Crockpot Turkey meatloaf is a delicious and lighter version of a classic favorite. Feta cheese and sun dried tomatoes add the perfect balance to this delicious ground turkey dish!
There is no denying that meatloaf is a timeless classic. There is also no denying that it can be a heavy meal. This version uses ground turkey to lighten things up a bit and then add some traditionally Greek flavors for a unique and lovable twist.
How To Make Turkey Meatloaf
Substituting Ground Turkey for Ground Beef
Although ground turkey is often a suggested sub for ground beef, they are not exactly the same. Turkey contains less natural fat and as a result, can dry out faster. To compensate for this, try to use darker ground turkey (thighs and legs) rather than the leaner ground white turkey meat (breasts) where possible.
When cooking, pay more attention to the internal temperature of your dish. Turkey is considered safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF
Putting It All Together
To make this easy meatloaf recipe, you will need:
- ground turkey
- fresh parsley
- minced garlic
- eggs
- bread crumbs of choice (for gluten-free, try crushed Chex cereal)
- feta cheese
- diced sun-dried tomatoes
- ground black pepper
To keep things as lazy as possible, add all ingredients directly into the slow cooker and mix. I highly suggest mixing with your hand for this one. To avoid having to touch raw turkey, try these FDA-approved disposable gloves. Once all ingredients are well mixed, pat down into the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours or until the centermost part of the meatloaf reaches 165ºF. This is one dish that should not be left on warm for extended periods of time as it will dry out.
What to Serve With This Simple Turkey Dish
Turkey meatloaf goes really well with all of the side dishes and toppings that you would serve with traditional meatloaf. Sides of coleslaw, corn on the cob, and baked potatoes work really well. To complement the flavors of this dish, try topping with some sun-dried tomato pesto and a little extra feta sprinkled on top!
Leftovers make great meatloaf sandwiches!!
Meatloaf Hints and Hacks
- Sun-dried tomatoes can sometimes be a hassle to cut into smaller pieces. To make it super easy, I often use kitchen shears to cut them.
- Because ground turkey dries out faster than ground beef, you may want to monitor the internal temperature of the meatloaf. This will allow you to turn it down to warm as soon is it hits the FDA recommended temperature of 165ºF. This is my favorite meat thermometer. It can be set to beep once it reaches the desired temperature.
- I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price. Here are the liners I buy.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? Here is the one I am currently lusting after.
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Lazy Slow Cooker Greek Turkey Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs Ground turkey not lean, if possible
- 3 eggs
- 1½ cups feta cheese
- 1 cup bread crumbs I use whole wheat panko crumbs
- 10 oz jar drained sun dried tomatoes cut into pieces
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- non-stick spray
Instructions
- place slow cooker liner into slow cooker vessel, if using
- spray inside of liner, or inside of cooker if not using liner with non-stick spray of choice
- add all ingredients into slow cooker and mix thoroughly. I suggest using your hands for this.
- cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours, depending on your slow cooker. Turkey can dry out so it is good to keep an eye on it, it is considered safe to serve when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F
- serve with crumbled feta cheese and sun dried tomato pesto
Nutrition
More Crockpot Turkey Dishes To Love
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Julie says
Looks awesome! Can’t wait to try this one!
admin says
You will love it! Let me know if you have any questions.