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)

FOR THE SAUCE

  • ½ cup ketchup

  • 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vinegar (cider, distilled, or white or red wine)

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 to 6 servings)

21 grams carbs; 109 milligrams cholesterol; 286 calories; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 12 grams fat; 2 grams fiber; 482 milligrams sodium; 25 grams protein; 11 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray.

  2. Step 2

    Prepare the meatloaf: In a large bowl, beat the egg. Add ground turkey, apple, onion, panko, Worcestershire, garlic powder, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning, if using. Using hands, combine until everything is well mixed. Transfer to the prepared sheet pan and form into a football-shaped loaf, about 9-by-5 inches.

  3. Step 3

    Make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire and pepper until well combined. Pour evenly over the top of the meatloaf, allowing the sauce to drip down the sides.

  4. Step 4

    Bake meatloaf until the temperature in the center registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 45 to 55 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
4,189 user ratings
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Comments

HS

Thank you to all the people who comment on the actual recipe, after making it as written. I really appreciate those.

Jone

Been making turkey meatloaf for fifty years. Dice a small onion, sauté it in two tablespoons of olive oil. When softened add two cups of grated zucchini- can use large zucchini from the garden since it’s grated. Sauté six minutes. Add to one pound of ground turkey. Season the meat with two teaspoons of poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. Add a half cup of cottage cheese and one cup of fresh whole grain bread crumbs. Glaze the top, bake 350 till done. I’ve won contests with my recipe!

Diane Haworth

I smash a small - medium avocado and add it to my turkey meatloaf to combat dryness. I get a tender and juicy loaf every time.

Susan1228

Great recipe! I found the sauce too sweet the first time, so I made my own savory BBQ sauce (tomato paste instead of ketchup, very little sugar). Now it’s more our flavor profile.

Sue, Fairborn Ohio

Although I only had one pound of turkey, this came out well with a smallish egg, 3/4 of an apple, 3/4 cup regular bread crumbs and about 3/4 cup of onion. I added 2 Tbs Italian herbs and made the sauce as directed. The loaf was juicy, and held together well on a cookie sheet. My husband is skeptical about subbing turkey for beef, but he pronounced this a wonderful meatloaf!

tom boise

I made this with 1 lb of ground turkey. I reduced the bread crumbs and even so it was too mushy. Will go back to my own recipe which is basically the same but cut WAY down on the breadcrumbs. Also cook times are wrong. I checked at 40 minutes and it was already too done.

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