Turkey Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

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By Rosie Published: March 10, 2014 Updated: July 14, 2023
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Moist turkey meatloaf recipe made with oats, instead of bread! This meatloaf recipe will have the family begging for seconds!

Table of Contents

Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

My husband LOVES meatloaf I’ve been trying to think of many ways to get this man to eat less beef, and try a little ground beef once in a while. He’s so stubborn, and set in his ways and refused to eat any ground turkey! I had a trick up my sleeve. I knew that If I could make meatloaf, which is his favorite food, out of ground turkey and beg him to sample just a forkful “for my blog” he’d do it. Honey! let me tell you- not only did this man sample my turkey meatloaf, but he asked me to make him a plate, AND went back for seconds! I finally got him to eat ground turkey! Not only did he eat it, but he enjoyed it and asked me to make it again! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

This turkey meatloaf is amazing ( just ask my turkey hating hubby!). It’s full of flavor, and it’s super moist. It’s low in fat, and it’s a lot lighter than the traditional meatloaf which is made of ground beef. So I guess we can call this a healthy turkey meatloaf recipe right? LOL.

Try this turkey meatloaf recipe, and serve it with homemade creamy mashed potatoes!

Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

Made with ground turkey, this delicious (and healthy) meatloaf will be a dinnertime hit. Be prepared for the family to ask for seconds!

Watch Video Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

1 lb ground turkey breast
2 medium sized eggs
1 1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1 cup chopped bell peppers
1 small yellow onion chopped
1 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 cup your favorite barbecue sauce

Instructions

Preheat the oven on 375 F.
Place the ground turkey, vegetables, eggs, oatmeal, bread crumbs, seasonings, and 1/4 cup of the barbecue sauce in a large bowl. Mix the ingredients using your hands.
Mold the meatloaf, then brush on some of the remaining barbecue sauce on to the meatloaf.
Cover the meatloaf, and place in the oven for 25 minutes.
Remove from the oven, uncover, and pour the remaining barbecue sauce all over the meatloaf.
Place the meatloaf back into the oven uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes.
Let the meatloaf sit for 5 minutes before cutting into it.
Serve!

Video

Last Step! If you loved this recipe, leave me a review below. This helps futurerecipe makers and ensures continued high-quality recipes for years to come!

Recipe by: I Heart Recipes

MEET THE RECIPE AUTHOR

Rosie

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

RT says
March 10, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Hi Rosie,
Thank you so much, for the Turkey Meatloaf Recipe. I am just learning how to cooking. I am looking forward to trying this recipe very soon. By the way, I am also interested in making the side dishes as well.
Best Regards
RT
Reply
- Tamika says
  March 23, 2014 at 6:13 pm
  See Also
  Mexican Spaghetti Recipe-A Delicious Mexican Twist on Spaghetti
  I just made this meal and it is delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
  Reply
  - Rosie says
    March 24, 2014 at 8:14 am
    Thanks for trying it Tamika 🙂
    Reply
    - tara webster says
      March 29, 2016 at 2:27 am
      you dont give the measurements on anything how am i suppose to know what to put in the meatloaf i like to make this tonight i know 1 lb turkey , 2eggs,and the bbq sause
      what i need to knoe is how much onion, minced garlic,seasoning salt pepper, oats, bread crumbs can you help me please
      Reply
      - Rosie says
        March 29, 2016 at 12:26 pm
        Actually, my blog was down. That’s why the recipe wasn’t shown. I fixed it.
Cornell Robinson says
April 17, 2014 at 8:55 pm
I have some great meal using your recipe! Thank you!!!
Reply
Coco8200 says
December 22, 2014 at 2:46 pm
My boyfriend and I got in the kitchen and made this whole meal together last night…baby, that food was so good!!! Thanks
Reply
Pandora says
December 22, 2014 at 5:32 pm
Thank you for your easy approach to cooking. I am going to try your cornbread dressing and your peach cobbler for Christmas.
Reply
James G says
April 15, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Is that 1lb or 2lb of ground turkey in this recipe…?
(turkey meatloaf)
Reply
- Rosie says
  April 16, 2015 at 11:23 am
  It’s one pound of ground turkey
  Reply
Leonardo says
September 4, 2015 at 4:06 am
hello Rosie;
True story.. I was using Google to search recipes websites that does not differ so much of my home country which Angola, a west African country, to impress a certain Someone, when all of a sudden I ended up here.. its been four months. told some friend about the website and, now they keep asking me to translate some recipes (See, in Angola We speak Portuguese.
Just wanna say, keep up the good work. and every single recipe I tried from your website, impressed every one who tasted it.
Congrats
Reply
- Rosie says
  September 6, 2015 at 8:50 am
  Well, I’m glad that you found me!!! 😀
  Reply
Diamond says
January 25, 2016 at 11:01 pm
Im going make this for dinner on Wednesday. I suck at cooking certain things but I wanna learn different things for the sake of my kids lol. But once I make this Ill let you know how my kids grade me. You make this look easy.
Reply
Connie says
February 14, 2016 at 5:23 pm
Hi. This looks delicious! Did you use instant oatmeal?
Reply
- Rosie says
  February 14, 2016 at 10:49 pm
  Hi there! I used quick oats.
  Reply
DaNeetra Walker says
March 15, 2016 at 9:26 am
I am deathly afraid to cook meatloaf. I tried one time and my husband said it was dry and greasy at the same time. I’m going to attempt this recipe this week. What type of pan should I use?
Reply
- Rosie says
  March 15, 2016 at 1:29 pm
  Hi DaNeetra!
  The video tutorial was missing ( sorry about that!). Check out the video, I show the pan, and etc.
  Reply
Shaheedah says
December 16, 2017 at 6:58 pm
I’m stuck between trying this meatloaf and the best ever meatloaf!! Either way it will turn out great! Every recipe of yours I tried so far has been excellent! Keep up the good work and thank you lots 🙂
Reply
Stephanie says
June 29, 2018 at 1:04 pm

