Turkey Meatloaf with Spinach & Mozzarella

meatloaf

 :: Turkey Meatloaf with Spinach & Mozzarella ::

Looking for a healthy, easy weeknight meal? Look no further! This has been a family favorite for many years! One of my dear friends gave me this recipe when my oldest son was a toddler. We’ve been eating it ever since! This isn’t your traditional meatloaf. It’s healthier with the use of ground turkey instead of ground beef.  A layer of fresh spinach topped with shredded mozzarella {optional} is rolled up inside, keeping this dish flavorful and moist! This is one of those great meals that you can prepare earlier in the day and throw into the fridge until you are ready to cook. Also… there really is no need to measure. It just takes a pinch of this and a pinch of that to add flavor! meatloaf11

Coarsely chop the fresh spinach before layering it onto the prepared meat mixture.

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After adding the spinach & mozzarella, use the aluminum foil to help you roll the meatloaf.

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Transfer carefully into a baking dish and top with ketchup just prior to cooking. If the mixture does not roll well… don’t worry. You can return the meat mixture to the mixing bowl and combine all the ingredients {spinach & mozzarella included} and form into a loaf. It will taste the same… {in fact, this is a good way to disguise the spinach in the loaf if your kids are resistant to green vegetables}!

Turkey Meatloaf with Spinach & Mozzarella
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Meat Mixture Ingredients
  1. 1 1/2 pounds of ground turkey {use ground beef, if desired}
  2. 1/4 cup milk
  3. 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  4. 1/4 cup ketchup {with an additional 1/4 cup used to top the loaf}
  5. 1 to 2 eggs
  6. 3/4 cup bread crumbs {store bought or homemade}
  7. 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  8. 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
  9. 1 teaspoon sage leaves
  10. 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  11. 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  12. a dash of salt, pepper
Inside Layer Ingredients
  1. 3/4 cup fresh spinach, chopped {if you use frozen, make sure it's thawed}
  2. 3/4 cup mozzarella, grated {optional}
Instructions
  1. Mix all of the 'Meat Mixture' ingredients into a bowl.
  2. Lay out a large piece of aluminum foil and flatten the meat mixture on the foil until it is approximately 12 inches x 6 inches.
  3. Next, sprinkle on a layer of fresh spinach, followed by mozzarella.
  4. Using the aluminum foil to assist you, begin to roll the meat, removing the foil as you go. Try to pick up the loaf before the final bit of rolling is done and transfer into your baking dish {a 9 x 11 glass baking dish works well}. Completely remove the foil.
  5. Cover the meatloaf with 1/4 cup of ketchup by smearing it all over the top. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes - 1 hour 30 minutes. Let rest for a few minutes before slicing. Serve warm.
Notes
  1. Leftover meatloaf is delicious made into a cold or hot sandwich the next day! Simply slice and put between two pieces of your favorite bread. Then add condiments, such as mustard. Enjoy!
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Comments

      • Oh my goodness, Debbie! I am so thankful you commented and pointed that out to me! It seems that when we began using a new recipe format… it deleted our older recipes! I went ahead and typed it back in… We should have it fixed soon so it will be a printable version. I hope that you make the meatloaf and love it! It’s a family favorite and our most pinned recipe! xo

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    • i Think that most people are afraid to experiment with meatloaf. i’ve done this one and a few other combo’s like this and they turn out great each time. for me, i always as my family members what they what the loaf stuffed with. once you know the items, its up to you to balance it, then do it. cooking is so relaxing. yes, there’s gonna be failures, but once you master the clock…believe me, timing is everything, you’ll see and enjoy cooking. yes, i’m a man…but i’m a military man!!!

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  3. Found this on Pinterest a few days ago and decided to make it for dinner tonight. It was a hit with both my boyfriend and I. We’ve been trying to eat better and I figured the turkey and spinach give a healthier twist to meatloaf. Paired it with mashed cauliflower and green beans…wonderful meal.

