When it comes to comfort food, there’s nothing quite like a good, old-fashioned meatloaf. But who says we can’t shake things up a bit? Enter the Barbecue Turkey Loaf, a delightful twist on the classic dish that’s sure to get your taste buds dancing. This recipe takes the beloved meatloaf, swaps the traditional beef for lean and tasty turkey, and adds a barbecue kick that’s simply irresistible. Best of all, it’s easy to make, packed with veggies, and lower in fat than its beefy counterpart, making it a healthier choice for your family. As someone who loves to experiment with classic recipes, I fell head over heels for this dish the first time I made it. The barbecue sauce adds a tangy sweetness that beautifully complements the savory turkey and stuffing, while the melty American cheese gives it that ooey-gooey goodness that we all love in a meatloaf. I’m excited to share this recipe with you, and I can’t wait for you to try it out!
Ingredients
- 2 c. Stove Top chicken stuffing
- 1 c. frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
- 1/2 c. water
- 1 Tbsp. butter, melted
- 1/2 c. barbecue sauce
- 2 slices American cheese, halved
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 2 eggs
Baking Instructions
- Combine 1 cup stuffing mix, vegetables, water and butter.
- Let stand 5 minutes.
- Combine remaining stuffing mix, turkey, eggs and 1/4 cup of barbecue sauce.
- Mix well.
- Spoon a third of turkey mixture into baking dish and shape into 8 x 4-inch rectangle. Cover with half the cheese.
- Spoon vegetable mixture in center. Cover with remaining cheese.
- Pat remaining turkey mixture over cheese and shape into a loaf.
- Brush with remaining barbecue sauce. Conventional oven:
- 350° for 45 minutes.
- Microwave Oven:
- Cook High 5 minutes.
- Rotate dish half turn; cook 5 minutes longer.
- Let stand 5 minutes.
Calorie: 450
Total cooking time: 1 hour
Difficulty level: Easy
The Great Turkey Loaf Conundrum
So, there I was, standing in my kitchen, staring at a motley crew of ingredients that seemed to have nothing in common. My mission, should I choose to accept it: create a Barbecue Turkey Loaf. At my disposal were 2 cups of Stove Top chicken stuffing, 1 cup of frozen mixed vegetables (thawed, thankfully), 1/2 cup of water, a knob of melted butter, some barbecue sauce, a couple of slices of American cheese, a pound of ground turkey, and a pair of eggs. The challenge was on!
The Stuffing Saga Begins
First up, combining 1 cup of the Stove Top chicken stuffing, mixed vegetables, water, and butter. Not too complicated, right? The aroma of the stuffing mix and butter was enough to make me drool, and the bright colors of the mixed vegetables made me feel like I was creating a masterpiece. After mixing them together, I had to let it stand for 5 minutes. I felt like a kid waiting for the bell to ring at the end of a school day. Tick tock, tick tock…
Rolling With the Turkey
Next, the turkey had to meet its fate. It was a strange task—mixing together the remaining stuffing mix, turkey, eggs, and a generous splash of barbecue sauce. The texture was… interesting. But hey, cooking isn’t always about the glam and glitz, sometimes it’s just about getting your hands dirty. Or in this case, turkey-y.
Cheesy Endeavors
The next part was a little bit like playing with Play-Doh. I spooned a third of the turkey mixture into a baking dish and shaped it into an 8 x 4-inch rectangle. It sort of looked like a modern art sculpture at this point. Then came the fun part; I got to cover it with half of the American cheese. This was starting to look delicious!
Layering Like a Pro
I felt like a true chef as I layered the vegetable mixture in the center, and then topped it off with the remaining cheese. It was starting to look like a turkey loaf, and I was starting to look like a professional cook! The remaining turkey mixture was patted over the cheese and shaped into a loaf. The transformation was complete.
The Finishing Touch
Finally, it was time to brush the loaf with the remaining barbecue sauce. This was the moment when the ordinary turkey loaf became the *Barbecue* Turkey Loaf. I could hardly wait to get it in the oven.
Conventional or Microwave? That is the Question
Now, there were two ways to cook this baby. For the conventional oven lovers, it’s 350° for 45 minutes. For those living in the fast lane, you can use the microwave oven. Cook on high for 5 minutes, rotate the dish half turn (don’t ask me why, I just follow the rules), and cook 5 minutes longer. Then let it stand 5 minutes. I opted for the conventional oven, mainly because I had some time to kill and a good book to read.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, folks! My journey with the Barbecue Turkey Loaf. It was a delicious rollercoaster of flavors and textures, and a hilarious tale of culinary endeavors. And always remember, the best ingredient in any recipe is a dash of humor and a whole lot of fun!
