Recipe

Thanksgiving Cranberry Glazed Turkey Meatloaf

Serve cranberry glazed turkey meatloaf for a smaller Thanksgiving dinner. Includes a moist breadcrumb mixture, thermometer guidance and make-ahead tips.

Thanksgiving Cranberry Glazed Turkey Meatloaf
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion (150 g), finely diced
  • 1 celery stalk (60 g), finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk
  • 3/4 cup (60 g) plain dry breadcrumbs
  • 1 1/2 pounds (680 g) 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup (140 g) whole-berry cranberry sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F / 190°C. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook onion and celery for 7–8 minutes until soft. Add garlic for 30 seconds, then spread the mixture on a plate to cool for 5 minutes.
  2. Stir milk into breadcrumbs in a large bowl and leave for 5 minutes. Mix in egg, sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Add cooled vegetables, then turkey. Combine gently with clean hands or a fork; stop once evenly mixed rather than kneading into a paste.
  3. Shape into a freeform loaf approximately 23 cm long, 12 cm wide and 5 cm high on the lined tray. Wash hands and sanitize surfaces that touched raw turkey. Mix cranberry sauce, mustard and vinegar in a separate clean bowl.
  4. Spread half the glaze over the loaf using a utensil that will not go back into the reserved glaze. Bake for 30 minutes, then spread on the remaining glaze with a clean utensil.
  5. Continue baking for 15–25 minutes. Insert a food thermometer into the center from the side, checking more than one spot; ground turkey must reach 165°F / 74°C. If the glaze darkens before the center is ready, cover loosely with foil. Timing varies with loaf thickness.
  6. Rest for 10 minutes before cutting into six equal portions. Spoon pan juices over the slices if desired. No side dishes are included in the stated servings or nutrition estimate.

A turkey meatloaf offers sage, onion and cranberry flavors without roasting a whole bird. Softened vegetables and milk-soaked crumbs help keep lean ground turkey tender. The cranberry topping goes on in two layers, giving the loaf a glossy finish without relying on appearance to judge doneness.

Make ahead

Prepare the cooked vegetables and glaze a day ahead and refrigerate separately. Keep raw turkey refrigerated and follow its use-by date; raw ground poultry generally has a short 1–2 day refrigerated window. Mix and bake the loaf on serving day.

Leftovers

Refrigerate within 2 hours in shallow containers and use within 3–4 days. Reheat slices covered with a splash of water until they reach 165°F / 74°C. Freeze cooked portions for up to 2 months for best quality.

Keep it tender

Do not use extra-lean turkey breast as an unqualified one-for-one substitute: it can bake drier. Overmixing compresses the loaf. The thermometer, not a pink or white appearance, determines safety.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use jellied cranberry sauce?

Yes. Whisk until smooth with the mustard and vinegar before dividing the glaze. Its sugar and sodium may change the nutrition.

Can I bake this in a loaf pan?

The recipe is timed for a freeform loaf. A loaf pan changes thickness and traps liquid; use the thermometer and allow for a different cooking time.

Nutrition and recipe notes

This original recipe has not been kitchen-tested. Nutrition is an approximate editorial estimate per stated serving, not a laboratory analysis or independently verified calculation. Brands, portions and substitutions change the values.

Allergens: Wheat; Milk; Egg; Mustard; check sauce and breadcrumb labels. Check product labels.

Image is an illustrative depiction, not a photograph of a test cook.

Per serving

Nutrition facts

Serving size: One-sixth of the meatloaf, including glaze (estimated)

Calories
280
Total fat
12 g
Saturated fat
3 g
Cholesterol
115 mg
Sodium
490 mg
Total carbohydrate
21 g
Dietary fiber
1 g
Total sugars
10 g
Protein
23 g

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