Turkey Meatloaf
There’s so much flavor in this amazing loaf! Juicy ground turkey, spiked with parmesan cheese and a few herbs, baked under a glaze of ketchup and mayonnaise. The meatloaf is moist and savory, and the glaze is sweet and tangy. Best meatloaf ever!
You’ll be floored by the robust flavor in this meatloaf. Turkey meatloaf can sometimes be bland, and oftentimes, quite dry! Not this loaf! It’s super moist because there’s egg and parmesan cheese in the mixture, plus panko breadcrumbs to hold everything together. And, it’s super flavorful thanks to basil, oregano, garlic, and onion. And these all come from the spice rack – so there’s no dicing or chopping required.
And the glaze makes a huge difference! Most meatloaves are glazed with plain ketchup, or a blend of ketchup and mustard. In this version, I combined ketchup and mayo, so the glaze is equal parts tangy and sweet. As the meatloaf bakes, the sugars in the ketchup and mayonnaise caramelize, creating the most delicious glaze ever. And this meatloaf is free form (not baked in a pan), so every exterior inch is flavorful.
What type of turkey should you use? There are no rules here. You can use ground turkey or ground turkey breast; both will work fine. You can also use ground chicken or ground beef if that’s more your jam.
Can you cook the meatloaf in a loaf pan? Yes, again there are no rules here. But, when you cook the loaf in a pan, only the top will get the awesome glaze! If you decide to use a loaf pan, that’s fine – nothing changes in terms of cooking temperature and cooking time.
Turkey Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs or gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- In a large bowl, combine the turkey, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well, transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and shape into an oval loaf, about 7-inches long.
- In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and mayonnaise. Brush the mixture all over the top and sides of the meatloaf.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees. Let the meatloaf stand for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.