Parmesan Crusted Turkey Meatloaf (Printable)

Lean turkey meatloaf with Italian herbs and crispy golden Parmesan topping

# What You'll Need:

→ Meatloaf Mixture

01 - 1 ½ lbs ground turkey
02 - 1 cup breadcrumbs
03 - ½ cup milk
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tbsp dried)
09 - 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - ½ tsp black pepper
12 - 2 tbsp ketchup

→ Parmesan Crust

13 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
15 - 2 tbsp melted butter
16 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

→ Topping

17 - ¼ cup ketchup

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a loaf pan.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic, Parmesan, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and 2 tbsp ketchup. Mix until just combined—do not overmix.
03 - Shape the mixture into a loaf on the prepared baking sheet or transfer to the loaf pan, smoothing the top.
04 - Spread ¼ cup ketchup evenly over the top of the loaf.
05 - In a separate bowl, mix together grated Parmesan, panko breadcrumbs, and melted butter until the mixture resembles coarse clumps. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the ketchup layer.
06 - Bake for 50 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the crust is golden brown.
07 - Let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with extra parsley if desired and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The turkey keeps it remarkably light while staying incredibly juicy
  • That Parmesan crust creates the most satisfying crunch against tender meat
02 -
  • Overmixing the meat mixture makes for a tough, rubbery texture
  • The crust can burn quickly, so check at the 40 minute mark and tent with foil if needed
03 -
  • Wring out your onion in a paper towel before adding it to prevent excess moisture
  • Mix the crust topping with your fingers until you can feel the butter coating every crumb

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