Healthy Air Fryer Ground Turkey Meatloaf

Finding a simple, healthy weeknight dinner that the whole family will actually eat can feel like an uphill battle. Between picky eaters, busy schedules, and the eternal question of “what’s for dinner?”, it’s easy to fall back on the same old rotation of takeout and frozen meals.

That’s where this air fryer ground turkey meatloaf comes in handy. It’s lighter than traditional beef meatloaf, cooks in a fraction of the time thanks to the air fryer, and sneaks in some veggies without anyone noticing. Plus, it’s moist, flavorful, and uses ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

What Kind of Ground Turkey Should I Use?

For this air fryer meatloaf, you’ll want to pay attention to the fat content when picking your ground turkey. I recommend using 93/7 or 85/15 ground turkey, which has enough fat to keep your meatloaf moist and flavorful without drying out during cooking. If you can only find 99% lean ground turkey, your meatloaf might turn out a bit dry, so consider adding an extra tablespoon of ketchup or a splash of olive oil to the mixture. You can find ground turkey in the refrigerated meat section, and both fresh and previously frozen will work just fine for this recipe.

Options for Substitutions

This meatloaf recipe is pretty forgiving, so here are some swaps you can make:

• Ground turkey: You can swap ground turkey for ground chicken, lean ground beef, or even a mix of turkey and beef. Keep in mind that turkey is leaner, so if you use beef, you might have more grease to drain.
• Oats: If you don’t have oats, breadcrumbs work great as a binder. Use the same amount – about 1/3 cup. Crushed crackers or panko also do the trick.
• Zucchini: Grated carrots, bell peppers, or mushrooms can replace zucchini. Just make sure to chop them finely so they blend in well with the meat mixture.
• Ketchup: BBQ sauce or tomato sauce mixed with a bit of brown sugar makes a good substitute for ketchup. You’ll get a slightly different flavor but it still works.
• Egg: For an egg-free version, try 3 tablespoons of milk or 2 tablespoons of mayo. These will help bind the meatloaf together, though the texture might be slightly different.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making air fryer meatloaf is overmixing the turkey mixture, which can lead to dense, tough loaves – mix just until the ingredients are combined and no more.

Ground turkey is leaner than beef, so it dries out quickly if overcooked; use an instant-read thermometer and remove the meatloaves when they hit 160°F, as they’ll continue cooking to the safe 165°F while resting.

Don’t skip shredding or finely dicing your zucchini and onion, because large chunks won’t cook through properly and can make your meatloaf fall apart when you try to flip it.

For extra moisture, you can add a tablespoon of olive oil to the mixture, and make sure to leave space between each loaf in the air fryer basket so the hot air can circulate evenly around them.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Ground Turkey Meatloaf?

This turkey meatloaf pairs perfectly with classic comfort sides like creamy mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables. I love serving it with green beans that have been tossed with a little butter and garlic, or some roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts for a complete meal. A simple side salad with ranch dressing also works great if you want something fresh and light alongside the meatloaf. For extra coziness, try adding some mac and cheese or buttered corn on the cob to round out your plate.

Storage Instructions

Store: Keep leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It actually tastes great cold the next day in a sandwich, or you can warm it up for dinner. I like slicing it before storing so it’s easy to grab a piece when I need it.

Freeze: This meatloaf freezes really well for up to 3 months. You can freeze the whole loaf wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil, or slice it up and freeze individual portions. Freezing slices makes it super easy to thaw just what you need for a quick meal.

Reheat: Warm up slices in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes, or pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes until heated through. If reheating the whole loaf, cover it with foil and warm in a regular oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 950-1100
• Protein: 80-92 g
• Fat: 35-45 g
• Carbohydrates: 60-75 g

Ingredients

For the meatloaf:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 4 tbsp ketchup (I prefer Heinz for the best balance of sweetness and tang)
• 1/2 cup oats (finely pulsed in a blender for a smoother meatloaf texture)
• 1/2 cup onion (finely diced into 1/4-inch pieces)
• 1/3 cup zucchini (shredded and squeezed dry to prevent a soggy loaf)
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

For the glaze:

• 2 tbsp ketchup (I use Hunt’s thick and rich for the glaze)

Step 1: Prepare the Mise en Place and Bind the Meatloaf Mixture

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/3 cup zucchini, shredded and squeezed dry
• 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
• 4 tbsp ketchup
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Pulse the oats in a blender until finely ground to create a smoother texture in the finished meatloaf.

Finely dice the onion into 1/4-inch pieces and shred the zucchini, then squeeze it dry in a clean kitchen towel to remove excess moisture—this prevents the meatloaf from becoming soggy during cooking.

In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, processed oats, squeezed zucchini, diced onion, 4 tablespoons ketchup, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Mix gently with your hands until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture, which would make the meatloaf dense and tough.

Step 2: Shape and Initial Air Fry

• meatloaf mixture from Step 1

Divide the meatloaf mixture from Step 1 into 4 equal portions and shape each into a compact loaf about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide.

Place the shaped meatloaves in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each one for hot air circulation.

Air fry at 350°F for 15 minutes—this initial cooking develops the exterior while keeping the inside moist.

Step 3: Glaze and Finish Cooking

• 2 tbsp ketchup
• cooked meatloaves from Step 2

Carefully flip each meatloaf using tongs or a spatula, then brush the top of each with 1/2 tablespoon of the Hunt’s ketchup glaze (I prefer Hunt’s for its thick, rich consistency that caramelizes beautifully).

Return to the air fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes at 350°F until the glaze sets and the internal temperature reaches 165°F when measured with a meat thermometer.

Healthy Air Fryer Ground Turkey Meatloaf

Delicious Healthy Air Fryer Ground Turkey Meatloaf recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Calories 1025 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the meatloaf::

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 4 tbsp ketchup (I prefer Heinz for the best balance of sweetness and tang)
• 1/2 cup oats (finely pulsed in a blender for a smoother meatloaf texture)
• 1/2 cup onion (finely diced into 1/4-inch pieces)
• 1/3 cup zucchini (shredded and squeezed dry to prevent a soggy loaf)
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

For the glaze::

• 2 tbsp ketchup (I use Hunt's thick and rich for the glaze)

Instructions

 

• Pulse the oats in a blender until finely ground to create a smoother texture in the finished meatloaf. Finely dice the onion into 1/4-inch pieces and shred the zucchini, then squeeze it dry in a clean kitchen towel to remove excess moisture—this prevents the meatloaf from becoming soggy during cooking. In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, processed oats, squeezed zucchini, diced onion, 4 tablespoons ketchup, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix gently with your hands until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture, which would make the meatloaf dense and tough.
• Divide the meatloaf mixture from Step 1 into 4 equal portions and shape each into a compact loaf about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. Place the shaped meatloaves in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each one for hot air circulation. Air fry at 350°F for 15 minutes—this initial cooking develops the exterior while keeping the inside moist.
• Carefully flip each meatloaf using tongs or a spatula, then brush the top of each with 1/2 tablespoon of the Hunt's ketchup glaze (I prefer Hunt's for its thick, rich consistency that caramelizes beautifully). Return to the air fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes at 350°F until the glaze sets and the internal temperature reaches 165°F when measured with a meat thermometer.