You don’t need a lot of blog content if you’re looking for the recipe for the tastiest, most delicious, traditional turkey meatloaf made in an air fryer. I’ll keep it short and sweet.
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Craving a comforting and flavorful meal that’s quick and easy to prepare? Look no further than Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf! This recipe delivers juicy, flavorful meatloaf with a crispy exterior, all in under an hour.
Why Choose Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf?
- Faster Cooking: Compared to traditional oven-baked meatloaf, the air fryer cooks it in significantly less time, saving you precious time in the kitchen.
- Crispy Exterior: The air fryer’s powerful airflow creates a crispy, golden-brown crust on the meatloaf, adding an irresistible texture to each bite.
- Healthier Option: Using ground turkey instead of beef makes this meatloaf a leaner and healthier choice, perfect for those watching their calorie intake.
- Easy Cleanup: No need to heat up your oven or deal with messy baking pans. The air fryer makes cleanup a breeze, leaving you more time to enjoy your delicious meal.
Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf Recipe: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ingredients:
- 1 egg, beaten
- ⅓ cup bread crumbs
- ⅓ cup milk
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ cup ketchup
- 3 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 ½ lbs ground turkey, 85% lean
- ¼ lb thick-cut bacon (optional)
Topping Sauce:
- ½ cup ketchup
- 3 tbsp real maple syrup
- ½ tsp liquid smoke
Instructions:
- Combine the wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, bread crumbs, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning until well combined.
- Mix in the ketchup and Dijon mustard: Add the ketchup and Dijon mustard to the wet ingredient mixture and stir until evenly incorporated.
- Incorporate the ground turkey: Add the ground turkey to the bowl and use your hands to gently mix it with the seasoned mixture until thoroughly combined.
- Shape the meatloaf: Form the meatloaf mixture into an even loaf that will fit comfortably in your air fryer basket. Aim for a thickness that allows it to cook evenly.
- Prepare the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Add the bacon (optional): If using, drape the bacon strips evenly over the top of the meatloaf, tucking the ends underneath.
- Initial cooking: Place the meatloaf in the air fryer basket and cook for 20 minutes.
- Prepare the topping sauce: While the meatloaf cooks, whisk together the ketchup, maple syrup, and liquid smoke in a small bowl.
- Apply the sauce: After the initial 20 minutes, open the air fryer and generously brush the topping sauce over the meatloaf.
- Finish cooking: Place a piece of lightly oiled foil loosely over the meatloaf and continue cooking for another 10 minutes.
- Check the temperature: Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meatloaf. It should reach 160°F (71°C). If not, cook for an additional 5 minutes, checking the temperature again.
- Rest and serve: Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful meatloaf.
Tips for Making the Best Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf:
- Use 85% lean ground turkey: This ensures a moist and flavorful meatloaf without being too greasy.
- Don’t overmix the meatloaf mixture: Overmixing can make the meatloaf tough.
- Adjust the cooking time based on your air fryer: Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model.
- Use a meat thermometer: This is the most accurate way to ensure the meatloaf is cooked through to a safe internal temperature.
- Serve with your favorite sides: Mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad are all great accompaniments to this delicious meatloaf.
Additional Resources:
- Simply Happy Foodie’s Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf: https://www.simplyhappyfoodie.com/air-fryer-turkey-meatloaf/
- Delish’s Best Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf Recipe: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a39854157/air-fryer-turkey-meatloaf-recipe/
Enjoy this delicious and easy Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf recipe! It’s sure to become a family favorite.
Using an Air Fryer for Meatloaf
First things first, you need an air fryer. Yes, this is actually important to have. Otherwise, it’s just another meatloaf that you made in your oven. Trust me there is a huge difference.
This is why I’ll never make another oven meatloaf:
- Without an oven, cooking requires less energy and eliminates the need for preheating and overheating the kitchen.
- Reduced cooking time: this only took 20 minutes to cook, as opposed to the 1 1/2 hours my recipe card predicted. Remember that I’m not waiting for the oven to heat up either!
- You can bake your loaf-shaped rack in your oven, but the results aren’t nearly as good. No mushy bottom!
- Two of these words make my sister cringe, but they describe the perfect moist interior and an even, flavorful crust without any char. The interior is then uniformly cooked and moist, with not a single dry area.
Here’s the air fryer I have. I love love love it. It has a home in the pantry, but it’s nearly always out and being used. Primarily, we use it for frozen fried foods like pizza bites, spinach bites, fries, chicken nuggets, and fish sticks.
Turkey Meatloaf You’ll Love!
The meatloaf part of this recipe is super easy, and fairly classic. The key, though, is using ground turkey. Although beef is used in classic meatloaf, it is fatter, so you’ll need to clean the fat from your fryer afterwards.
Anyway, so, in a bowl, I combined the spices with the breadcrumbs first. I feel like this helps to make sure the spices get distributed correctly.
Then, add in your ground turkey and an egg. Mush it all together with your hand until it’s pretty evenly mixed with no streaks of bread crumbs. Then, pour in the milk and give it a last hand mix to smooth it out.
From here, form it into a loaf shape of even thickness, with a smooth exterior. Plop it into the basket of your air fryer. We prefer ours shaped like an oversized hamburger, about 3-4 inches thick. This helps it cook evenly and quickly.
Then set your air fryer to 375ºF for 20 to 25 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the inside registers 165ºF. You can optionally flip it over and brush the whole surface with ketchup. Flip it back so the whole thing gets a thin coat of ketchup. Run the air fryer at 375ºF for an additional five minutes for a sweet crust.
A Quick & Easy Air Fryer Turkey Meatloaf Recipe! Juicy Homemade Goodness
FAQ
How do you know when turkey meatloaf is done?
How long does it take to cook meatloaf and what temperature?
Can you heat up meatloaf in an air fryer?
Do you cook meatloaf at 325 or 350?
How to cook Turkey meatloaf in air fryer?
Preheat your air fryer at 180C/350F for 5-minutes. Place the turkey meatloaf in air fryer basket and be careful the basket is hot, don’t burn yourself. Cook the turkey meatloaf at 180C/350F for 20- 25 minutes. Check the meatloaf after 20 minutes and check. If you think it needs more time then you can add 10 minutes more.
How do you make meatloaf glaze in an air fryer?
Meatloaf glaze – A simple mixture of ketchup, brown sugar, and Worchestershire (or steak sauce) makes the BEST tangy, sweet, and sticky topping. 1️⃣ Prep equipment: Program your air fryer temperature to 350°F, and let it preheat for 3-5 minutes.
How do you cook a turkey burger in an air fryer?
Fold in the ground turkey, then mix in the vegetable mixture. Place the meat mixture into a small loaf pan. In another bowl, mix the topping: Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F for 5 minutes, air fryer setting. Add your loaf, set the timer for 20-30 minutes, and check the internal temperature.
How do you cook ground turkey in an air fryer?
1️⃣ Prep equipment: Program your air fryer temperature to 350°F, and let it preheat for 3-5 minutes. 2️⃣ Mix and shape into a loaf: Add the ground turkey, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, Worchestershire sauce, egg, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Use your hands to mix until the ingredients are incorporated (without overworking).