Rosie I made your meat loaf and my hubby looooved it. He even went back for seconds. He told me my cooking is getting better and better. I was to scared to tell him. I got my recipe from another woman lol… I will tell him eventually. The funny thing is my hubby don’t care for ground beef or meatloaf. That’s why I came to this recipe cause he loves ground turkey. Hoping he’ll give meatloaf another chance. He told me if I keep cooking out like this he’ll eat it . Thank for ur help. My new way of making meatloaf
Reply
Barbara zucker says
December 20, 2019 at 9:56 am
I am very happy with this recipe. I like the idea of using oatmeal. I make it for myself so freezing portions is necessary but should not be a problem. Thank you!
Reply
Joe Miller says
January 24, 2024 at 9:42 am

Great recipe, Miss Rosie!
Easy to make, no changes necessary.
Absolutely delicious.
Reply

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FAQs

Why does my turkey meatloaf fall apart? ›

Why Does My Turkey Meatloaf Fall Apart? You may find your meatloaf is crumbly or falling apart if you used too many breadcrumbs or not enough eggs.

View Details ›

Is it better to cook meatloaf at 350 or 375? ›

The oven temperature is typically set at 350 degrees F for making meatloaf. That's the temperature you want to be sure to use so the meatloaf cooks and doesn't dry out. Too high, and the outer crust will burn before the interior is cooked all the way, too low and you don't get that delicious crust.

Read On ›

What keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

Read The Full Story ›

Is it better to bake meatloaf on a sheet pan or loaf pan? ›

Not only does sheet pan meatloaf bake up faster than its traditional loaf-shaped cousin, it also has more surface area, meaning every bite is laden with that deliciously caramelized topping.

Should you cover meatloaf when baking? ›

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

Can you put too many breadcrumbs in meatloaf? ›

Adding more to your mixture is always easier than taking some out. Another common reason meatloaf is mushy is too much filler, like breadcrumbs, bread, and oatmeal. Too much filler will stop it from baking correctly and becoming a fully formed meatloaf.

Discover More Details ›

Why is my ground turkey meatloaf mushy? ›

Ground turkey meat loaf can turn out mushy if it contains too much liquid. The liquid ingredients keep the meat loaf moist, but overdoing it can make the texture way too soft. If you made any liquid additions, compensate by adding extra oats or bread crumbs.

Show Me More ›

What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

In essence, it boils down to a few simple steps: Combine ground meat, eggs, breadcrumbs, and other flavorful ingredients of your choice. Put this mixture in a lightly greased loaf pan and bake it until it's cooked through.

Read The Full Story ›

How long should you let meatloaf rest? ›

You can make meatloaf either in a loaf pan or free-form. Free-form meatloaves have a crust all around; loaf-pan meatloaves have a more "steamed" texture. It's strictly a matter of preference. Let your meatloaf rest for about 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven; it will hold together better when slicing.

Learn More ›

Why does my meatloaf burn on the bottom all? ›

A higher temp will overcook and possibly burn the outer layer before the inside is cooked, whereas a lower temp won't result in a well-baked crust for your meatloaf.

Find Out More ›

Why do you put milk in meatloaf? ›

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

Discover More ›

What happens if you put too many eggs in meatloaf? ›

For an average meat loaf, use 1/2 to 3/4 cup fresh, soft bread crumbs to every pound of meat. When using fine, dry crumbs, use half as much. Other Ingredients: Eggs bind the mixture, add flavor and increase browning, but too much egg will make a meat loaf tough and rubbery.

Tell Me More ›

Why do you put baking powder in meatloaf? ›

Adding baking soda to the beef keeps it moist by stopping the proteins from binding too quickly (which dries out the meat). Using sauteed onions instead of raw ensures the onions don't turn out crunchy and adds extra moisture to the meatloaf. Moistened breadcrumbs, keep the meatloaf moist and tender.

Discover More Details ›

How important is the egg in meatloaf? ›

Eggs are an ingredient in nearly every meatloaf, and they have two distinct roles. Egg yolks, which are mostly water but contain a good amount of protein and fat, add flavor, richness, and moisture. They also help bind the meat together and get the loaf to set in a stable form without the need to overwork the meat.

Learn More Now ›

What can you put under meatloaf to soak up grease? ›

A neat trick to soak up the grease under your meatloaf is to line the bottom of the pan with bread slices. The bread soaks up the grease as the loaf bakes. When the meatloaf is done, you can either throw out the bread or bake it to make some truly indulgent toast.

Read On ›

Turkey Meatloaf Recipe (2024)

Moist turkey meatloaf recipe made with oats, instead of bread! This meatloaf recipe will have the family begging for seconds!

Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

Video

Rosie

Related Recipes

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Reader Interactions

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Comments

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FAQs

Why does my turkey meatloaf fall apart? ›

Why do you put milk in meatloaf? ›

References