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Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf is an easy way to cook up this classic comfort food! It is the perfect recipe to pull out for a busy weeknight meal that can please the whole family!

 

The air fryer is one of my favorite kitchen tools!

It is a great way to have a perfectly crispy outside with a moist and delicious inside. Who knew air frying would the perfect method to make an easy meatloaf recipe?

Air fryer turkey meatloaf cooks up nice and tender and iti’s definitely an easy recipe so you can make it when you’re short on time. It only takes a few minutes to prep and you can have air fried turkey meatloaf on the table in under 30 minutes.

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf

• It is just as good as traditional meatloaf, but using lean ground turkey makes it a healthy meatloaf recipe!
• All of the ingredients are simple and easy to find at your local grocery store. You probably even have them in your pantry.
• It is an easy weeknight dinner for the entire family that takes 3-5 minutes to prep and does the rest of the cooking on its own.
• This recipe has a delicious glaze and is sure to be a favorite meatloaf recipe.

Whip up this air fryer garlic bread to serve with your meatloaf.

Ground turkey is always a favorite with my family and this Quinoa Ground Turkey Bowl is a filling and nutritious dinner I can whip up anytime.

More Air Fryer Recipes

If you love your air fryer as much as I do, be sure to check out these other great air fryer recipes too.

I love these spicy Air Fryer Firecracker Meatballs, these crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan, and these ohh so yummy Air Fryer Avocado Egg Rolls.

 

 

Which Ground Turkey Should I Use?

The benefit of using ground turkey is it’s a lean meat compared to beef and it comes in several different fat content percentages.

The leanest is 99% and to be honest, I’m not a fan of it because there is so little flavor to the meat.

I do use 93% lean and 85% lean in my recipes. The 85% lean is the juiciest and turns out best, but when I want to cut a few more calories I go for the 93%.

In this air fryer turkey meatloaf recipe I’m using the 85% lean ground turkey.

 

Kitchen Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Aluminum Foil
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Mixing Spoon
• Small Bowl
• Pastry Brush
• Meat Thermometer (here’s the one I use all the time)

Ingredients

Here’s a list of everything you’ll need for this air fryer turkey meatloaf recipe and the top of the meat sauce:

Meatloaf

FRESH GROUND TURKEY: Ground meat is a must and ground turkey is a great option for meatloaf. It’s healthier since it has less saturated fat than beef.

OLIVE OIL SPRAY: The olive oil spray can keep the meatloaf from sticking to the aluminum foil.

CREOLE SEASONING: This is an excellent seasoning to give your meatloaf an extra kick. You can find homemade recipes online if you don’t have creole seasoning. They generally include garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, black pepper, white pepper, etc.

SEASONED BREADCRUMBS: I use Italian breadcrumbs for this, but any will work. The bread crumbs help to hold the meatloaf together. You can even use crushed Ritz crackers too.

BEATEN EGG: The egg helps to hold the meat mixture together while adding a little more moisture.

MILK: This liquid helps you to have a deliciously moist meatloaf.

KETCHUP: While many use ketchup in the sauce, I also use it in the meat to help enhance the meat flavor.

HONEY DIJON MUSTARD: The more moisture you can add to meatloaf, the better it is going to be! This adds some great flavor as well.

Top of the Meatloaf Sauce

KETCHUP: Every classic meatloaf needs a ketchup-based topping sauce!

BROWN SUGAR: The brown sugar helps to sweeten the sauce.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (optional): This is optional. It will give a little more tang to your sauce if desired!

 

How to Make Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf

STEP 1: Combine all meatloaf ingredients into a large bowl and mix well.

STEP 2: Form the meatloaf mixture into a loaf shape.

 

STEP 3: Line the bottom of the air fryer basket with aluminum foil (meatloaf is messy!) Set the Air Fryer to 370 degrees F and preheat for one minute (some air fryers need to preheat for 2 minutes, follow your manual).

STEP 4: Spray the foil with with nonstick cooking spray.

