The Best Turkey Meatloaf Recipe We Eat Weekly
This gluten-free turkey meatloaf is the perfect weeknight dinner! Simple ingredients, easy to make, and packed with flavor. Our family favorite!
GLUTEN FREE MEATLOAF RECIPE
I can’t believe I have yet to blog this turkey meatloaf recipe. I have mentioned it for the past few years in my recap posts but never designated a blog just for it. The thing about this turkey meatloaf is that we usually make it when we don’t know what to have for dinner. It’s one of those go-to recipes that we always have the ingredients for. Its as easy as throwing everything into a bowl, mixing, and placing it in the oven. We make this almost weekly, and never tire of it.
Most of the time I do not make it gluten-free anymore, but I’m adding all the gluten-free swaps for you!
I get comments every time I share this up on my instagram story about how many of you have been making this recipe for years and it’s been a family favorite as well! My mother in law and mom makes it weekly, too!
When I make this turkey loaf, I always double the recipe because meatloaf is even better the next day. And leftovers simply mean I don’t have to cook dinner the following night. For this recipe, you can customize it any way you’d like. Sometimes, we get fancy and add extra vegetables or even potatoes. Today, I’m sharing my favorite way to make it. I promise you’ll love this recipe and want to make it weekly, just like us! It’s incredibly flavorful and perfect paired with potatoes or tossed salad. I think meatloaf is always in season and can be made winter, summer, or fall!
Why This is the Best Gluten-Free Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
- Gluten-Free and Healthy: Made with ground turkey and gluten-free breadcrumbs, it’s a healthier option without sacrificing flavor, making it ideal for those with gluten sensitivities or anyone looking for a lighter version of a classic dish.
- Quick and Easy to Make: With just 10 minutes of prep time and simple ingredients, you can easily throw this meal together on busy weeknights without a fuss.
- Flavorful Glaze: The sweet and tangy glaze made with ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar caramelizes perfectly, adding a burst of flavor to each bite.
- Customizable: This recipe is highly adaptable – add extra veggies, swap the glaze sweetener, or adjust the seasoning to your taste preferences, making it suitable for different dietary needs or flavor profiles.
- Great Leftovers: The meatloaf tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prepping or enjoying a no-cook night with delicious leftovers!
Here are some Ingredient Swaps for Turkey Meatloaf:
- Breadcrumbs:
- Swap gluten-free Italian breadcrumbs with gluten-free oats or almond flour for a different texture and flavor.
- For a lower-carb option, use crushed pork rinds.
- Soy Sauce:
- Replace gluten-free soy sauce with coconut aminos for a soy-free and gluten-free alternative.
- You could also use tamari if you prefer a richer flavor.
- Brown Sugar in Meatloaf:
- Use honey, maple syrup, or monk fruit sweetener for a natural or low-carb sweetener option.
- Eggs:
- For a dairy-free and vegan-friendly binder, swap the eggs with a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water per egg).
- Turkey:
- Replace ground turkey with ground chicken or even ground beef for a different meat option while maintaining the same method and seasoning.
Enhance the Flavor with Sautéed Onions!
Want to take your meatloaf to the next level? Try adding sautéed onions for an extra boost of flavor!
This step only adds about three minutes to your prep time, but it makes a big difference in taste.
How to Make Sautéed Onions:
- Heat a splash of olive oil or avocado oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the sliced onions and cook until they start to brown.
- Stir in the soy sauce and brown sugar, then reduce the heat to low.
- Let the onions caramelize, stirring occasionally.
- Once caramelized, remove them from the heat and let them cool for about a minute.
Finally, mix the onions into your meatloaf mixture. This has become my go-to method for making meatloaf—it’s a game-changer!
Ingredients for Gluten-Free Turkey Meatloaf
- Ground Turkey (93% percent lean & 7% fat)
- eggs
- small red onion, chopped
- gluten-free Italian bread crumbs (or regular)
- gluten-free soy sauce (or regular)
- black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder
- sea salt
- brown sugar (coconut sugar or honey)
Ingredients for Meatloaf Glaze
- ketchup
- yellow mustard
- brown sugar (coconut sugar or honey)
- black pepper
Step-by-Step Instructions for Gluten-Free Turkey Meatloaf
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, eggs, sautéed onions, gluten-free breadcrumbs, pepper, garlic powder, sea salt, and dill.
- Form into two or three even loaves and place them in a non-greased oven-safe pan.
- In a small bowl, mix together the ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar to create the glaze. Spread the glaze evenly over each loaf and sprinkle black pepper on top.
- Bake the loaves in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 175. Meatloaf is always better when it’s WELL done, so I cook it 10 degrees over the limit.
- Let the meatloaf cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Gluten-Free Turkey Meatloaf
Ingredients
Turkey Meatloaf
- 2 lbs Ground Turkey 93% Lean 7% Fat
- 1 large Egg
- 1 large Egg Yolk
- 3/4 cups Italian Bread Crumbs Gluten-Free
- 1/2 medium Red Onion chopped
- 3 tablespoons Soy Sauce Gluten-Free
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar coconut sugar or honey
- 1 teaspoon dill weed, dried
Meatloaf Glaze
- 3/4 cup Ketchup organic
- 2 teaspoons Yellow Mustard organic
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar coconut sugar or honey
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, eggs, Italian bread crumbs, pepper, garlic powder, and dill weed together.
