Best Turkey Meatloaf

This is the Best Turkey Meatloaf I've ever had! It's moist and flavorful and is the perfect comfort food. 

When I was growing up we always had a nice Sunday dinner. We'd enjoy a big breakfast after church, then have dinner around 3:00 or so. Later in the evening we'd have a snack, usually peaches and toast or something like that. My mom was a great cook, and still is, and would make dishes like beef stew, pot roast, chicken and dumplings, and meatloaf. Always a delicious comforting meal! In the summer my dad would grill or we'd have something a little lighter, but the comfort foods have always been my favorite.

To this day I'm still a sucker for meatloaf, although I don't make it as often as I should since it's something my whole family loves. Recently I decided to change my traditional recipe up a bit, make it a bit lighter and healthier, by using ground turkey. I call it my turkey recipe remix! I love using turkey in place of other proteins because it is naturally low in fat and provides nutrients like iron, zinc and potassium. It’s also packed with lean protein to keep you feeling full longer.

Cheesy Bacon Meatloaf Sliders {Meat Month}

I have found that my kids will eat pretty much anything if it's on a bun. Is it the same for you in your household? I don't know what it is, but buns are enticing to a child. Give them something they really don't care for, like a grilled chicken breast or pork chop, slap it on a bun and call it good. My kids will devour it!

In my quest for finding fun weeknight dinners for my boys, I decided to try meatloaf sliders. It's funny, because my boys really aren't big fans of meatloaf on it's own, but when I made these sliders they gobbled them up. See! The bun does the trick.

The basis for this recipe is from Paula Deen, but I changed it up quite a bit by removing a few ingredients and adding a new twist with the roasted red pepper. It enhances the flavor of the meatloaf while keeping it nice and moist.

Give these sliders a try soon and let me know what your family thinks. I betcha they'll love meatloaf now!

Cheesy Bacon Meatloaf Sliders

Recipe written by The Chef Next Door, adapted from Paula Deen's Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf 

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Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

1 large roasted red pepper, chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 cup ketchup

1/3 cup French fried onions

10 slider buns or rolls, whatever you prefer

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with foil and coating it with non-stick spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients except for the onions. Mix well, without overdoing it. (Too much handling and the meat can become tough)

Take a handful of the meat mixture and form it into small patties, about the size of the buns you are using. Repeat until you have all of the patties formed and lay them on your prepared baking sheet. 

Bake the sliders for 40 minutes. Sprinkle the tops of each one with the fried onions and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the meat is no longer pink.

Spread some ketchup on each bun then top with a slider. If desired you can additional toppings such as a slice of cheese or more onions, but we thought they were perfect as is.

Bon Appetit!

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