STEP 5: Place the meatloaf in the air fryer basket and air fry for 20 minutes.

TIP: Use two spatulas to scoop underneath the raw meatloaf and place in the air fryer basket. The basket will be HOT, so don’t touch it with your hands.

STEP 6: While the meatloaf is cooking, mix the ketchup and brown sugar to make the sauce. If it tastes too sweet or you want a tangy glaze, you can add some apple cider vinegar to balance out the taste.

STEP 7: Once cooked, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. A thicker meatloaf will need a longer cook time. In this case, cook for another 10-15 more minutes (checking periodically).

 

STEP 8: Take the meatloaf out and brush a generous amount of the sauce on top of the meatloaf.

STEP 9: Cut the meatloaf into slices and serve.

 

Variations and Substitutions

There are so many delicious ways to change up this air fryer turkey meatloaf. Here’s some ideas you can try:

• Add a savory flavor including a little Worcestershire sauce or barbecue sauce.
• You could substitute the ketchup in the sauce for bbq sauce as well.
• If you have a smaller basket on your air fryer or just want to try something different, divide turkey mixture into smaller loafs for mini meatloaves! Adjust cook time accordingly.
• If you’re a cheese fan, add some Parmesan cheese into the meat mixture or on top of the meatloaf.
• Sprinkle some crispy bacon on top for a fun spin to this air fryer meatloaf recipe.

What Side Dishes to Serve with Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf?

• All kinds of cooked veggies like green beans, carrots, Parmesan broccoli and cauliflower, green peas etc..
• Creamy mashed potatoes.
• Air Fryer Crispy Seasoned Brussels Sprouts

Need a filling and fresh side dish? Try this tasty roasted potato salad made with a homemade dressing and herbs.

Serving Ideas

I love to serve air fryer turkey meatloaf in different ways. Here’s a few ideas to try:

• We always make meatloaf sandwiches with leftovers.
• You can use this same recipe and make stuffed peppers.
• Meat loaf tacos are absolutely delish! Wrap in a flour tortilla, add cheese and you’re good to go.

More Air Fryer Recipes to Love

Air Fryer Almond Crusted Chicken

Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Chicken Burgers (Ground Chicken)

Will this Air Fryer Recipe Work With Beef?

Absolutely! You can use several other ground meats if you prefer.

Try lean ground beef, ground chicken, or ground pork.

Just make sure the internal temperature reaches the appropriate heat to make sure it is completely cooked. Ground Beef and pork needs to reach 160 degrees F, where as ground chicken needs to reach 165 degrees F.

Use a instant read thermometer to check the internal heat. This one is inexpensive and works perfectly for all my cooking needs.

 

Can I Cook this in a Conventional Oven?

Yes, of course you can! The beauty of making air fryer turkey meatloaf is how quick you can get dinner on the table, but this same recipe tastes fab right out of the oven too.

To put it in the oven, you’ll want to put the meatloaf in a small loaf pan.

Cook at 375 degrees F with a cooking time of 45 minutes. Check for doneness with an instant read thermometer. If it not quite ready, cook for another 5-10 minutes as needed.

What is the Secret to Moist Meatloaf?

In order to have moist meatloaf, you need moist ingredients. The liquid ingredients are key to keeping the meat from drying out.

Adding things like ketchup, milk, an egg, and honey dijon mustard will help your meatloaf be magically delicious.

How to Store Leftover Meatloaf

Once cooled, store any leftover turkey meatloaf in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

You can also store it in the freezer in an airtight container or a freezer bag for up to six months.

How to Reheat

Place it back in your preheated air fryer at 350 degrees F for approximately 5 minutes or until heated all the way thru.

Be sure to spray the top and bottom of the meatloaf with a non-stick cooking spray before placing it in the air fryer. This will help re-crisp up the outside.

 

This easy Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf recipe is a fabulous main course to bring into your recipe rotation. Tender and flavorful, it’s sure to be a family favorite!

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