Ground Turkey Meatloaf
This healthy turkey meatloaf recipe is proof that comfort food can be both healthy and hearty! This lighter take on classic meatloaf also has some (not-so) secret veggies mixed right in, making it a delicious way to enjoy some extra veggies. It’s cheesy, juicy, super flavorful, and perfect for a comforting dinner that’s easy to make and so versatile. Choose a simple veggie or two for sides (I like mashed potatoes and green beans), and you’ve got a balanced dinner that’s both nutritious and delicious.
Unpopular opinion, but I don’t like hiding vegetables in meals.
I don’t think it’s a helpful way to teach our kids to eat healthy long-term (read more about my approach to nutrition here), but the riced broccoli in this ground turkey meatloaf ends up blending right into the meatloaf.
When I originally came up with this recipe back in 2020, my young kids gobbled it up, but more recently, they were influenced by TV shows and books that meatloaf is inherently not yummy so they weren’t quite as excited, but that’s ok. On social media, I talk a lot about not feeling bad about this, and so I happily ate up the leftovers. 🙂
😋 Seriously delicious: Incredibly moist and flavorful with a perfect glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
🛒 Made with simple ingredients: Uses pantry staples and fresh ingredients you probably already have on hand.
⏰ Ready in 1 hour: Prep in 15 minutes, then let the oven do the work for hands-off cooking.
🍽️ Healthier comfort food: Lean ground turkey provides protein and we have veggies added in for an extra bonus.
👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly: These classic flavors appeal to all ages, including picky eaters who love meatloaf…unless they are scared of meatloaf. 😉
💰 Budget-friendly: Ground turkey is affordable and stretches to feed a family generously.
🥄 Perfect for meal prep: Slices beautifully and reheats perfectly for easy weeknight dinners all week.
You’ll also want to try my ground turkey stir-fry, turkey taco skillet, or ground turkey tacos next time.
This was a really good recipe! I did make a couple changes to it. I added finely chopped spinach (couldn’t find the broccoli in the store) and minced garlic. Definitely will make it again. –Sonya
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need some fresh ingredients and pantry staples to bring this homemade turkey meatloaf to the table: panko breadcrumbs, milk, white onion, riced broccoli, ketchup, mustard, egg, seasoning salt, black pepper, ground turkey, and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Ground turkey: Look for lean ground turkey, but not fat-free ground turkey! We want a bit of fat to help keep the healthy turkey meatloaf delicious and juicy. In my experience, fat-free ground turkey always gets pretty dry and bland, so I do feel strongly about it!
- Riced broccoli: Look for frozen riced broccoli. Some stores do carry fresh riced broccoli, and if it looks nice and fresh, that is totally fine to use. I’ve just never had the best luck with riced fresh cauliflower or broccoli, as they can turn bad quickly. If you can’t find riced broccoli, you can easily use riced cauliflower.
Emily’s Tips & Tricks
- Pro tip: Use your hands to mix and incorporate all of the ingredients together. Don’t overmix, but mix just until combined.
- Cooking lesson: When we combine the breadcrumbs and milk to soak while we prep the rest of the recipe, this is called a panade. The French translation of panade is “bread mash” and it’s used in meatloaf and meatball recipes to impart a light, juicy, and tender texture.
- Feeding kids without pressure: Serve the meal with a few sides you know they will eat (fruit, milk, bread with butter) and serve a tiny bite sample if it’s a new food!
- Meatball variation: It’s a bit more putzy, but I’ve included instructions for how to turn this recipe for turkey meatloaf into meatballs in the notes section of the recipe card below. They are also excellent and conveniently portioned out when turned into meatballs!
Healthy Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Uncover the secret to the perfect ground turkey meatloaf! This easy recipe is juicy, flavorful, and a lighter twist on a classic comfort food.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup grated white onion
- 10 oz. frozen riced broccoli (about 2 cups)
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp. seasoning salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 2 lbs. ground turkey
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- extra ketchup for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Prep ingredients:
In a large bowl, stir together bread crumbs and milk and let sit.
Grate onion.
Heat riced broccoli in the microwave until thawed.
In a small bowl, stir together ketchup and mustard for the top of the meatloaf.
- To the bread crumbs, add onion, egg, seasoning salt, and black pepper. Stir together until combined. Add turkey, riced broccoli, and shredded cheese and mix together with your hands, just until combined. You don’t want to overwork the meat but you do want all the breadcrumb mixture incorporated.
- Shape the mixture into an oblong shape on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet and spread with ketchup glaze on the top and a bit on the sides. Bake for 45-60 minutes, until the turkey meatloaf reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F.
- Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. (Soak up any excess liquid with a paper towel.)
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze slices for up to 3 months wrapped individually. Reheat turkey and cheese meatloaf in a 350°F oven or in a hot skillet for best results. You can also microwave until hot if you don’t mind microwaved meat!
- Ingredient notes: Be sure to use a mix of light and dark ground turkey, NOT 99% fat-free turkey. If you can’t find frozen riced broccoli, you can also use finely chopped spinach that has been thawed and drained well.
- Make them meatballs: Prepare as directed, but instead of shaping them into a meatloaf shape, scoop and roll them into about 1 1/2 inch meatballs and place them on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Spritz with olive oil (optional, helps with browning) and bake for 20-24 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through and have reached an internal temperature of 165 °F.
- Helpful tools: A meat thermometer ensures perfect doneness, and parchment paper makes cleanup effortless.
- Serve with: Mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, green beans, or a simple salad for a complete comfort meal.
Serving Suggestions
All this easy turkey meatloaf recipe needs is a few simple sides. Here are a few ideas:
- Haricot Verts
- Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Potato Casserole
FAQs
Yes, see the video below for how I did this! Prepare as directed, but instead of shaping them into a meatloaf shape, scoop and roll them into about 1 1/2-inch meatballs and place them on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Spritz with olive oil (optional, helps with browning) and bake for 20-24 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through and have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Yes! Want to turn this into chicken meatloaf with broccoli and cheddar? Simply swap out the ground turkey for ground chicken. And just like the ground turkey, be careful to not buy the fat-free ground chicken. A little fat is preferred!
This recipe uses regular bread crumbs but is otherwise gluten-free, so swap the bread crumbs for your favorite gluten-free alternative.
Yes, you can easily turn this into a mini ground turkey meatloaf recipe. Simply roll the meatloaf into tennis ball-sized balls and place into a prepared muffin tin. Lightly flatten, top with cheese, and bake for about 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the ground turkey meatloaf recipe reaches 165 degrees F.
More Ground Turkey Recipes
If you like this healthy turkey meatloaf recipe, you might also like these other healthy ground turkey recipes:
- Ground Turkey Taco Skillet
- Ground Turkey Stir Fry
- Slow Cooker Turkey and Butternut Squash Chili
- Turkey Burger Sliders
About the Author
Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer, nutrition expert, and founder of My Everyday Table. She specializes in creating easy, healthy recipes that help busy parents feed their families well every single day, without the stress. With a degree in Nutrition and over 20 years of experience, Emily shares family-friendly meals that are practical, nourishing, and full of flavor. Learn more about Emily’s approach to everyday cooking and nutrition here.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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This was a really good recipe! I did make a couple changes to it. I added finely chopped spinach (couldn’t find the broccoli in the store) and minced garlic. Definitely will make it again.
Oh what a great swap, thanks for sharing with us, I want to give it a try! Frozen or fresh spinach?
I did fresh spinach so it helped keep the meatloaf juicy!