This BBQ Turkey Meatloaf is loaded with flavor and glazed with our favorite BBQ Sauce. Its a lighter version of your classic meatloaf and just as tasty!
About Our BBQ Turkey Meatloaf
Ingredients
Ground Turkey Most stores carry Honeysuckle Ground Turkey which is 93% Lean and 7% Fat. Turkey is so lean as it is, I find that if you get more lean than that it can be a little dry.
Spices & Aromatics Sauteeing your onion and garlic before putting them in the meatloaf gives the meatloaf great flavor and texture. Paprika and cumin give the meatloaf a nice smokiness and southwest flavors.
Pickled Jalapeno This is the secret ingredient to this meatloaf! I tried it several ways with sautéed bell peppers and jalapeños, but pickled jalapeños gave the meatloaf great flavor and texture! For this recipe, remove 1/4 cup of pickled jalapeños from its juice, diced them and throw them into the meatloaf mixture.
BBQ Sauce My go-to BBQ sauce is Sweet Baby Rays. Did you know they make a No Sugar Added Sweet Baby Rays? It is delicious! The only downside of using that sauce is the meatloaf it won’t have a shiny glaze that you get when using regular bbq sauce. Nevertheless, If you are avoiding sugar, it is worth trying out!
The other day I used some BBQ sauce from The Peach Truck, which turned out great. So use your favorite BBQ sauce or a fun local sauce!
Serving Suggestions
Shaping Your Meatloaf I like to use a plastic wrap lined 9×5 loaf pan to shape my meatloaf. It allows you to get a uniform size and consistency. Once you’ve put the meat mixture in the loaf, press down to get any air bubbles out and flat top. Flip the meatloaf onto a parchment or foil lined sheet pan for easy clean up.
What should I serve with BBQ Turkey Meatloaf Our Fully Loaded Baked Potato Casserole or Roasted Pumpkin Spice Sweet Potatoes are excellent with this meatloaf! Serve that with our Okra Fries or Southern Green Beans and you’ve got yourself a southern feast! For dessert, try our Peach & Blueberry Cobbler!
Drink Pairings Try our Peach Margarita for the perfect summery cocktail to go with this meatloaf. A light beer, crisp Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay will pair nicely as well! I’m a little obsessed with this Iced Ginger Peach Black Tea, its perfect for a hot summer day and has such a refreshing flavor!
Recipe
BBQ Turkey Meatloaf
This BBQ Turkey Meatloaf is loaded with flavor and glazed with your favorite BBQ Sauce. It's a lighter version of your classic meatloaf and just as tasty!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Ground Turkey 93% Lean, 7% Fat
- 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1/2 Onion, small diced
- 3 Cloves of Garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup Pickled Jalapeños, diced
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1 Tbsp. Worchestershire Sauce
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp. Cumin
- 1 tsp. Paprika
- 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
- 1/2 tsp. Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp. BBQ Sauce, plus 3/4 cup for glaze
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat your oven to 350F.
- Step 2 In a small sauce pan on medium-low heat, add your oil and sautée your onions and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside to let cool.
- Step 3 In a large bowl, combine your onions and garlic with remaining ingredients, except turkey and the bbq sauce for the glaze. Stir until combined.
- Step 4 Add your ground turkey and mix until the mixture is evenly incorperated.
- Step 5 On a parchment lined pan, shape meatloaf into a 9×5 inch loaf shape.
- Step 6 Brush the meatloaf evenly with 3/4 cup BBQ sauce and bake for 1 hour or until cooked to 160F.
- Step 7 Allow the meatloaf to cool for about 15 minutes before slicing. Serve extra BBQ sauce on the side.
About the Author
Lauren is a classically trained, professional chef. A culinary school graduate, she has spent time working organic farms in the Italian countryside and was the pastry/sous chef at a high profile restaurant in Dallas prior to becoming a full-time personal chef. Her cooking style is often referred to as “rustic.” Being a personal chef, she is not bound by a single type of cuisine and has had the opportunity to experiment with hundreds of regional recipes from all over the world.
