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Pinch Me Good! » Main Dishes » The Best Healthy Turkey Meatloaf – Gluten Free

The Best Healthy Turkey Meatloaf – Gluten Free

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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!

Healthy turkey meatloaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper topped with red sauce and herbs.

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.

It is tangy yet sweet and is the perfect topping for this meatloaf.

Sliced turkey meatloaf with tomato glaze on top of parchment paper on a baking sheet.

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

Turkey veggie meatloaf ingredients on a dark surface with labels for each ingredient.
  • 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 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
  • 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 before adding them to the meatloaf mixture.
  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 in the middle rack of the oven at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
  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!

Cooked meatloaf cut into slices on a pan topped with red tomato sauce and parsley.

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.
Green bean and sliced meatloaf on a round white plat with a fork in it with a stripped white and blue linen behind it an a bowl of chopped herbs in front of it.

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

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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The Best Healthy Turkey Meatloaf – Gluten Free

★★★★★

5 from 45 reviews
  • Author: Amy Estes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

This moist and delicious healthy turkey meatloaf is very easy to make and it is one of the best meatloaf recipes that the whole family will love! It is packed with veggies and incredible flavor and topped with the most amazing sweet tomato glaze. Plus it is gluten-free!

Ingredients

Scale

For the veggies

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 medium onion – diced
  • 1 green bell pepper – diced
  • 1 red bell pepper – diced
  • 1/2 cup shredded carrots
  • 2 cloves of garlic – peeled and minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the meatloaf mixture

  • 1.5–2 pounds of 90-93% lean ground turkey 
  • 1/2 cup gluten free panko breadcrumbs – I used Italian seasoned for extra flavor
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons dried parsley
  • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and pepper

For the sweet tomato glaze

Instructions

To make the veggie mixture

  1. Heat up a medium skillet to medium heat and add the olive oil.  Once the oil is hot, add in the onions and peppers and toss them in the oil.  Cook for 3-4 minutes until the veggies are soft and the onions are translucent.  Then add the garlic and carrots.  Season the veggies with salt and pepper, toss and cook for 3 more minutes.  Remove from heat and let the veggies cool. 

Make the meatloaf mixture

  1. Add the ground turkey to a medium size mixing bowl.  Then add in the breadcrumbs, chicken stock, egg, parsley, Worcestershire sauce and more salt and pepper.  Mix that all together with your hands until fully combined. 
  2. Add in the cooled veggies and mix everything together to form the meatloaf mixture. 

Form and bake the meatloaf

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the baking sheet and use your hand to form it into a 8.5 x 5 inch loaf.  
  2. Place the meatloaf into the preheated oven on the middle rack and cook for 30-35 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.  
  3. Mix up the tomato glaze.  Add the ketchup, maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper to a small bowl and mix well to combine.  
  4. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and spread the glaze evenly over the top of the meatloaf. 
  5. Increase the oven temperature to 475 degrees F and return the meatloaf to the oven to brown the edges and top slightly, about 3-4 minutes. 
  6. Remove the meatloaf from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes then top it with fresh chopped parsley. 
  7. Serve warm with your favorite side dish.

Equipment

Notes

  • Ground turkey – use 93/7 ground turkey for the best flavor. 
  • Veggies – let the veggies cool before you add them to the meatloaf mixture. 
  • Storing and reheating – You can store this cooked meatloaf in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Easily reheat portions in the microwave until warmed through. 
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Category: Healthy Dinner Ideas
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: healthy turkey meatloaf, turkey meatloaf, gluten free meatloaf, meatloaf

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