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  4. I made this for my family tonight and did everything exactly as stated in your recipe (including the mozz and prepping during naptime)…Oh my gosh! it was so yummy! Mine took about an hour to cook and my husband claimed it to be one of his favorite dishes yet that I’ve prepared for him! My almost-2 year old gobbled it up! Thank you for such a great recipe, and easy recipe! We will definitely be making this many times in the future!

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    • Oh my Andra what a lovely compliment! We are so happy your family enjoyed the meatloaf recipe! It always is a happy moment when our little ones like a new recipe, too! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave us a comment! xoxo

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  5. I made this for the crew of my ship, using frozen spinach (all I had), and they DEVOURED it. Thanks!

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    • Oh my goodness! That’s the best news! I am so happy that your crew loved it! What kind of a ship are you on? Oh, how I love a life at sea! I grew up on boats and cruising part of the world as a child. :)) Thanks so much for commenting! Made my night! xo

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  7. I found this recipe when I googled “turkey meatloaf with spinach and mozzarella” and I had all the ingredients in the house so I tried it….YUMMY! The only thing I would do differently is next time I think I will sautee the onions and garlic first, otherwise I won’t change a thing! Thanks for this fantastic recipe!! I will definitely use it again!!

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  9. I found this recipe from a post by Jasmine at Fleurty and Fit. It is easy and delicious! It has become my husband’s new favorite meal and a popular request from the kids. Thanks so much!

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  10. This was delicious, though I did make some changes. I used two parts ground turkey and one part spicy ground turkey sausage. I left off the glaze, used soy granules and bread crumb combination, and herbs de Provence for seasoning and sofrito in place of the ketchup. The spinach and cheese center was a fabulous idea.

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  11. OMG, I just made this delicious meatloaf! Wow. It came out so moist. I didn’t have mozzarella on hand so I used grated parmesan. It was great! Thanks for this recipe. It is definitely a keeper!

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    • LOVE getting comments like this, Donna! Thank you so much for your sweet words! So glad that the recipe turned out great! Honestly… it’s a recipe I think that I will pass down for generations to come! xo

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  12. OMG tHIS WAS SO good!! I used homemade marinara instead of ketchup (in & on) and used frozen spinach, drained & SAUTÉED with garlic & EVOo instead of fresh. what are your thoughts on prepping & freezing the meatloaf? I will definitely make this again!!

    Reply

    • Hi Steph! Haha! Sorry about the random capitals! Not sure what was going on with our site when you left a comment! So glad that you liked the recipe! It truly is a favorite of ours — for more than a decade now! I have actually never frozen it, so I have no idea how that would turn out. Did you try it? If so… please report back! xoxo, Sara

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  13. this recipe was amazing. my niece and her VERY picky bff loved it. Instead of rolling it, I cheated and just layered the spinach and mozzarella in the center of the meat mixture. They are already asking for it again. thanks for the recipe.

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  14. This was Amazing. Thanks for posting this healthy alternative to beef meatloaf. My huSband who never eats turkey anything asked for this to be a regular in our roTation! Loved it!

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    • Awesome! Thanks so much for letting us know! It’s still one of our all time favorites! This past week… I cooked it in a muffin tin and it cooked in about 30 minutes. A great alternative when you’re in a rush! Just use a meat thermometer to make sure it’s done (165 degrees F). 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and commenting! xoxo, Sara

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  15. Could I make this into a freezer meal? if so, what would you recommend for baking time and temp?

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    • Hi Rachel! I would definitely give it a shot as a freezer meal! I think it would work perfectly! I think I’d leave the temperature the same and use a meat thermometer to make sure it’s fully cooked. It will just take a bit longer! Thanks for stopping by! xo, Sara

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  16. This was delicious! I skipped the ketchup on the top and mixed in a shredded carrot JUST to amp up the veggie content (and add a little more moisture) … dosed it with gravy and served with mash and cranberry sauce. So good! Will definitely make this again and often!

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    • I am so sorry for the delay in responding, Laura. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! This recipe has remained one of our family favorites for more than 10 years. So glad you were able to make it your own and enjoyed it! All the best! Sara

      Reply

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