Turkey Meatloaf
This lean take on a traditional meatloaf recipe is so tasty! You're going to love turkey meatloaf as a simple, protein packed weeknight meal.
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Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
Need an easy dinner idea? Then check out this turkey meatloaf recipe! It's a family favorite in our house, even with the kiddos, and once you give it a try you'll see why.
Meatloaf is an age-old classic. I'm not sure why it gets such a bad rap because it really can be so flavorful! I guess there's just been one too many bad meatloaf recipes out there that people have lost faith in it as a go-to dinner dish.
Well, I'm here to tell you that meatloaf is back - only now, it can be made more lean and healthy by using lean ground turkey instead of ground beef. Even with the use of turkey, this homemade meatloaf is juicy, tender and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Serve it up with some easy sides like sautéed zucchini and roasted root vegetables for a cozy, hearty and healthy meal. This is the best meatloaf recipe ever, you'll never need another one again! (Except for meatloaf muffins - my other fave!)
Why You'll Love this Recipe
Classic comfort foods are easy to love, and this one is no exception:
- This is a totally gluten free turkey meatloaf recipe. Instead of breadcrumbs or flour, this recipe uses almond flour. A great main course to serve to those who can't eat gluten.
- Easily make this meatloaf ahead of time and bake the next day. It's a delicious meal prep idea too! It'll store well and leftover reheat beautifully - you can even freeze unbaked meatloaf. A fun recipe that works any time!
- Lean ground turkey is packed with protein, but low in fat. It's a great healthy option that will still be incredibly flavorful when uses in yummy recipes like this one.
Ingredients
With these simple ingredients, you can make the most delicious gluten free turkey meatloaf. Here is a list of everything that you need:
- ground turkey
- almond flour
- chopped onion
- minced garlic
- large egg
- ketchup or tomato sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- dried oregano
- dried thyme
- smoked paprika
- salt
- black pepper
Glaze Ingredients
- ketchup
- brown sugar
- Dijon mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
Substitutions and Variations
If you don't have almond flour, you can use a gluten-free 1:1 flour substitute instead. King Arthur Measure for Measure Flour works well!
Maple syrup works good as a warm sugar substitute to the brown sugar in the glaze.
You can use spicy brown mustard, regular yellow mustard, or stone ground mustard in place of dijon.
While this recipe specifically calls for ground turkey, you can use ground chicken or lean ground beef if you want.
Feel free to add vegetables like finely chopped carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini to the meatloaf mixture for extra moisture and nutrition.
How to Make Turkey Meatloaf
Make this gluten-free turkey meatloaf in just a few easy steps. Here's how to do it:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan with cooking spray or a little bit of oil.
Combine the ground turkey, almond flour, egg, diced onion, minced garlic, ketchup, thyme, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix until just combined and be careful not to overwork the meat.
Transfer the turkey mixture to the loaf pan, pressing it down to shape evenly.
Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl for the glaze.
Spread the glaze evenly over the top of the meatloaf. Then bake for 55-60 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
Let this tasty turkey meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
How to Store Leftover Turkey Meatloaf
Transfer leftover turkey meatloaf to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months, thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
For best results, reheat leftover in the oven at 300°F for 10-15 minutes, or microwave individual slices.
What to Serve with Turkey Meatloaf
Serve this homemade meatloaf with any of your favorite sides! It goes wonderfully with classics like mashed potatoes and green beans. You'll also love it served alongside drop biscuits and steamed broccoli.
Want some low carb cozy sides? Then serve up some Instant Pot cauliflower mash and roasted broccolini.
Tips for Success
Make this the best turkey meatloaf recipe by following these few tips:
- Be careful not to overmix the meatloaf mixture or the end result will likely be tough. Once ingredient are combined, it can be placed into the loaf pan.
- Make sure to spread the meat mixture into the loaf pan in an even layer so that it bakes evenly.
- Finely dice the onion and minced garlic so that there aren't large chunks in the meatloaf. If the chunks are too big then it could cause the meatloaf to more easily fall apart.
FAQ
Yes! You can assemble the meatloaf in the loaf pan, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. When ready to bake, remove from the fridge, glaze, and bake as directed. You can also freeze the uncooked meatloaf, without the glaze, by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. When ready to cook, thaw in the fridge overnight, then add the glaze and bake.
Egg and breadcrumbs, or flour, are essential to keep a meatloaf from falling apart. You also need to be careful not to overmix it so that it doesn't get tough and dried out!
More Easy Dinner Recipes
Did you make this recipe?
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Turkey Meatloaf
Equipment
Ingredients
Meatloaf Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup ketchup or tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Glaze Ingredients
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan with cooking spray or a little oil.
- Combine the ground turkey, almond flour, egg, onion, garlic, ketchup, thyme, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix until just combined-don't overwork the meat.
- Transfer the turkey mixture to the loaf pan, pressing it down to shape evenly.
- Whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl for the glaze.
- Spread the glaze evenly over the top of the meatloaf.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
- Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
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I’ve never heard of putting flour in a meatloaf. What does it do?
Making your meatloaf this week.
Hey Jo! Great question! The almond flour acts as a binder to help hold the meatloaf together and keeps it moist. A lot of people use breadcrumbs for this - you totally can swap those out if you'd like. It also adds a little texture to the meatloaf. Hope you love it this week!
My family loved this!
Is there anything you can suggest that I can use in place of the almond flour? I can't eat it or regular flour.
Would cornstarch work in place of the flour for the meatloaf?
Hi Sherry!
I wouldn't use cornstarch, it will have an awful taste if you use that much. But you can substitute gluten free breadcrumbs, oat flour, cashew flour, or coconut flour for the almond flour! The recipe will also turn out without the flour at all - there's a lot of other elements that keep it moist 😊
Please let me know how it turns out!