Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze is a tasty and healthful way to shake up your meat loaf routine!  A little bit sweet and a little bit tangy, this definitely is not your momma’s meat loaf!

Hey, all!  I’m sharing a recipe with you today that always gets rave reviews from my personal chef clients!  It’s my Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze!

I have probably made this meat loaf about a thousand times and that’s not an exaggeration.  One client requested it every month for almost two years!

Over the course of my personal chef career, I’ve made this meat loaf two different ways–with a simple sweetened balsamic glaze and with a labor-intensive onion marmalade.  Both are delicious, but I think this balsamic ketchup glaze wins for flavor and ease!

It’s possible to purchase balsamic ketchup, but it’s super simple to make yourself and no doubt tastes better.

Speaking of something tasting better….

If possible, buy ground turkey freshly ground.  I have yet to find a packaged brand at the supermarket that I like and it’s sold in 1-pound packages.  I prefer to get ground turkey at The Fresh Market so I can purchase only what I need–like 1 1/2 pounds which is the perfect amount for this recipe.

How to make Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze:

• Saute onions in olive oil and butter until softened.
• Add diced apples and cook until they begin to soften.  (You want them to hold their shape in the meat loaf.)
• Add the dried sage and give it a stir.

• Let cool and add the remaining meat loaf ingredients.  I always wear disposable gloves for this and just mix it all up with my hands!  Easy, easy!  (No photo of this step because it’s next to impossible to make ground anything look appealing.)
• Place in a loaf pan and bake.  You don’t have to use a loaf pan, but turkey is rather dry so I think a loaf pan helps retain some of the moisture.
• While the turkey meat loaf is almost done baking, make the balsamic ketchup.

• Top the meatloaf with the warm glaze…

…And you’re ready to enjoy this healthful, flavorful Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze!

Want more great meat loaf recipes?  Try my:

• Spinach Feta Stuffed Turkey Meat Loaf
• Layered Turkey Meat Loaf with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
• Chili Glazed Meat Loaf

Click to Purchase these Helpful Tools and Equipment to Make Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze  (Affiliate Links):

Yield: 8

Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze

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Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze is a tasty and healthful way to shake up your meat loaf routine! A little bit sweet and a little bit tangy, this is sure to become your new favorite meat loaf!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

• MEAT LOAF
• Oil or cooking spray
• 2 medium Fuji or Braeburn apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 1 large lemon, juiced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried sage
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup quick oats
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoons salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey, all white, all dark or a combination
• GLAZE
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• Pinch of cloves
• Pinch of allspice
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. MEAT LOAF: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Brush a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with oil or spray with cooking spray. Set aside until needed.
3. Combine apples with lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside until needed.
4. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, reduce heat to medium and cook 7-8 minutes or until beginning to soften.
5. Add the apples and continue cooking 3-4 minutes or until the apples begin to soften. Stir in the sage. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl and let cool at least 10 minutes.
6. Add the parsley, oats, egg, milk, salt and freshly ground black pepper and mix well.
7. Add the ground turkey and mix until everything is evenly incorporated.
8. Place in the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top into a nice loaf shape.
9. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees.
10. GLAZE: Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds or until fragrant. Remove from heat. Add remaining ingredients, return to heat and bring to a simmer. Cook 1-2 minutes just to combine flavors and heat it through.
11. Brush glaze over the meat loaf just before serving or serve it alongside the meat loaf.

Notes

If your skillet is large enough and you don't want to dirty a bowl, let the filling cool another 10 minutes or so. Then, add the remaining meat loaf ingredients right into the skillet and mix it up in the skillet. Transfer to the prepared loaf pan.

Ketchup recipe adapted from Epicurious.com.

The nutritional information below is only an estimate. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 317 Total Fat: 17g Saturated Fat: 5g Unsaturated Fat: 11g Cholesterol: 103mg Sodium: 849mg Carbohydrates: 25g Fiber: 3g Protein: 18g