This gluten free turkey meatloaf is a hearty meal that has incredible flavor! Top this skillet meatloaf with tangy sauce and lots of cheese! The meatloaf is tender and moist. This delicious low-fat meatloaf will quickly become your family’s favorite.

A fork pulling a bite out with stretchy cheese.

This is one of those recipes I like to call a stealth dinner. What is this? It is when dinner tastes so good your kids LOVE it, but they don’t know the wholesome ingredients packed inside. Using ground turkey in this easy meatloaf recipe will be our secret!

Ground turkey meatloaf is a classic meal that never gets old in my house. My kids and Mr. Fearless Dining will ask me to make this gluten free turkey meatloaf recipe often. Each bite contains juicy ground turkey, Mexican cheese, panko bread crumbs, sweet diced tomatoes, and seasonings.

Your kids will also love this easy Gluten Free Sloppy Joe’s recipe. You can make it with ground turkey or beef!

Allergen Information:

This homemade turkey meatloaf is gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free.

Substitutions:

To make this recipe dairy-free, use plant-based cheeses like Daiya or VioLife brands. To make this recipe egg-free, use liquid Just Egg. This egg replacer works well to bind and add moisture to this recipe.

If you love meatloaf, you will want to try my Gluten Free Meatloaf Recipe with Ketchup Glaze, too!

Ingredient Notes:

Photos of the gluten free ground turkey ingredients.
  • Ground Turkey – You can use ground meat, including ground chicken, ground beef, or ground pork. Lean beef or ground chicken and turkey are lean meat options.
  • Mozzarella – I used shredded mozzarella, but you can also use fresh mozzarella.
  • Egg – Use size large
  • Garlic Cloves – Or jarred minced garlic.
  • Olive Oil – You can use other types of oil if preferred.
  • Roasted Red Peppers – I used jarred red peppers, but I include fire roasting directions below if you prefer to roast your own peppers. You could also use sun-dried tomatoes.
  • Gluten Free Panko – You can use gluten free bread crumbs or make these Gluten Free Bread Crumbs from scratch.
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Fresh Basil, Salt, and Ground Black Pepper. (Other Italian seasonings are optional.)

How To Make Gluten Free Turkey Meatloaf:

Gluten free turkey meatloaf ingredients including panko and eggs in a bowl.

Step 1: Add all of your ingredients to a large mixing bowl. This includes ground turkey meat, gluten-free panko, egg, roasted red peppers, basil, and seasonings. Mix well to blend into a well-mixed turkey mixture.

If you don’t have ground turkey, swap another ground meat (or meat substitute!)

Mixed ground turkey meatloaf in a bowl.

This is what your raw meatloaf mixture will look like. 

How To Fire Roast Peppers:

Note: I used jarred roasted red peppers, but you can also fire roast on a grill or in the oven. To fire roast on a grill, place washed whole red peppers on your grill.

Cook at 400º F. As the skin chars, turn the peppers over. When the peppers are charred all around, remove them from the grill and allow them to cool. Peel off the charred skin and use the soft pepper in this recipe.

Gluten free turkey meatloaf read to bake.

Step 2: You can bake this meatloaf in many different types of pans. Put it into mini cast-iron skillets, one 10-inch cast-iron skillet, or if you prefer a loaf shape, use a bread loaf pan. I also love to use my cast-iron 8.5-inch loaf pan.

Step 3: Add the shredded cheese to the top of the meatloaf and bake at 350º F for 25-35 minutes. The actual baking time will depend on what size pan you bake this recipe in. When done baking, the internal temperature should be 165º F with a meat thermometer.

Two mini cast iron skillets with baked turkey meatloaf inside.

This gluten free turkey meatloaf gets even better the next day! We love to eat turkey here, so I have lots of other gluten free turkey recipes you can try! You can also use ground turkey in this Gluten Free Meatloaf with Oats recipe.

