The Secret to the Perfect Turkey Meatloaf

The Secret to the Perfect Turkey Meatloaf is so much easier than you think! Who doesn’t love tender, juicy and flavorful meatloaf?!

There are plenty of jokes out there about meatloaf but truly, I find it a little sad.  I think meatloaf is totally underrated and can really be a delicious dinner.  I’ve had some really good ones at restaurants and I’m going to admit that despite all of my attempts, it took me a long time to learn the secret to the perfect turkey meatloaf for myself (or any meatloaf for that matter!).I now use basically the same recipe whether I’m making beef or turkey meatloaf or even when I’m making meatballs.  It doesn’t make the most beautiful loaf but it certainly does taste good, and in my book that’s what really matters.The key to the best meatloaf is finding just the right balance between moisture and texture.  You don’t want a dry meatloaf but you certainly don’t want it to be a soggy mess, either.  The key? Panko bread crumbs and milk.  The panko is kind of like cheating because you don’t have to hassle with “day-old” bread yet after soaking for 5 minutes it becomes the perfect texture.  Mix it into your loaf evenly and you will have the most tender juicy meatloaf of your life!Other required meatloaf ingredients include egg and seasonings.  The fun part comes with the mix-and-match type options because you could mix beef and pork, use turkey, use chicken or any combination of these!  Also, some add-ins I like to use include:

• finely chopped mushrooms
• onions and garlic
• carrots and celery
• your choice, experiment!

No matter how you make it, I find meatloaf to be one of the perfect family meals! Smart Points per Serving (using 93% lean turkey): 6Smart Points per Serving (using 99% lean turkey): 4Freestyle Smart Point per Serving (using 99% lean turkey): 2

My favorite side for any meatloaf dish:

Chipotle Roasted Brussels Sprouts