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Turkey stuffing meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food! It’s so effortless and perfect when you’re looking for an alternative to cooking an entire turkey on Thanksgiving or just want a cozy, satisfying meal any time of the year. This meatloaf combines savory stuffing with perfectly seasoned turkey, fresh apples, and a burst of sweetness from dried cranberries for a flavor-packed crave-worthy meatloaf.
After the overwhelming love for our turkey stuffing meatballs (they went viral for a reason!), we knew we had to create another take on this fan-favorite flavor combo. That’s how this turkey stuffing meatloaf was born! It’s everything you love about stuffing and turkey, reimagined in a tender, juicy meatloaf that’s both easy to make and absolutely irresistible.
Whether you’re planning a low-key holiday dinner or just need a quick meal idea with delicious flavors, this meatloaf has you covered. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this recipe!
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love This Turkey and Stuffing Meatloaf
- Easy to Make: This meatloaf comes together quickly with simple ingredients.
- Thanksgiving Flavors: It’s packed with classic Thanksgiving flavors like sage, rosemary, and thyme.
- Delicious and Flavorful: Includes cranberries, celery, and apple for a sweet and savory taste in every bite.
- Quick and Convenient: Made with ground turkey and seasoned stuffing mix, it’s easy to prepare.
- Family Favorite: A comforting, holiday-inspired dinner that everyone will love year-round.
What Is Stuffing Meatloaf?
Stuffing meatloaf is a flavorful twist on classic meatloaf that combines ground turkey with all the delicious elements of Thanksgiving stuffing. It’s made with seasoned stuffing mix, fresh vegetables like celery and onion, sweet-tart cranberries, and diced apples for a hint of sweetness. The mixture is seasoned with herbs like sage, rosemary, and thyme, bringing the comforting, nostalgic flavors of Thanksgiving to every bite. It’s an easy, all-in-one dish that delivers the taste of a holiday feast without the hassle, perfect for a weeknight dinner or a cozy, family-friendly meal.
Ingredients Needed
- Ground Turkey: Use one pound of ground turkey breast for this meatloaf recipe. For another delicious meatloaf recipe with ground turkey, try our turkey mushroom meatloaf!
- Olive Oil: Sauté the celery and onions in olive oil.
- Celery: Finely chop and sauté the celery.
- Onion: Dice the white or sweet onion and sauté it.
- Stuffing Mix: Use 12 ounces of your favorite seasoned boxed dried stuffing mix.
- Chicken Broth: Use low-sodium chicken broth. Heat it and then pour it over the dried stuffing mix.
- Eggs: You will need two eggs for this recipe.
- Apple: Use one cup of peeled and chopped apples, about one medium-sized apple.
- Cranberries: Roughly chop the dried cranberries to evenly disperse the flavor throughout.
- Herbs: Season with sage, thyme, and rosemary for incredible flavor in this meatloaf.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a hint of garlic flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: Season with salt and pepper.
Substitutions & Variations
- Ground Turkey Substitution: You can replace the ground turkey breast with 7% fat lean ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground chicken breast.
- Make It Gluten-Free: To make this stuffing meatloaf gluten-free, use a gluten-free stuffing mix.
- Apple To Use: We love the tart burst of flavor that a Granny Smith apple adds to this meatloaf, it’s perfectly balanced with the savory ingredients! If you prefer a touch of sweetness, opt for apples like Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Braeburn. Use one cup of peeled and chopped apples, about one medium apple.
- Spicy Kick: Add finely diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
- Add Veggies: Mix in extra veggies like 6 ounces of sautéed finely chopped mushrooms or 1/4 cup of shredded or finely chopped carrots.
- Herbs Substitution: If you don’t have sage, rosemary, and thyme on hand, you can substitute them with 2 teaspoons of poultry seasoning.
- Use Fresh Herbs: To replace the dried herbs with fresh in your turkey meatloaf, use 1 teaspoon of fresh chopped sage, 1 teaspoon of fresh chopped rosemary, and 1.5 teaspoons of fresh chopped thyme.
How To Make Turkey Stuffing Meatloaf
Step 1: Add the olive oil to a skillet over medium heat on the stove. Then, add the chopped celery and diced onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes, until soft and translucent.
Step 2: In a small saucepan, warm the chicken broth over low heat until just heated. This will help the stuffing absorb the broth more easily.
Step 3: Add the seasoned stuffing mix to a large bowl. After that, pour in the warmed chicken broth. Stir until the stuffing is well moistened, and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb the liquid.
Step 4: Peel and chop the apple and roughly chop the dried cranberries.
Step 5: Add the ground turkey breast, sautéed celery and onion, eggs, chopped apple, chopped cranberries, sage, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, and pepper directly to the bowl with the stuffing mixture.
Mix these ingredients.
Step 6: Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Next, form the mixture into a loaf shape, ensuring it is evenly shaped and about 2 inches high.