Optional Flavors:

Here are a few ideas that you can do to adjust the flavor of your gluten free turkey meatloaf.

  • Ketchup – Drizzle ketchup on top of the meat mixture before you add the melted cheese. This makes a yummy ketchup glaze on your meatloaf.
  • Barbecue Sauce – Pour a little barbecue sauce on top of the meat mixture and use shredded Mexican cheese. BBQ sauce adds a fun flavor twist to this classic recipe.
  • If you don’t have panko or breadcrumbs, use gluten free crackers, cereal, and/or tortilla chips (like in this Southwestern Meatloaf recipe.) I have also used crushed gluten free pretzels as in this gluten free chicken parmesan recipe.

This dish is very forgiving and versatile. You can adjust the ingredients to fit your tastes. You are going to love this mouthwatering meatloaf masterpiece!

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

How can I tell when the meatloaf is done baking?

You can tell if the turkey meatloaf is done in several ways. You can look at the color of the ground turkey, and if it is cooked all the way through, it is most likely done. You should also check the internal temperature by using a meat thermometer. It should be at least 165º F.

Can I freeze meatloaf?

Yes, if you have leftovers, you can freeze this turkey meatloaf. Place them in an airtight container. Keeping the turkey meatloaf in an airtight container will prevent freezer burn and preserve the flavors.

How do you thaw frozen meatloaf?

When you are ready to use, thaw out in the fridge overnight. Then, you can reheat it in the oven or microwave.

A fork pulling turkey meatloaf with melted cheese hanging down.

Side Dish Ideas:

Here are some of my favorite side dishes to serve with gluten free turkey meatloaf:

a fork pulling a bite out with stretchy cheese

Gluten Free Turkey Meatloaf

Sandi Gaertner
A flavorful, moist gluten free turkey meatloaf recipe filled with fire roasted red peppers, fresh basil, and mozzarella cheese.
5 from 5 votes
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Gluten Free Dinner Recipes, Meal Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 260 kcal

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground turkey * see note
  • â…“ cup gluten free panko * see note
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup chopped fire-roasted red peppers * see note
  • 3 tablespoons grated parmesan
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese
  • 3 tablespoons fresh basil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • â…› teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350º F.
  • Add all of the ingredients except the mozzarella to a large bowl.
  • Mix the ingredients well.
  • Add the meatloaf mixture to a 8×8 baking dish, cast iron pan, or loaf pan
  • Top with mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake for 25-35 minutes depending on the depth of the dish you use to bake this meatloaf recipe. I used mini cast iron pans and it took 25 minutes.
  • Use a thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 165º F to know it is done baking.

Notes

  1. You can use gluten free panko, gluten free bread crumbs, or the new Rice Crumbs from Trader Joe’s. You can also make your own gluten free bread crumbs at a much lower price than store-bought.
  2. You can use ground turkey, chicken, beef, or pork in this recipe. You can also use a combination for more flavor.
  3. I used jarred roasted red peppers, but you can also fire roast your own on a grill, or in the oven. To fire roast on a grill, place washed whole red peppers on your grill. Cook on 400º F. As the skin chars, turn the peppers over. When the peppers are charred all around, remove them from the grill and allow them to cool. Peel off the charred skin and use the soft pepper in this recipe.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 260kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 33gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 563mgPotassium: 396mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 586IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 128mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




14 Comments

  1. This meatloaf looks delicious. A few questions. The shopping list mentions oregano but it is not mentioned in the list of ingredients. If so, is it minced or chopped and are the garlic and oregano minced or chopped. Thanks.

    1. Hi Sharon, I add the basil into the meat but some prefer to sprinkle it on top. I minced the garlic, but chopping very finely works as well. Thank you!

  2. I love easy recipes like this, that you can just quickly whip up during the busy weeknights. It’s a keeper!

  3. I absolutely love meatball, but never made it with Turkey before. After reading this I’ll definitely be giving it a go 🙂