Turkey Meatloaf with Zucchini
Turkey Meatloaf with Zucchini is super moist and flavorful. This healthier meatloaf is made with lean meat, packed with veggies, and seasoned to perfection. It’s simple to make and even the pickiest eaters will enjoy it!
Ingredients
This Turkey Meatloaf with Zucchini is a healthier comfort food using lean meat and vegetables.
- Ground Turkey: 93% lean ground turkey. You could use ground chicken or beef, however turkey works best in this recipe.
- Vegetables: Finely grated carrot and zucchini, with the liquid squeezed out. Not only is this a great way to add some vegetables to the dish, but it makes the meatloaf super moist.
- Onion and Garlic: Diced yellow onion and minced garlic for flavor.
- Olive Oil: To sauté the garlic and onion.
- Bread Crumbs: Whole wheat seasoned bread crumbs, I like 4C. You could substitute regular seasoned bread crumbs if you prefer. To make this gluten free, just substitute with gluten free bread crumbs.
- Ketchup: For more flavor and moisture.
- Egg: A large egg to bind everything together.
- Seasoning: Parsley, salt and pepper. There’s plenty of flavor from the onion, garlic, and seasoned bread crumbs, so not a lot of additional seasoning is needed.
- Sauce: A mixture of ketchup and Worcestershire sauce for a sweet and tangy glaze to top the meatloaf.
*The full ingredient list with amounts is in the recipe card below.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Turkey Meatloaf with Zucchini is an easy main dish to prepare. It comes together in just 15 minutes, then just pop it in the oven for an hour to bake!
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Sauté the onion and garlic. In a small skillet, heat olive oil over medium low heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook until garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
- Mix the meatloaf ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg, dried parsley, grated zucchini, grated carrot, sautéed onion and garlic mixture, salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until combined. Place mixture in a loaf pan.
- Top with sauce. In a small bowl, mix the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce until combined. Spoon sauce over the meatloaf and spread out evenly.
- Bake. Place the meatloaf in the oven and bake, uncovered, for 55-60 minutes until cooked through.
- Serve and enjoy. Let sit for a few minutes before slicing.
Serving Suggestions
One of the most popular side dishes to serve with Turkey Meatloaf with Zucchini is potatoes. Try these delicious fluffy mashed potatoes or these crispy garlic rosemary roasted potatoes. Meatloaf also goes well with any roasted vegetable or a big side salad.
My favorite way to enjoy turkey meatloaf is actually the next day in a sandwich. I don’t even heat it up. I put 2 slices of meatloaf between two pieces of whole wheat toast with a drizzle of yellow mustard.
To store: Refrigerate turkey meatloaf slices in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
More Ground Turkey Recipes
- Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
- Ground Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
- Turkey Bolognese Sauce
- Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs
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Turkey Meatloaf with Zucchini
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Turkey Meatloaf with Zucchini is super moist and flavorful. This healthier meatloaf is made with lean meat, packed with veggies, and seasoned to perfection. It’s simple to make and even the pickiest eaters will enjoy it!
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 cup whole wheat seasoned bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 small zucchini, finely grated and liquid squeezed out
- 1 small carrot, finely grated and liquid squeezed out
- salt and pepper, to taste
For the Sauce
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Sauté the onion and garlic. In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium low heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook until garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
- Mix the meatloaf ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg, dried parsley, grated zucchini, grated carrot, sautéed onion and garlic mixture, salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until combined. Place mixture in a loaf pan.
- Top with sauce. In a small bowl, mix the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce until combined. Spoon sauce over the meatloaf and evenly spread out.
- Bake. Place the meatloaf in the oven and bake, uncovered, for 55-60 minutes until cooked through.
- Serve and enjoy. Let sit for a few minutes before slicing.
Notes
Be sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the carrots and zucchini.
You could substitute regular seasoned bread crumbs if you prefer. To make this gluten free, substitute with gluten-free bread crumbs.
This is the best turkey zucchini meatloaf recipe I have ever tried too. I’ve been using breadcrumbs but I see a couple of people mentioned using oatmeal. I know my friend puts oatmeal in her meatballs when she makes them, so I may try putting them in my meatloaf. I have a meatloaf baking in my oven right now. What type of oatmeal do people use?
This is the best meatloaf I have ever made and I have been cooking for 50 years. My husband had a heart issue and he couldn’t eat beef anymore so I made many Meat loafs
that we threw away. Not this one its fabulous taste just remember to squeeze out the zucchini. I also added Parm cheese on top.
I use oatmeal instead of bread crumbs. been doing that for years, comes out great.
I use oatmeal in turkey meatloaf sometimes too. Thanks for sharing your tip!
The Skinnytaste recipe with the addition of zucchini and carrot. By far my favorite Turkey loaf tecipe