Step 7: Bake the meatloaf at 350°F for 35-45 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Step 8: Once cooked, remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. For added flavor, top the meatloaf with warm gravy and garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many delicious ways to serve this turkey stuffing meatloaf! Here are some ways we like to serve it.
- Classic Thanksgiving Plate: Serve this stuffing meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans, and a side of cranberry sauce for a complete holiday-inspired meal.
- Gravy: Drizzle homemade gravy over this meatloaf when ready to serve for the ultimate combination of flavors.
- Comfort Food: Enjoy it alongside mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole for a cozy, comforting dinner.
- Vegetables: Pair it with a simple side salad, or roasted vegetables such as brussels sprouts or carrots.
Expert Tips
- Don’t Over-Mix: Gently combine the ingredients to avoid a dense meatloaf. Mix until just combined for the best texture.
- Rest Before Slicing: Let the meatloaf rest for 10-15 minutes after baking. This helps the juices redistribute.
- Check If Done: Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F for perfectly cooked meatloaf.
- Roughly Chop Cranberries: To maximize the flavor of the cranberries in the meatloaf without needing to add extra, we recommend roughly chopping them. This technique helps evenly distribute their natural sweetness and tartness throughout the dish, ensuring that every bite is packed with balanced flavor.
- Covering During Baking: You can cover the meatloaf with foil during the first half of baking to help it retain moisture. Then, remove it for the last part to allow for browning.
- Seasoning: Out of sage, rosemary, or thyme? Simply substitute them with 2 teaspoons of poultry seasoning. It’s an easy swap that keeps your stuffing meatloaf flavorful and aromatic!
Storage Instructions
Refrigerator: Let the meatloaf cool completely before storing. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezer: For longer storage, freeze individual slices of this meatloaf. Wrap the meatloaf slices in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. You can freeze this meatloaf for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheating: Reheat leftovers to keep this meatloaf just as delicious as when it was freshly made! To reheat in the oven, cover the meatloaf with foil so it doesn’t dry out and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, or until it’s warmed through. For a quick option, reheat slices in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Ground Chicken Instead?
Yes, you can substitute the ground turkey in this recipe for ground chicken. It will have a similar texture and flavor.
Is This Stuffing Meatloaf Gluten-Free?
You can easily make this stuffing meatloaf gluten-free! Just use a gluten-free stuffing mix.
Can I Freeze This Meatloaf?
Yes! You can freeze leftover meatloaf for up to 2 months. Let the meatloaf cool, slice it, and wrap individual slices of meatloaf. Then, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
More Recipes To Try Next!
- Italian Turkey Meatloaf
- Gluten-Free Turkey Meatballs
- Homemade Small Batch Stuffing
- Pesto Turkey Meatballs
- Healthy Pumpkin Pie
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.
TURKEY STUFFING MEATLOAF
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey breast
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup diced sweet or white onion
- 12 ounces seasoned stuffing mix
- 1 ¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 1/2 cup peeled and chopped apple, we used a Granny Smith apple
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Dice the onion and chop the celery. After that, add the olive oil to a skillet over medium heat on the stove. Then, add the chopped celery and diced onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes, until soft and translucent. Then, remove the skillet from the heat.
- In a small saucepan, warm the chicken broth over low heat until just heated through (do not boil). This will help the stuffing absorb the broth more easily.
- Add the seasoned stuffing mix to a large bowl. After that, pour in the warmed chicken broth. Stir until the stuffing is well moistened, and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb the liquid.
- Peel and chop the apple and roughly chop the dried cranberries.
- Add the ground turkey breast, sautéed celery and onion, eggs, chopped apple, chopped cranberries, sage, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, and pepper directly to the bowl with the stuffing mixture. Mix these ingredients until just combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Next, form the mixture into a loaf shape, ensuring it is evenly shaped and about 2 inches high.
- Bake the meatloaf at 350°F for 35-45 minutes, (depending on the thickness of the meatloaf), or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Once cooked, remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. This will help it hold its shape. For added flavor, top the meatloaf with warm gravy and garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Video
Notes
- Herbs: If you don’t have sage, rosemary, and thyme, you can substitute them with 2 teaspoons of poultry seasoning.
- Ground Turkey: You can replace the ground turkey breast with 7% fat lean ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground chicken breast.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I use Stove Top stuffing mix?
Hello, yes you can absolutely use Stovetop stuffing mix to make the turkey stuffing meatloaf.
Used this for our Thanksgiving meal with all the accompanying sides. My husband loved it. I will freeze half of it as it is big for just us two.
Hi Mary, I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed the turkey stuffing meatloaf! It’s always great to hear when a recipe becomes part of a memorable holiday meal. Freezing half is a smart idea, it’ll make for an easy and delicious meal later. Thank you for letting us know that you enjoyed the recipe!