Meatloaf is a classic comfort food. It’s simple, hearty, and—since its main ingredients are ground beef and bread—not exactly healthy.
That’s why we’re big fans of this updated recipe, which replaces the beef with ground turkey and Italian turkey sausage, and adds oats and veggies for way more fiber and nutrients than the traditional recipe.
If the thought of oats in your meatloaf sounds downright odd, don’t worry—you and your dinner guests won’t even know the difference.
Serves: 8
Nutrition per serving: 403 calories, 8.2 grams fat, 723 milligrams sodium, 26 grams carbohydrates, 3.9 grams fiber, 9 grams sugar, 18 grams protein.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey
1 pound spicy or sweet Italian turkey sausage (remove from casing)
1½ cups oats
1½ cups grated carrots
1½ cups chopped bell pepper (yellow, orange, red, or green)
1½ cups chopped onion
1 cup milk
1 jar tomato sauce
2 eggs
2 tablespoons parsley
½ teaspoon ground pepper
Directions:
1) Sauté pepper and onion in olive oil over medium heat until soft.
2) Meanwhile, mix ground turkey and sausage in a large bowl. Add oats, ground pepper, and parsley.
3) Add cooked pepper and onion and grated carrots. Add two beaten eggs and milk, then one cup of tomato sauce.
4) Move mixture to an oiled casserole dish and refrigerate for 30 minutes to one hour to allow ingredients to set.
5) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Split mixture between two 9-by-4-inch loaf pans. Cover loaves with tomato sauce and lightly score the top in diamonds. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese if desired. Pour at least one cup of water around the loaf to keep in moisture while baking.
6) Bake uncovered for one hour. Add more water during baking if loaf appears dry.
7) Let cool slightly, then slice and top with additional tomato sauce.
