A classic meatloaf recipe is one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. I love it hot or cold, leftover or fresh, there’s just no wrong way to enjoy it!
In this healthy meatloaf recipe, we’ve lightened things up with the perfect blend of ground beef and chicken or turkey and a good dose of veggies to make it moist.
Flavorful, so tender, and so juicy, I know you’ll love this recipe as much as I do!
A Healthier Version of Meatloaf
- Leaner meats with extra veggies make this recipe a superstar.
- Lighter with less fat, this beef and chicken (or turkey) meatloaf is juicy and stuffed with savory onions and carrots and tangy condiments means that it packs in all of the flavor of a classic version with less calories.
- Even new-ish home cooks can make this easy meatloaf recipe to perfection!
- Garnish with a generous sprinkling of fresh parsley or parmesan cheese before slicing at the table.
- This is the best ever recipe for weekly meal prep! Double the recipe and serve slices with eggs for breakfast, or make hearty meatloaf sammies for a school or workday lunch!
How to Make a Healthier Meatloaf
MEAT: Ground turkey breast or lean ground chicken is lower in fat and we pair it with a lean (not extra lean) blend of ground beef to get that juicy texture. Breadcrumbs hold the ingredients together, but can be switched out with crushed pork rinds for a lower carb meatloaf or oats if you’d prefer.
VEGETABLES: Onions and carrots add a little color, some texture, and lots of moisture this to beef and turkey meatloaf. Mushrooms, zucchini, or green pepper can be added to the mix as long as the mixture stays together. It’s a great way to use up leftover veggies!
SEASONINGS: Most meatloaf recipes have the sauce on the top, but this recipe has sauces cooked in! Switch out the barbecue sauce for ketchup or chile sauce and the mustard for creamy horseradish to make a new recipe every time. Or, mix in a DIY seasoning blend like this Hamburger Seasoning, a Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe, or a spicy blend like this Adobo Seasoning.
How to Make Meatloaf
- Combine carrots, spices, egg, & sauces in a blender.
- Mix the meat & breadcrumbs.
- Shape into a loaf. Cover with foil.
- Bake per recipe below.
- Add topping & bake again.
PRO TIP: Cover the meatloaf with slices of uncooked bacon before baking for an extra juicy & savory loaf.
Storing & Freezing
Keep leftover meatloaf covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Serve cold or reheat portions in a skillet with a little water added to it.
Freeze slices between layers of parchment paper in a zippered bag. Write the date on the outside and place it in the freezer for up to 8 weeks. Thaw portions in the refrigerator before serving or reheating.
What Goes with Meatloaf?
Mashed potatoes of course! Here are some flavorful veggies to add on the side.
- Roasted Vegetables – so crisp & colorful
- Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
- Sauteed Green Beans – ready in minutes
- Easy Roasted Beets
- Cauliflower au Gratin
Did your family love this Healthy Meatloaf? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound ground turkey or ground chicken
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 carrot chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce or ketchup or chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Topping
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce or half bbq sauce and half chili sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a blender combine egg, carrot, onion, bbq sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, and pepper. Blend until the carrot & onion are finely chopped and the mixture is fairly smooth (a few chunks are ok).
- In a large bowl, combine blended mixture, beef, turkey and bread crumbs. Mix until evenly combined.
- Spray a foil-lined pan very well with non-stick spray. Place the meat on the pan and form into a loaf shape about 4" wide x 3" high. Cover with foil to create a seal.
- Bake for 1 hour. Remove foil, spread topping over meatloaf, and bake an additional 15-30 minutes or until meatloaf reaches 160°F. (The temperature will rise to 165°F while resting)
- Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Easy and very tasty. Came out very good and moist. I used sweet chili sauce on top and browned it under the broiler. Will definitely become a family favorite.
I had just submitted a few minutes earlier and accidentally left out the brown sugar I added to the topping.
I modified this recipe a little because I did not have all of the correct ingredients. I substituted lean ground pork for the beef. I used the Turkey like it called for. I added 1/4 cup of quick cooking oats/uncooked , in addition to the panko bread crumbs. I added some dried, Lawry’s seasoning salt, 1 carrot and 2 stalks of celery diced. I mixed the ingredients well and put it in a loaf pan. I mixed together some ketchup, Open Pit barbecue sauce and about 1 tsp. mustard and topped the meatloaf with it. I left the loaf in the fridge for an hour before baking baked it. I followed the recipe as written with these changes. It was so good. A nice solid meatloaf with good flavors….
I made this last night exactly as written — it was moist and delicious! I used 93/7 for the ground beef and turkey both. Using BBQ sauce instead of ketchup was a nice touch. Will definitely make this again!
This meatloaf is amazing and if you use 93% hamburgers, 93% turkey and substitute oatmeal for Panko, use no sugar ketchup, your entire loaf is ZERO points per serving for Weight Watchers Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing your tips Ginger!