Italian Turkey Meatloaf Recipe: A Healthier Meatloaf Option

Italian Turkey Meatloaf is an easy, yet scrumptious meal. It’s full of bold Italian flavor and is fabulous paired with pasta and a fresh green salad.

Comfort Food Cravings

We’ve been on the healthier eating train in my house for quite a few months. But, that doesn’t mean we don’t crave some good, stick-to-your-ribs classic comfort food from time to time.

When the craving hits, we do try to not completely go off the rails. Instead, I like to come up with comfort food dishes that still deliver all of the flavor along with a feeling of indulgence, but not with all of the fat and calories.

I love meatloaf and this Sicilian Meatloaf is one of my favorites. But, I was looking to make another meatloaf that was a little lower in calories and fat and that is how this Italian Turkey Meatloaf was born.

What Makes This Recipe Great

✅ Healthy twist without sacrificing flavor – Using lean ground turkey instead of ground beef cuts down on saturated fat and calories. And, the use of turkey sausage adds a touch of spiciness and gives the meatloaf so much flavor, along with helping to keep it from becoming dry.

✅ Classic comfort food vibes – This meatloaf hits that cozy spot with a combination of meat, cheese and marinara sauce. Then, how about adding in pasta for extra coziness!

✅ Simple ingredients, big impact – No complicated stuff here—just straightforward ingredients you probably already have or can easily grab, making it a perfect weeknight recipe for your dinner table.

What to Serve with Italian Turkey Meatloaf

These are some of my favorite sides I like to serve with this Italian Turkey Meatloaf.

Mashed Potatoes
If pasta isn’t your thing, you can serve individual slices of meatloaf over traditional mashed potatoes. Or, you can get crazy and try these awesome Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. The garlic is a great compliment to the Italian herbs and spices in this recipe.

Field Greens Salad
This simple green salad with a homemade balsamic is a wonderful light side dish to pair with the meatloaf.

Bread
My favorites are a crusty Italian loaf, garlic bread or these delicious Savory and Cheesy Baked Parmesan Puffs. All of these are perfect to mop up any extra sauce—no morsel left behind.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts
These Balsamic Glazed Roasted Brussels Sprouts are caramelized on the edges and a bit crispy. They add a great texture and a slightly bitter counterpoint.

Steamed Green Beans
Light and crisp green beans add a fresh, vibrant contrast to the hearty and flavorful meatloaf.

Freezing & Storing Leftovers

Personally, this is not a recipe that I make ahead of time and freeze. I find a whole meatloaf to be very dense, it takes a long time to thaw and then you have to deal with the sauce and cheese that is on top of the meatloaf.

For best results, and for ease of serving later, I cut the leftover meatloaf into individual slices. Then, I keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. This makes it very flexible to then serve again as an individual lunch, a dinner for two or a meal for the whole family.

I reheat the individual slices in one of two ways:

• Microwave: Place a slice of meatloaf on a microwave safe plate and reheat for approximately one minute or until warm.
• Oven: Prepare a sheet pan by lining with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Place a slice (or slices) of the meatloaf on the sheet pan. Place in a cold oven and then heat the oven to 350 degrees. The meatloaf should be warmed through by the tie the oven reaches the desired temperature.

If you happen to have leftover meatloaf and need to freeze, my suggestion is that you first slice into individual pieces. Then place each piece in a zip-lock bag or other airtight container.  Freeze for up to 3 months. 

To reheat, allow the meatloaf slices to thaw completely and then follow the reheating instructions above.

Pro Tips

I also cover some of these items below in Tips & Tricks, but I wanted to highlight a few tips that will ensure a perfect meatloaf every time.

1. Be gentle when handling the meat mixture – A great way to end up with a very dense meatloaf is to overmix the ingredients. You want to mix it just until everything is incorporated. Then, you’ll gently form it into a loaf shape.

2. Allow the fully cooked meatloaf time to rest – After baking, tent your meatloaf with aluminum foil and allow it to sit for 10 minutes before slicing. This helps the juices redistribute and makes it easier to cut without falling apart.

3. Use milk-soaked bread in place of bread crumbs – Use a combination of milk and chunks of soft white bread in place of bread crumbs. This ensures a nice, moist meatloaf by not incorporating dry bread crumbs. 

A Wonderful, Healthier Comfort Food Meal

Italian Turkey Meatloaf is kind of like the answer to comfort food when you want to have a lighter alternative. It’s the kind of dish that warms you up and makes the whole house smell incredible, without leaving you feeling weighed down. 

Whether you’re a longtime meatloaf fan or just dipping your toes into Italian flavors, this one’s pretty welcoming. Give it a go—you might find it quickly becomes a staple in your rotation. No fancy moves required, just good food made simple for your dinner tonight.

Recommended Equipment

Tips and Tricks

• Don’t skip the turkey sausage in this recipe. If you only use ground turkey breast, the meatloaf will not have as much flavor and will be much more likely to dry out.
• For a moist and tender meatloaf you will get the best result by using soft sandwich bread that’s been torn into small pieces and soaked briefly in milk. Bread crumbs can cause the meatloaf to be on the dry side and not as tender.
• Do not overmix the meat, this also could cause the meatloaf to be dense, rather than tender.
• If you don’t have a sheet pan, you can use a loaf pan. Make sure you prepare the pan with cooking spray.
• You definitely want the meatloaf to be cooked through, but make sure you don’t overcook it, as that also can make the meatloaf dry.
• It’s a good idea to let the meatloaf rest for a few minutes before slicing it.

Ingredients Needed to Make the Italian Turkey Meatloaf

Full instructions can be found below in the printable recipe card

• Olive oil
• Onion – You can use either red or white onion.
• Red bell pepper – I like the sweeter flavor and the vibrant color.
• Fresh garlic – Fresh garlic cloves punch up the flavor with a savory kick.
• Turkey sausage – This adds extra flavor and helps to keep the meatloaf from turning out dry.
• Ground turkey breast – Ground turkey keeps this meatloaf lean and healthier than traditional ground beef.
• Sandwich bread – I prefer a soft white bread for best results.
• Milk – This is used to further soften the bread.
• Grated parmesan cheese – Freshly grated parmesan adds a salty, nutty punch without overpowering the turkey.
• Dried Italian seasoning – This seasoning blend brings a familiar and comforting Italian flavor to the meatloaf.
• Tomato paste – Adds additional flavor.
• Eggs – Egg acts as a binder to hold the meatloaf together.
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Marinara sauce – You can use store-bought marinara or try your hand at making a homemade marinara sauce.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Cooked pasta – This is optional for serving.

How to Make Italian Turkey Meatloaf

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat.
3. Add onion, red pepper and garlic to skillet and saute for about 5 minutes, until veggies are tender.
4. Set veggies aside and let them cool slightly.
5. Add all ingredients except for marinara and mozzarella to a large bowl. Mix ingredients with your hands until everything is well-combined.
6. Place meatloaf mixture onto a sheet pan that’s been coated with cooking spray.
7. Form mixture into a loaf shape.
8. Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes.
9. After 50 minutes, top meatloaf with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.
10. Bake for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted.
11. Turn the broiler on for a short time to brown the cheese, if desired, making sure to watch it closely.
12. Let meatloaf rest for a few minutes before slicing.
13. Serve over pasta, if desired, with additional marinara sauce.

Here Are Some More Meatloaf Recipes

• Sicilian Meatloaf 
• Low Carb Cheeseburger Meatloaf
• Stuffed Pepper Meatloaf
• Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf