Air fryer turkey meatloaf gives you all the classic comfort of a meatloaf dinner, but it’s a bit lighter than beef and ready in about 45 minutes total. Turns out moist and flavorful with the best sweet, tangy glaze!
I switched to ground turkey for meatloaf a while back when I was trying to cut the costs a bit on some of our regular dinners, and I honestly don’t miss the beef at all in meatloaf! Ground turkey is so economical – currently around 30% cheaper than ground beef at my local grocery store!
Of course, none of that matters if the flavor isn’t there, so I worked hard to get this air fryer turkey meatloaf recipe just right! Stove Top Stuffing is what we use for the binder and it helps add flavor and keep the meatloaf nice and moist.
Chad still asks for our classic Air Fryer Meatloaf every so often, but this turkey version has become the one we make most weeknights! If you’re already into ground turkey, it’s a nice change of pace from our Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs.
The parchment paper trick took this from frustrating to foolproof for me. Lining the basket means I can lift the whole loaf out in one piece instead of trying to wrestle it out with a spatula and praying it doesn’t fall apart.
3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
Lighter & cheaper without losing flavor. Ground turkey keeps this dinner a little leaner and more budget-friendly, and the stuffing mix and Parmesan make sure it still cooks up moist and flavorful.
Ready in under an hour. Between preheating, cooking, and the sauce, you’re looking at about 45 minutes total, no oven required.
That sweet, tangy glaze. The glaze is my favorite part of a meatloaf and we didn’t skimp on this one!
Ingredient Notes, Swaps, & Tips:
Lean ground turkey is the base here. Look for the package labeled 93/7 for the best results.
Dry stuffing mix, like Stove Top, keeps the meatloaf moist while adding seasoning at the same time.
Powdered Parmesan cheese rounds out the flavor and helps hold everything together. The shelf stable kind in the shaker container works perfectly here.
Onion and green bell pepper add moisture and a little texture. Chop them small so they cook through and blend into the loaf instead of standing out as chunks.
For the sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce whisk together into a glaze that caramelizes on top as it finishes cooking.
How to make Turkey Meatloaf in the Air Fryer
Mix and Shape – Combine all the meatloaf ingredients in a large bowl, then shape the mixture into a loaf on the parchment, about 2 inches thick.
Line the Basket – Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit your air fryer basket, leaving enough extra to go up the sides an inch or two so it’s easy to lift out later.
Air Fry – Transfer to the preheated air fryer and cook for 30 minutes, checking at the 15 minute mark and tenting with foil if the top is browning too fast. Top with the glaze.
Finish – Continue cooking until the glaze caramelizes a bit and the internal temp of the meatloaf has reached 165. I use a meat thermometer here.
Storage
Store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, pop individual slices in the microwave and heat until just warmed through. You could also reheat in the air fryer, but you do run the risk of drying out the meatloaf.
To freeze, wrap individual slices tightly and store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating for the best results.
More Easy Air Fryer Weeknight Dinners:
- Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Burger
- Air Fryer Turkey Legs
- Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Air Fryer Ham
Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf
Equipment
Ingredients
For the meatloaf:
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground turkey
- 3/4 cup dry stuffing mix such as Stove Top
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup powdered Parmesan cheese
- 1 small onion minced
- 1 small green bell pepper minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- Parsley for garnish
For the sauce:
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
To make the meatloaf:
- Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit in your air fryer basket, leaving it large enough that it goes up the sides an inch or two. This will make it easier to remove the meatloaf from the air fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees for 5 minutes.
- Add all of the meatloaf ingredients to a large bowl and mix until well combined.
- Place the meat mixture onto the parchment and shape the meat into a loaf. Carefully transfer to the preheated air fryer.
- Cook for 30 minutes, checking at the 15 minute mark to make sure the top isn’t getting too browned. If it is, place a piece of foil over the top.
- Pour the sauce over the meatloaf, covering the top and sides as best you can with the sauce. Return to the air fryer for 10 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees.
- Carefully remove the meatloaf from the air fryer by gripping the sides of the parchment or by using a large spatula (or two).
- Let rest for 5 minutes before sprinkling with parsley, slicing, and serving.
To make the sauce:
- Whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce until smooth.
Notes
Nutrition
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