Bacon Wrapped Turkey Meatloaf - Simply Made Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

Binders like eggs or breadcrumbs will certainly help to keep your meatloaf together.

Why Does My Turkey Meatloaf Fall Apart? You may find your meatloaf is crumbly or falling apart if you used too many breadcrumbs or not enough eggs.

The most common reason meatloaf is mushy is too much liquid added to the mixture. Too much liquid will stop the meatloaf from baking and cause the meat to boil instead.

The bread is likely to blame in mushy turkey meatloaf

In a thread, they explained that ground turkey has less structure than ground beef, so it's more apt to get soft and fall apart while baking. An easy solution is to always use breadcrumbs or bread that's at least a day old rather than fresh bread.

Fewer eggs will create a denser and firmer meatloaf that will be more compact and easier to slice, but more eggs can create a more tender and light texture that allows the meatloaf to melt in your mouth.

Aim for the consistency of a paste with no extra liquid after you mix it in with your bread. If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes! However, bread is still the best choice of all the potential options.

It is ready when the internal temperature reaches 170°F. If you do not have an internal thermometer, remove it from the oven when the inside is no longer pink and feels firm. Before serving, let your turkey meatloaf rest for 10 to 15 minutes so the juices redistribute and settle back into the meat.

Milk adds richness and moisture, while the bread helps keep the meatloaf texture softer. So, omitting milk would omit some creaminess and moisture. Those can be easily subbed out by many other ingredients like chicken stock, cream, butter, etc.

The wet ingredients you add to meatloaf make it juicy. Using whole milk will add more richness and fat that keeps it from going dry. Along with ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, it gives meatloaf a marvelous texture.

What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

In essence, it boils down to a few simple steps: Combine ground meat, eggs, breadcrumbs, and other flavorful ingredients of your choice. Put this mixture in a lightly greased loaf pan and bake it until it's cooked through.

Absolutely! Just make sure your meatloaf is cooked fully before serving.

Let the loaf cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. If you baked the meatloaf in a loaf pan, carefully drain off the liquid fat before transferring the meatloaf to a clean cutting board.

Brine Your Bird

Soaking the turkey in this saltwater mixture helps to tenderize the meat while adding flavor and moisture throughout the entire turkey. The simplest of brines is plain ol' saltwater, but we love to add herbs and spices to give the turkey as much flavor as possible.

One of the most common reasons meatloaf is watery is an overabundance of liquid ingredients. Adding broth, milk, or eggs can enhance flavor and moisture, but too much can lead to a soupy consistency. Use these ingredients sparingly, and consider adding breadcrumbs or oats to absorb excess moisture.

Oats are a great breadcrumb substitute when used as a binder in meatballs or meatloaf. Try them in one of Ree Drummond's favorite recipes: BBQ comfort meatballs.