Do you cover meatloaf when cooking?

The answer to this question is, it depends on the recipe. For this turkey meatloaf, cook it uncovered for the first half, then cover it after I put the tomato mixture on top, to keep the topping from drying out.

Why does my turkey meatloaf fall apart?

The key to ensure your meatloaf doesn’t fall apart after cooking is to have enough “binding” ingredients . For meatloaf, these are breadcrumbs and eggs. These two ingredients help to hold the ground turkey meat together.

What is the best binder for meatloaf?

As mentioned above, the best binder for meatloaf - i.e., the ingredients to keep it from falling apart - are breadcrumbs and eggs .

How do you make turkey meatloaf not mushy?

To ensure your turkey meatloaf doesn’t get mushy, use a mixture of oats and breadcrumbs. Too many breadcrumbs can make it turn to mush. Also, if using homemade breadcrumbs, make sure they are not fresh. The drier the better!

What is the best temperature to cook meatloaf?

It depends on the ingredients in your meatloaf recipe. Most often, I find 350 degrees is a good temperature - t here is enough heat to cook the meatloaf completely without drying it out.

What temperature should a turkey meatloaf be?

As mentioned above, the best temperature to cook turkey meatloaf is 165 degrees. At this temp, the turkey is done, but not overdone.

How long do you bake ground turkey meatloaf?

Bake turkey meatloaf until it reaches 165 degrees on an instant read thermometer.

Ground Turkey Meatloaf Recipe - A Well-Seasoned Kitchen

Ingredients

Scale

Meatloaf

4 to 5 teaspoons puréed chipotle chiles in adobo sauce – see Note
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup quick-cooking oats – see Note
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 large egg whites
2 pounds ground turkey (mix of regular and breast)

Topping

1/4 cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix all meat loaf ingredients (chipotle chiles through ground turkey) until well combined. Spoon into prepared loaf pan and bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
In a small mixing bowl, stir together 1/4 cup tomato sauce, ketchup and Tabasco. Brush mixture evenly over meatloaf, cover with foil and bake an additional 30 minutes or until thermometer registers 165 degrees. Remove from oven and let rest at room temperature for around ten minutes before serving.

Notes

To make puréed chipotles in adobo sauce: Place 1 (7 ounce) can chipotle chiles and their sauce in a food processor and blend until well puréed. Place leftover purée in a closed container and refrigerate for another use (will last for months in your frig!).

Make ahead: Meatloaf can be prepared but not baked earlier in the day, covered and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving. Can also be baked, cooled, covered and frozen for up to 2 months.

Note on oats: I prefer the texture from quick-cooking oats in this recipe, but you can also make it with regular.

Author: From "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen®" by Sally Clayton and Lee Clayton Roper
Category: Main dish, poultry, easy
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: One slice
Calories: 240
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 479.7 mg
Fat: 10.3 g
Saturated Fat: 2.7 g
Carbohydrates: 7.9 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 27.8 g
Cholesterol: 89.4 mg