12 Easy Homemade Meatloaf Recipes

Weight Loss Meals
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
12 Easy Homemade Meatloaf Recipe Roundup

If you ask me, meatloaf is one of the most underrated dinner ideas. Try these 12 Easy Meatloaf Recipes made with juicy ground turkey or lean beef and flavorful ingredients for your next family dinner.

12 Easy Homemade Meatloaf Recipe Roundup

The Healthiest Homemade Meatloaf Recipes

If you need some weeknight dinner ideas, there’s lots of inspiration here. Most of us have memories of meatloaf growing up (for better or worse!). Gone are the days of dry, flavorless meatloaf, or recipes loaded with saturated fats and sugared-up sauces. Homemade meatloaf is a wonderful way to pack in tons of lean protein, healthy vegetables, and your favorite flavors into one recipe – if you know where to start.

While many traditional meatloaf recipes might be lacking in the nutrition department, I’m sharing some of my best flavor-packed variations that are perfectly suited to a balanced diet. By trading some or all of the ground beef for leaner ground turkey, and carb-heavy fillers for veggies, you can easily cut down on added fats and calories in your favorite meatloaf recipes.

These recipes are ready to walk you through it. Just whip together the ingredients, shape, and bake. It’s that easy, and you’ll never think of meatloaf the same way again.

What Is the Secret to Moist Meatloaf?

Before we get into my favorite meatloaf recipes, here are some easy tips for making meatloaf that’s moist and tender rather than dense and dry:

  • Don’t Overwork the Meat: Make sure to combine the ingredients well, but don’t overwork your meat mixture. The best way to mix is to use your hands.
  • Add Veggies: Vegetables hold a lot of moisture. Adding grated zucchini, sweet potato or carrots to your meatloaf can help to keep them tender and juicy.
  • Add Sauces: Mixing in extra condiments like tomato paste, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce not only adds flavor but keeps the meatloaf moist.

How Can I Add Flavor to My Meatloaf?

Sure, there’s always salt and pepper. But don’t overlook to the potential for other spices, herbs, and seasoning blends to enhance the flavors of your meatloaf recipes. Fresh herbs like garlic, thyme, parsley, and coriander can work wonders. Then there are sauces and condiments: try adding a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, a spoonful of ketchup or mustard, BBQ sauce, or even harissa paste for even more depth of flavor.

What Ingredient Keeps Meatloaf From Falling Apart

To hold your meatloaf together, you will need some type of binder. I use everything from oatmeal, breadcrumbs, gluten-free panko and even mashed sweet potato.

12 Best Meatloaf Recipes to Make Tonight

Who’s ready to level up some good old-fashioned meatloaf? Try these easy recipes made from lean, healthy ingredients.

Turkey meatloaf cut into slices next to a bowl of ketchup glaze.

1. The Best Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

My go-to homemade meatloaf recipe! I’ll never get bored of my best-ever, healthy turkey meatloaf topped with tangy Worcestershire ketchup. It’s easy to make with juicy ground turkey, aromatic onions, eggs, and breadcrumbs, and always delicious.

Get the Recipe

Turkey Meatloaf with beans, corn, enchilada sauce

2. Enchilada Turkey Meatloaf 

This easy and cheesy turkey meatloaf embraces all the beloved flavors of a classic Mexican-style enchilada. It’s filled with sweet corn, black beans, cilantro, and green chilies, smothered with enchilada sauce and melty cheese.

Get the Recipe

Meatloaf and Gravy with mashed potatoes and green beans.

3. Meatloaf and Brown Gravy

This classic meatloaf recipe drizzled with brown gravy always serves up cozy dinner vibes. Made with a mix of ground beef, ground turkey, and nutritious oats, it’s the ultimate comfort food that’s good for you, too.

Get the Recipe

Turkey Meatloaf with Zucchini

4. Turkey Meatloaf with Zucchini   

This juicy turkey meatloaf is packed with healthy zucchini. Not only do the extra veggies make this recipe ultra-moist and tender, but it also loads it up with additional vitamins and nutrients. Serve these slices with your favorite sides.

Get the Recipe

Turkey Sweet Potato Meatloaf

5. Sweet Potato Turkey Meatloaf

My sweet potato turkey meatloaf ticks all the boxes: it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, easy, and healthy. What’s not to love? Try this fun spin on classic turkey meatloaf made with vitamin-rich, high-fiber sweet potatoes in place of breadcrumbs.

Get the Recipe

The best tasting, moist turkey meatloaf stuffed with cheddar cheese, spinach and rolled, jelly roll style topped with a ketchup based glaze.

6. Cheese Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

If there’s one way to make a juicy homemade meatloaf that much better, it’s to fill it with melted cheese. This satisfying recipe is stuffed with cheddar and spinach, then rolled into a savory loaf that’s super tender and full of flavor.

Get the Recipe

These Campfire Meatloaf Foil Packets are great for camping, glamping or for an easy weeknight dinner. Each packet has individual turkey meatloaves slathered with BBQ sauce cooked over summer succotash.

7. Campfire Dinner Meatloaf Foil Packets

We’ll make these aluminum foil packets when we go camping, or any other time we’re craving an easy all-in-one dinner. Made with succulent turkey meatloaf topped with BBQ sauce, cooked in foil with an easy vegetable succotash.

Get the Recipe

What can be cuter than mini turkey meatloaf cupcakes topped with skinny mashed potato "frosting". A family friendly meal everyone will love (and no one will guess there are vegetables hiding in the meatloaf)!
Sheet Pan Turkey Meatloaf and Broccoli made with individual loaves cooked on a foil-lined sheet pan for a quick meal with easy cleanup.
Making meatloaf in the skillet is perfect for busy weeknights – it's ready in less than 30 minutes! I took my basic turkey meatloaf recipe, swapped the ketchup for jarred Mina Harrisa (or you can use homemade), added shredded zucchini and made them in the skillet.

10. Skillet Harissa Turkey Meatloaf

Give your meatloaf some Moroccan flair with this delicious 30-minute skillet dinner idea. Zesty harissa sauce gets worked into the meat and smothered over top for a flavorful, moist meatloaf that my family always loves.

Get the Recipe

These EASY Bacon Topped Petite Turkey Meatloaf with BBQ Sauce are so moist with the addition of grated zucchini to the meatloaf mix!
Meatloaf is one of those comfort foods we all grew up eating, and loving as a kid. These healthier Petite Turkey Meatloaves will not disappoint!

How To Store

Many meatloaf recipes are wonderful to make ahead and keep well for days when properly stored. Keep your leftover meatloaf airtight in the refrigerator, and reheat it either in the oven or microwave. We’ll even enjoy our leftovers cold in meatloaf sandwiches. Meatloaf can be refrigerated up to 4 days or frozen up to 3 months in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap.

Craving More Weeknight Dinner Ideas?

If you grew up eating homemade meatloaf, I hope you’ll love these healthy recipes as much as I do. For more easy dinner ideas, check out my recipe finder. I have loads more recipes to share!

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

I Tried “Sexy Water,” TikTok’s Latest Hydration Trend
Free 7 Day Healthy Meal Plan (March 25-31)
Our 10 Favorite lululemon Jackets to Shop in 2024
Honey Baked Spiral Ham
Master Your Splits With This 30-Minute Yoga Flow For Strength and Flexibility

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *