If you think meatloaf and turkey meatloaf are bland, come try this delicious and tender turkey meatloaf with a sweet and tangy glaze that my family can’t get enough of!
Meatloaf is a staple of the American Midwest. When people talk about down home meat-and-taters flavor, that’s kind of what I picture – meatloaf and mashed potatoes with plenty of gravy and sauce. And it shouldn’t be surprising that that’s where it’s seen a lot of popularity – it’s actually a traditional German dish, and there’s a huge German population in Ohio, where both my husband’s folks grew up.
I never had it until we had it for dinner with my husband’s family, not too long after we got married. It wasn’t in my family’s recipe repertoire, and it definitely wasn’t something that struck me as something I’d order in a restaurant. I mean, meatloaf.
But I will tell you, my mother-in-law makes a killer meatloaf. It was packed with flavor and texture and coated with an absolutely delicious glaze. That – and my husband’s request – were enough to get me to start researching meatloaf recipes.
We make a lot of different variations, but this particular one is my favorite – and lately, I’ve been using turkey instead of beef or pork. It lightens up both the meal and the flavor is amazing. The turkey provides a nice savory base for you to build on with spices, panko, and a whole lot of…you know, whatever you want to throw in your meatloaf.
I feel like this is a stone-soup dish, very much like the cioppino we make and love. Meat plus onions and garlic plus egg and milk and whatever else you have to make what is essentially a gigantic meatball cooked in a loaf tray. You fill it up with what you have, and then bake it up with ketchup or barbecue sauce.
It’s pretty amazing when you do it right, though, and I’m totally here for it.
Here’s what you need for our recipe:
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 1 yellow onion
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 3 tbsp parsley
- 1 cup panko crumbs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
And for the extra sauce we love to put on ours:
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
Line a loaf pan with parchment and heat your oven to 375F. Mix up the meatloaf recipe together in a large bowl (see what I mean about a stone-soup dish?) and form it into the loaf pan. Bake it for about 40 minutes.
Whisk together the sauce ingredients, spread over the meatloaf, and let bake for another 15 minutes. The meatloaf should rest about 10 minutes before you serve it or else it’ll burn your mouth!
Favorite Turkey Meatloaf with Glaze
Equipment
- 1 loaf pan
- parchment paper
Ingredients
For the meatloaf:
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 2 eggs
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 3 tbsp parsley
- 1 cup panko crumbs
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
For the glaze:
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine all the meatloaf ingredients until just combined. Form into the loaf pan.
- Bake at 375F for about 40 minutes.
- While the meatloaf is baking, whisk the glaze. Spread the glaze over the meatlof at 40 minutes and let bake again for another 15 minutes.
- Let the meatloaf rest 10 minutes.
Are you meatloaf fans? What’s your favorite version?
