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    Home » Recipes » Chicken and Turkey

    By Carol Published: Oct 20, 2018 Modified: Jul 14, 2021 | This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Turkey Apple Meatloaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze

    Jump to Recipe
    4.62 from 18 votes
    1 hour 40 minutes
    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!

    Turkey Apple Meatloaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze is a tasty and healthful way to shake up your meatloaf routine!  A little bit sweet and a little bit tangy, this definitely is not your momma's meatloaf!  You'll love these mashed turnips on the side!

    "This has become my family’s go-to meatloaf and a staple in our dinner rotation. It’s easy and hearty, and the balsamic ketchup takes it to a whole new level!"

    Photo of Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze in white baking dish on gray towel.

    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 Meatloaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze!

    I have probably made this Turkey Apple Meatloaf 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 meatloaf two different ways--with a simple sweetened balsamic glaze and with 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 tastes better.

    Photo of balsamic ketchup in glass jar.

    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 ½ pounds which is the perfect amount for this recipe.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS - Click the Icon to Find the Info You Need FAST!

    • How to make Turkey Apple Meatloaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze:
    • Serve with:
    • Want more great meatloaf recipes?  Try my:
    • Turkey Apple Meatloaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze
      • Equipment
      • Ingredients  1x2x3x
        • Meatloaf
        • Glaze
      • Instructions 
        • Meatloaf
        • Glaze
      • Notes
      • Nutrition

    How to make Turkey Apple Meatloaf 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 meatloaf.)
    • Add the dried sage and give it a stir.

    Photo of apples and onions being sauteed and stirred in nonstick skillet.

    • Let cool and add the remaining meatloaf 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 meatloaf is almost done baking, make the balsamic ketchup.

    Photo of meat loaf with some of the glaze spread over the top.

    • Top the turkey apple meatloaf with the warm glaze...

    Photo of Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with glaze being spread on the top with a spoon.

    ...And you're ready to enjoy this healthful, flavorful Turkey Apple Meatloaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze!

    Photo of sliced Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze on black platter.

    Serve with:

    • Sausage Stuffing with Fennel and Leeks
    • Parmesan Crusted Crushed Turnips
    • Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
    • Cauliflower White Bean Puree
    • Celery Root Puree

    Want more great meatloaf recipes?  Try my:

    • Spinach Feta Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf
    • Layered Turkey Meatloaf with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
    • Chili Glazed Meatloaf
    • Italian Meatloaf
    Turkey Apple Meat Loaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze - Overhead shot of whole meatloaf in white baking dish on gray towel

    Turkey Apple Meatloaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze

    4.62 from 18 votes
    By: Carol | From A Chef's Kitchen
    Turkey Apple Meatloaf with Balsamic Ketchup Glaze is a tasty and healthful way to shake up your meatloaf routine! A little bit sweet and a little bit tangy, this is sure to become your new favorite meatloaf!
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE SAVE RECIPE Saved!
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr 20 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 40 mins
    Course Chicken and Turkey
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 369 kcal

    Equipment

    • Wusthof Chef Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Nonstick Skillet
    • Saucepan
    • 9 x 5 Loaf Pan

    Ingredients
      

    Meatloaf

    • Oil or cooking spray - for baking dish
    • 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
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
    • 1 cup quick oats
    • 1 large egg - beaten
    • ¼ cup milk - low-fat or skim
    • 1 teaspoons salt
    • Freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 ½ pounds ground turkey - all white, all dark or a combination

    Glaze

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic - minced
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1 cup ketchup
    • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon dry mustard
    • Pinch cloves
    • Pinch allspice
    • Pinch cayenne pepper
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste

    Instructions
     

    Meatloaf

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Brush a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with oil or spray with cooking spray. Set aside until needed.
    • Combine apples with lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside until needed.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • Add the parsley, oats, egg, milk, salt and freshly ground black pepper and mix well.
    • Add the ground turkey and mix until everything is evenly incorporated.
    • Place in the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top into a nice loaf shape.
    • Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees.

    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.
    • 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 meatloaf ingredients right into the skillet and mix it up in the skillet. Transfer to the prepared loaf pan.
    FREEZER-FRIENDLY:  Cook as directed.  Cool then wrap securely.  Thaw in the refrigerator.  Reheat by the slice in the oven until heated through.
    Ketchup recipe adapted from Epicurious.com.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 837mg | Potassium: 691mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 553IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @fromachefskitchen.

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    Categories: Chicken and Turkey

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Virginia says

      March 12, 2023 at 10:24 am

      5 stars
      My son has a red meat and dairy allergy so finding creative, new ways to cook chicken and turkey that are also flavorful can be challenging. This recipe surpassed my expectations for taste and texture as well as being easy to prepare. This will definitely be a regular in my meal rotation. Thank you for a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Carol says

        March 12, 2023 at 1:33 pm

        Hi, Virginia, Thanks so much and I'm so happy to hear that! This is big favorite with my clients that can't have dairy and switching out the butter for something like Earth Balance is no biggie. Thanks again!!

        Reply
    2. Chef Jim says

      January 08, 2023 at 9:16 am

      5 stars
      How did I miss this one? Love the idea of the Balsamic Ketchup and of cooking the apples prior to mixing. On the way to the store for Ground Turkey! Thanx for re-sharing!

      Reply
      • Carol says

        January 09, 2023 at 6:39 am

        Hi, Jim, Thanks so much and hope you enjoy! I've been doing this one for clients for so many YEARS I could make it blindfolded! Thanks again!

        Reply
    3. Emily says

      February 10, 2022 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars
      This has become my family's go to meatloaf and a staple in our dinner rotation. It's easy and hearty, and the balsamic ketchup takes it to a whole new level!

      Reply
    4. Clarissa Lion says

      October 06, 2019 at 3:34 pm

      This recipe is absolutely perfect! I've already made it two days in a row for different people (myself included!) I didn't have garlic the first time, but it still tasted incredible with the apples we picked in New England. So creative, healthy and delicious.

      Reply
      • Carol says

        October 07, 2019 at 8:03 am

        Hi, Clarissa and thank you so very much! This is always a favorite with my personal chef clients so glad you enjoyed, too! Thanks again and please keep in touch!

        Reply
    5. Tanya Harris says

      October 29, 2018 at 6:26 am

      This sounds like a great traditional dinner. The glaze that you have created sounds simply delicious. Can't wait to try this healthier version.

      Reply
      • Carol says

        October 29, 2018 at 6:52 am

        Thanks, Tanya! Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    6. Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago says

      October 28, 2018 at 11:37 am

      Love the balsamic ketchup glaze on this! This definitely needs to be added to my list of weeknight dinners!

      Reply
      • Carol says

        October 28, 2018 at 3:29 pm

        Thanks, Kathryn! Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Jacque Hastert says

      October 24, 2018 at 8:26 am

      Love this healthier version of a traditional meal.

      Reply
      • Carol says

        October 24, 2018 at 8:32 am

        Thanks so much, Jacque! We just finished the last of it and it was as good five days later as it was when I first made it!

        Reply
    8. Anonymous says

      October 22, 2018 at 12:58 am

      5 stars

      Reply

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    I’m Carol, a personal chef with 20 years of experience cooking food people want to eat! Here you’ll find easy, step-by-step chef-tested gourmet recipes for today's modern home cook!

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