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Turkey Meatloaf

5 from 4 votes
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posted: 01/12/20

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Turkey Meatloaf is an easy dinner recipe that comes together fast, has simple ingredients, and freezes perfectly!

front view of a ground turkey meatloaf that has been sliced into and looks super moist

Yesterday I hosted a belated Christmas for my family and made a full Thanksgiving dinner for them.

My loving and gracious family kept thanking me, telling me how much work it must have been. Obviously it took a lot of work, but that being said, I really loved it. I was struck again and again while preparing it, how much joy cooking for other people brings me.

I hope as you read my posts throughout this upcoming year some of that joy and love comes through to you. I hope I can make cooking easier for you, so that it feels more joyful and less stressful.

And with that, I give you Turkey Meatloaf. A great dinner recipe that is on the lighter side. It is full of delicious flavor and comes together so easily.

This is one of those “homework night meals.” Throw it together and while it bakes, help the kids with math homework or that writing assignment they are struggling with.

How to Make Turkey Meatloaf

This is a very simple recipe to make. Besides sautéing the onions and garlic, it is just throwing ingredients into a bowl.

  1. In a small skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add in the garlic and onions, sautéing until the onions are translucent – about 3 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the meat, egg, breadcrumbs, ketchup, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and onion mixture.
  3. Form into a loaf shape in a greased glass baking dish.
  4. Top with BBQ Sauce and bake for 50 minutes.
overhead view of a bowl full of ingredients to make a turkey meatloaf recipe

What BBQ Sauce to Use

I highly recommend using my homemade BBQ Sauce with this recipe. I think the flavors in it and the flavors in my meatloaf compliment each other perfectly.

I am a little biased.

That said, don’t not make this because you don’t want to make BBQ Sauce. Just grab your favorite store bought brand and make life a little simpler.

What to Bake It On

I recommend baking this in a glass baking dish. I just think that it turns out better.

You can also use a rimmed metal baking sheet or a loaf pan.

Please note that what you choose to bake it on will affect how the bottom turns out. A baking sheet will make for a crispier bottom.

a turkey meatloaf in a glass baking dish that hasn't been cooked yet and is having bbq sauce spooned on top

Freezing

This is a great recipe to make and then freeze before baking. It freezes beautifully and has the same great moist taste after baking.

Make the recipe through step 3. (Obviously skipping step #1 of turning on the oven.) Do not top with BBQ sauce before freezing.

Place on a wax paper lined plate and put in the freezer for 1 hour. Transfer the meatloaf to a freezer safe plastic bag or other airtight container and store in your freezer for up to 3 months.

When ready to bake, remove from the freezer and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, top with BBQ sauce, and continue baking for 50 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165 degrees.

I recommend baking frozen loafs on a metal baking sheet to reduce the risk of a glass baking dish shattering from the drastic temperature change.

a whole healthy turkey meatloaf that is sitting on a white plate and on top of a wire rack, it is topped with bbq sauce and parsley

Storing Left Overs

If you have some pieces of turkey meatloaf left, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Baked meatloaf can also be kept in the freezer.

  • Fully slice the left over loaf into individual pieces.
  • Lay the pieces on a wax paper lined plate.
  • Freeze for one hour (to flash freeze).
  • Remove them from the freezer, store them in an airtight container and freeze for up to three months.

I recommend freezing this way because reheating the whole loaf will be difficult. Additionally, flash freezing keeps them from sticking together in the freezer.

Reheating

A single piece that has been in the refrigerator can be reheated in the microwave. Microwave in a microwave safe container, covered, at half power for two minutes. If microwaving more than one piece, place them in a single layer in a microwave safe container. They may need another minute or two.

You can also reheat in the oven. Place in an oven safe container, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 250 degrees.