- Sauté Onions: In pan over medium heat, sauté the red onion with a teaspoon of olive oil, soy sauce, sprinkle of black pepper, and brown sugar until glazed. Fold onions into the bowl with the turkey.
- Form three even loafs (or two) and add them to a non-greased oven-safe pan.
- Create the glaze. Mix the ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar together until smooth.
- Coat the loaves with the glaze and sprinkle black pepper on top. I poke holes into the loaf while spreading the glaze that way it cooks into the loaf.
- Bake the loaf in the oven for about 45 minutes. Meatloaf should read 175 on a thermometer for the perfect temp.
- Allow the meatloaf to cool and slice!
I’m excited for you to try out this meatloaf recipe! We had this for dinner last night with my sweet thyme-roasted potatoes and tossed salad. I’ll make sure to get the potato recipe up if you’re interested 😊
MORE DINNER IDEAS!
Welcome!
I’m Taralynn
Lifestyle & Food Blogger
Hi, and welcome! I’m glad you’re here. Simply Taralynn is my lifestyle blog where I share bits of everyday life as a mom, favorite recipes, travel guides, and more. I’ve been blogging for fifteen years!
Questions for you!
- What is the go-to recipe that you make almost weekly?
- What is your favorite ingredient to add to meatloaf?
- Would you like me to try to make a vegetarian version?
I need to try this! Thanks for the recipe! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Hope you enjoy, Charmaine!
Made this last night! Husband and I can’t stop raving about it. Changed up the dill for parsley, as we’re not dill fans and measured the garlic powder with my heart. Soy sauce onions are genius! Great way to use turkey mince. We don’t use it enough here but we are converted! Thank you! Lj from the UK!
I love turkey meatloaf, definitely going to try your recipe ! My favorite thing to add to meatloaf is bell pepper and onion , my weekly go to recipe is chicken fajitas and no to the vegetarian version ,lol.
haha!
Ohhhh you can never go wrong with chicken fajitas!
Yum! this looks amazing! We make turkey meatloaf pretty regularly too and love to add chopped up baby bella mushrooms! Love the new look for your site!
Manda
Thanks so much, Manda!
Meatloaf is one of the best staples! 😊
Definitely need that potato recipe, it sounds so good!! My husband recently had to go gluten free for health reasons and your blog has been so very helpful in finding recipes – thank you! This might end up my go-to weekly recipe now!
So happy to hear my blog is useful for cooking for your husband! Eventually, you’ll get the hang of it and gluten-free cooking/baking will be so easy and you won’t even have to think about it!
♥️ and i’ll definitely get that potato recipe up!
This recipe is so delicious!! we had it for dinner tonight and we all loved it, I may have to add this to the weekly meal plan. our go to meal most weeks is mango chicken curry with cauliflower rice, its just so good. my favourite ingredient to add to chicken meatloaf is spiced apricot sauce I place it on the top and it makes it all sticky and delicious, sometimes I also add rolled oats if I don’t have bread crumbs. hope you have a great week!!
P.S loving the new blog layout and style
Thanks so much for sharing, Harriet!
Did you use small log pans ?
I love topping my meatloaf with bacon! Also I form them into individual mini meat loaves, that way it cooks in about half the time!
We love meatloaf and always use turkey as well. My family always tops it with bacon and ketchup but I want to try your glaze. Adding the brown sugar for sweetness definitely sounds yummy!
Oh def!! I bet the brown sugar would glaze the bacon you add perfectly, too!
I made this and it was AMAZING! Even my husband loved it and he is SUPER picky about meatloaf. Thank you!!
YAY!!! I’m so happy to hear that. Thanks for sharing your feedback!!
Made this for dinner last night and it was absolutely delicious! I will definitely be making it again.
I’m so happy you enjoyed! 😊
Great recipe and turned out very good. Just added fresh jalapeños to the mix. Turned out perfect. Thanks again
Great idea adding jalapeños!
For the gluten free breadcrumbs- we have yet to find one we like. I notice you identified Ian’s, but I only see Panko for therm. Do you add Ian’s gf Panko to this? Or actually Italian gluten free breadcrumbs?
I made this for supper and it was delicious! I only made 1/3 of the amount of glaze and that was enough. Excellent recipe I will be making again. Thanks!
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I don’t think I’ve ever had meatloaf! What have I been doing all my life?!? ha!
I think meatloaf get a bad rep from the name alone, but I really have no idea what else it could possibly be named!
Since I’ve never tried it, I don’t have a recipe, and I’m not sure my mom does either. But after your post I feel like I NEED to try it, so I will be making yours! It looks delicious and can’t wait to try it!
This was bomb
You inspired me to try cooking this for MY parents last night. I normally hate handling raw meat so I’ve never made a meatloaf but you just sounded so darn persuasive and you were so right! I did not even use any ketchup to dip my meatloaf in, which is saying A LOT. :))
A repeat recipe for us
This has become a weekly dinner in our house, and I don’t typically like meatloaf, but this recipe is so good! I’ve shared it with friends and they rave about it also.
Thank you so much, Jessica!!
Made this last night! Husband and I can’t stop raving about it. Changed up the dill for parsley, as we’re not dill fans and measured the garlic powder with my heart. Soy sauce onions are genius! Great way to use turkey mince. We don’t use it enough here but we are converted! Thank you! Lj from the UK!
Awww love hearing that!!!