The Best Healthy Turkey Meatloaf – Gluten Free

This incredibly juicy Healthy Turkey Meatloaf is going to be your go-to meatloaf recipe. It is packed with nutritious veggies like bell peppers and carrots plus gluten-free breadcrumbs and garlic that give it a great punch of flavor. It is moist and so tender on the inside with a sweet tomato glaze that really makes the whole thing SO GOOD!

Confession, whenever I make this healthy turkey meatloaf my husband and I could literally eat the whole thing, it is that good.

There are loads of veggies in this recipe which makes this meatloaf tasty and nutritious. We also love this quicker and even easier Air Fryer Meatloaf that is also epic but requires no oven.

This meatloaf recipe is perfect for entertaining and is a dish that will really impress your friends and family. The flavor is insane, thanks to the combination of the sautéed veggies, garlic, chicken stock, and Worcestershire sauce as well as the sweet tomato glaze that is everything.

Check out this gluten-free classic meatloaf for a wonderful version that uses ground beef which is also amazing.

Why You’ll love this healthy turkey meatloaf recipe

• It’s super easy to make and pretty tough to mess up.
• Contains lots of veggies and protein, so it’s very nutritious.
• It only takes 30 minutes.
• Stores great and is a wonderful meal-prep recipe.
• It is a delicious gluten-free turkey meatloaf!
• Incredible flavor, juicy, tender, and so good!

Ingredients you will need

• Ground turkey – I used 93/7, which I think gives this meatloaf an amazing flavor!
• Veggies – bell peppers, carrots, and onion. Make sure to use fresh and not frozen veggies.
• Gluten-free breadcrumbs – any gluten-free breadcrumb will work. I used seasoned gluten-free panko for extra flavor.
• Chicken stock – low-sodium stock to keep the meatloaf super moist and delicious.
• Egg – the binder to hold it all together.
• Garlic, salt, pepper, and dried parsley – to bring out all of the flavors.
• Olive oil – extra virgin olive oil.
• Worcestershire sauce – I used gluten-free.
• For the glaze – Ketchup, maple syrup, and Worcestershire sauce.

How to make healthy turkey meatloaf

1. Cook up the veggies. Chop the veggies and saute them in some olive oil and season them well with some salt and pepper. Then let them cool for a few minutes.
2. Make the turkey meatloaf mixture. Combine the ground turkey with the veggies and the rest of the meatloaf ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl.
3. Form and bake. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer the turkey mixture to the pan. Form the mixture into a loaf that is about 8.5×5 inches. Bake the meatloaf oven at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Per the recipe card below.
4. Mix up the tomato glaze. Add the glaze ingredients to a small bowl and mix until they are fully combined into a smooth glaze.
5. Finish and serve. Once the meatloaf is done baking, take it out of the oven and spread the tomato glaze all over the top in an even layer. Increase the oven temperature to 475 degrees F and return the meatloaf back to the oven. Cook it for a few more minutes until the edges and top are starting to brown. Remove, let cool, and top with fresh chopped parsley.

You will want to let the turkey meatloaf cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. It is just so pretty and is such a fun recipe to make. The leftovers are even better and sometimes we fight over who gets the last slice, haha.

Your family will go crazy for this recipe and I hope you will love it just as much as my family and I do. We are also going crazy for these 10-Minute Healthy Turkey Meatballs.

The outer layer of this meatloaf is slightly crispy, sweet, and savory with a little bit of tomato glaze deliciousness. While the inside is meaty, tender, juicy, and packed with crunchy veggies. It’s so good!

Recipe Tips and Variations

• Use good quality ground turkey that is between 90 – 93% lean. If the meat is too lean then it will come out dry. You also want to make sure that the turkey is thawed completely before mixing it with the other ingredients.
• You can mix up the veggies and use other veggies like shredded zucchini, celery, or even cooked spinach. Just make sure to cook and cool the veggies before adding them to the meatloaf mixture.
• Add some cheese. My kids like cheese in their meatloaf (I do not) so sometimes I will add in 1/4 cup of shredded parmesan to make everyone happy. You could also add shredded cheddar or Swiss cheese.
• You can use regular panko breadcrumbs if you do not need to keep this recipe gluten-free.
• If you need to keep this recipe gluten-free but do not want to use breadcrumbs then 1/3 cup of cooked brown rice, quinoa, riced cauliflower (cooked), or ground oats would also work. The texture does come out slightly different but it is still amazing.

How long should you cook turkey meatloaf?

Turkey meatloaf cooking times will vary based on what ingredients you use and the recipe you are following. In this recipe, I cooked the meatloaf for 30-35 minutes and it came out just perfect. Plus the additional 3-4 minutes to get the top nice and crispy.

I have tried other recipes in the past that require 40 or even 45 minutes of cooking time depending on the type of recipe.

Also, keep in mind that ovens vary as well so that could affect how long the meatloaf needs to cook. Checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer and cooking it until it reaches 165 degrees F will ensure it is cooked all the way through.

How to add great flavor to your meatloaf

Adding flavor to ground turkey is necessary since it can be pretty bland like any lean meat. Here are a few ways you can enhance the flavor.

• You can easily add more flavor by cooking the veggies in some oil and garlic and letting them cool before adding them to the meat.
• Use some kind of stock like chicken stock, vegetable stock, or beef stock to help kick up the flavor along with plenty of salt and pepper.
• Spices are another wonderful way you can add some tasty elements to your meatloaf without adding any extra calories. I like to use garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cumin, just to give it a nice spicy kick.

What to serve with meatloaf

You can serve this turkey meatloaf with so many wonderful side dishes like green beans shown above, mashed sweet potatoes, Mashed butternut squash, or even a healthy salad like this easy kale salad with lemon dressing.

Make Ahead and Storing Tips

To make this recipe ahead of time. Make the meatloaf mixture, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 day before you form and bake it.

To store this meatloaf after it is cooked, place it into an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.

More healthy ground turkey recipes

• Instant Pot Healthy Turkey Chili
• Healthy Turkey Burger
• 10-Minute Healthy Turkey Meatballs
• Air Fryer Turkey Zucchini Meatballs

I hope you try this healthy turkey meatloaf recipe. If you do, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!

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