Pieces that have been fully baked and frozen can be reheated in the oven as well. Place in an oven safe container, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 250 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

Ovens vary, so check on your reheating meatloaf half way through.

overhead view of a turkey meatloaf on a white plate that has been sliced a little and topped with fresh parsley

What to Serve with Turkey Meatloaf

I have a lot of side dish recipes that would be great with this meatloaf.

Since your oven will be busy baking up this beauty, make my Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes. They are the perfect side for this lighter loaf.

My Cheesy Potatoes (you might call them Funeral Potatoes) bake at the same temperature and length of time, so they are an ideal side.

My Broccoli Rice Casserole is another one that bakes at the same temperature, and would be great with this dinner.

If you want to keep things lighter, make my Winter Salad! The flavors will compliment this recipe well.

If you make any of my recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

two pieces of turkey meatloaf on a white plate with salad, they have been topped with more bbq sauce
front view of a ground turkey meatloaf that has been sliced into and looks super moist
5 from 4 votes

Turkey Meatloaf

Serves: 6 people
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Turkey Meatloaf is an easy dinner recipe that comes together fast, has simple ingredients, and freezes perfectly!

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion diced fine
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey 85% lean
  • 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup BBQ Sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking dish or baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a small skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until onions are translucent. About 3 minutes.
  • In a large bowl mix together the turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and onion-garlic mixture. Form into a loaf and set on the baking sheet.
  • Top with the BBQ sauce and bake for 1 hour or until an instant read thermometer registers 165 degrees. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Please note that the serving size for this recipe is 5 ounces (by weight). 
Serving: 5ounces Calories: 332kcal (17%) Carbohydrates: 21g (7%) Protein: 23g (46%) Fat: 19g (29%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Monounsaturated Fat: 1g Trans Fat: 19g Cholesterol: 126mg (42%) Sodium: 800mg (35%) Potassium: 79mg (2%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 7g (8%) Vitamin A: 6IU Calcium: 16mg (2%) Iron: 14mg (78%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
front view of a ground turkey meatloaf that has been sliced into and looks super moist

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Turkey Meatloaf

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Mary Loveland says

    This recipe looks good but why are the calories, trans fat and cholesterol so high? Ditto on the salt! I always thought turkey was a very lean meat.

    • Lisa Longley says

      You could use a leaner ground turkey, but I don’t think it would be as delicious. That being said the calories and fat are less than if you used ground beef.

      • Linda. Murray says

        I love all of your recipes that I have tried. I have a question about the turkey meatloaf. If you are planning to freeze it do you leave the barbecue sauce off till reheating and how long and at what temperature do you reheat. Same question for freezing and reheating your rice, chicken and broccoli casserole that my family absolutely loves! Thanks for all you do!

        • Lisa Longley says

          Hi Linda! The answer to both questions can be found in the post – if I say you can freeze it and then bake it later, I always tell you how (just so you know for future posts). :) For the meatloaf: “When ready to bake, remove from the freezer and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, top with BBQ sauce, and continue baking for 50 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165 degrees.”

          For the Chicken Broccoli Casserole: “Bake your frozen casserole for 45 minutes covered at 350 degrees. Then remove the foil and bake another 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbling.”

  2. Patricia says

    5 stars
    This is hands down THE best meatloaf I’ve ever eaten!! Wow it’s delicious! So glad I found this recipe!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Yay! I’m so happy you liked it Patricia! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and tell me!

  3. Anthony says

    Hi Lisa , thank you so much. Your meals look amazing. Thank you kindly.. anthony

    • Lisa Longley says

      You’re welcome! So glad you are enjoying them!

  4. Betty-Lou says

    I can’t cook anymore because of strokes so my husband does all the cooking and cleaning so I like easy recipes for him!!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so sorry to her that, Betty-Lou, but I’m glad that these recipes are working for him!

  5. Janet says

    5 stars
    Super easy to make. Lots of taste and liked the crispy exterior. I found this through Salt and Lavender. She identified this recipe as one of her top 40 ground turkey recipes and she was right.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad that you liked it!

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