This Thanksgiving turkey meatloaf is the PERFECT non-traditional spin on the holiday meal! Super moist turkey meatloaf mixed with dried stuffing mix, fresh herbs, and topped with whole berry cranberry sauce.
If there is anything that 2020 has taught us it’s that the holidays aren’t going to be normal either.
Honestly, it’s ok.
I’m not really on board with acting like everything is normal while simultaneously ignoring science.
That’s not really my scene.
However, I am 100% on board with coming up with new and fun different ways to celebrate the holidays.
That’s where this Thanksgiving turkey meatloaf comes into play.
It gives you all the flavors of Thanksgiving but rolled into one delicious turkey meatloaf.
Instead of ketchup topping, I used whole berry cranberry sauce (with extra on the side for dipping!) and instead of using bread crumbs, I used one bag of stuffing mix!
This meatloaf honestly might be my new favorite.
It’s that darn good!
Table of Contents
What type of ground turkey should I use for meatloaf?
Now, I know there is a lot of hate for turkey meatloaf but honestly – I love it!
For this recipe, I used 2 pounds of 93/7 ground turkey.
That means it has 7% fat in the meat.
The reason I like there to be some fat is so the baked meatloaf stays moist and does not dry out.
Could I use a different type of ground meat?
Sure!
The reason I went with turkey is because it plays on the idea of a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving and naturally pairs well with the stuffing, cranberry sauce, and fresh herbs.
If you can’t easily find ground turkey you could use ground beef in place.
Just note, that it will change the flavor profile if you opt to use ground beef.
What type of stuffing mix should I use?
I used one 6-ounce bag of UNCOOKED Stove Top stuffing mix in turkey flavor.
You could of course use chicken flavor stuffing mix too. They are both very similar.
The main reason I used a bag of Stove Top is because I knew it would be filled with flavors that traditionally taste like “Thanksgiving” and because the dried bread would be a great substitute for bread crumbs.
What if I want to use breadcrumbs in my meatloaf?
If you’re not a fan of Stove Top or just don’t want to buy a box of stuffing you can easily substitute a few things in its place.
You could substitute 6-ounce panko bread crumbs mixed with 1 teaspoon dried poultry seasoning.
Or if you have a bag of dried stuffing mix (the type sold in the bag with no other ingredients) use 6 ounces of that plus the addition of 1 teaspoon of dried poultry seasoning.
What type of cranberry sauce should I use?
You’ll want to make sure to glaze this Thanksgiving turkey meatloaf with a whole berry style of cranberry sauce.
So this means you can either buy it in a can (make sure it says whole berry!) or make it yourself!
I have a great Cranberry Orange Sauce with Ginger that would be perfect for this recipe!
How do I store this Thanksgiving turkey meatloaf?
Meatloaf is actually my all-time FAVORITE breakfast leftover.
Yes, I eat dinner leftovers for breakfast.
I follow zero breakfast rules.
To store just slice it, put it in an air-safe container, and store refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Do you love this Thanksgiving turkey meatloaf?
Why not try a few of my other delicious Thanksgiving dishes?
- Sheet Pan Thanksgiving Dinner
- Thanksgiving Stuffing Topped Hummus
- Cranberry BBQ Sauce Cornish Hens
- Garlic Herb Maple Roast Turkey
- Puff Pastry Turkey Pot Pie
Thanksgiving Turkey Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground turkey 93/7
- 6 ounce bag dried stuffing mix
- 2 large eggs cracked and whisked
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh sage
- 2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
- 14 ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, parchment paper, or a Silpat liner.
- If you use foil spray the foil lightly with nonstick spray, set aside.
- In a large bowl add ground turkey, dried stuffing mix, eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, sage, thyme, and rosemary.
- Using your hands, or a spatula, gently mix together until well combined.
- Add the mixed meat to your prepared baking sheet and shape into a 12×8 inch loaf.
- Add to the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and top the meatloaf with 1/2 the can of cranberry sauce.
- Place back in the oven and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, test center to make sure the meatloaf has reached 165 degrees F, and serve sliced with extra cranberry sauce on the side.
Notes
- I used Butterball 93/7 ground turkey
- For the stuffing, I used 1 (6 ounce) bag of uncooked Stove Top turkey stuffing mix
Nutrition
Phyla
Friday 24th of November 2023
This was an excellent Thanksgiving meal...my family loved it. I served it with mashed sweet potatoes, fresh brocccoli, and biscuits. The only change I made was using dried herbs, as I didn't have fresh ones. It still tasted great. The combination of the turkey-flavored stuffing and herbs, along with the cranberry sauce, made this a perfect Thanksgiving entree.
Person
Monday 20th of November 2023
Any reason you had to get political with a recipe? Was it necessary at all?
nutmegnanny
Friday 24th of November 2023
Science is not politics. Have a great holiday season.
Linda
Thursday 5th of October 2023
Do u cook stuffing first before adding it to meatloaf? There is a lot of hard cubes in stuffing mix and would be hard to break down?
nutmegnanny
Friday 24th of November 2023
Hi Linda - No, you do not cook the stuffing first. The bread grabs moisture from the meat as it cooks and helps hold together the loaf form. It's similar to use breadcrumbs in normal meatloaf.
Keri
Sunday 20th of November 2022
I wondered if there would need to be anything specific completed if I cooked the loaf like a real stuffed turkey? IE I make homemade bread stuffing and "wrap" the ground turkey around the stuffing in the bread pan. Would it require a higher level of fat content to do it this way? Should I use a turkey bag instead of tinfoil? The meal is just for me and don't want to make an actual turkey, but I really love homemade bread stuffing that is cooked inside the turkey. It's my favorite. Tell me what you think, please.
Lisa Joseph
Thursday 25th of November 2021
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was excellent! The only thing I changed was using Stove Top herb flavored stuffing mix and dried herbs. It is definately a keeper and I will be making this again