Apple, Sage, & Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

We’ve all heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, and there’s actually plenty of truth behind that expression! 

High in potassium, apples can help control blood pressure, plus the fiber-rich fruit can help reduce cholesterol. Apart from their health benefits, crisp, juicy apples are an autumnal kitchen staple. 

Apple, Sage, & Turkey Meatloaf

Recipe by Whole Foods
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: DinnerCuisine: American
Servings

8

servings

    Moist and delicious, this meatloaf is a non-traditional spin on a classic. Shredded apple adds moisture and a light sweetness to the mix, and sage makes it irresistibly aromatic.

    Ingredients

    • 2

      apples, cored, peeled, and grated

    • 1

      large yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

    • cup

      Italian-style (seasoned) bread crumbs

    • ½ cup

      low-fat (1%) milk

    • 2 pounds

      ground turkey, preferably a mix of white and dark meat

    • ¼ cup

      chopped fresh sage leaves

    • 1

      large egg, lightly beaten

    • 1 teaspoon

      fine sea salt

    • ½ teaspoon

      freshly ground black pepper

    • ¼ cup

      tomato sauce (optional), plus more for serving

    Directions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. 

    • Combine apples, onion, bread crumbs, and milk in a large bowl and let the mixture stand five minutes to soften bread crumbs. 

    • Add turkey, sage, egg, salt, and pepper and mix until combined. Scrape the mixture onto the baking sheet. 

    • With water-moistened hands, shape the mixture into a loaf about 10 inches long and 5 inches wide. 

    • Spread the top of the loaf with the tomato sauce, if using, and bake until meatloaf is lightly browned and cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should register 165°F), most often in 50 to 60 minutes. 

    • Let meatloaf sit 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve with warmed tomato sauce if desired.

    Nutrition Facts (per serving):

    • Calories—250 | Total Fat—10g | Sodium—470mg | Cholesterol—100g | Saturated Fat 2.5g | Dietary Fiber—2g | Sugar—7g | Carbohydrate—16g | Protein—25g

    Facts about Apples

    How to Choose:

    There are thousands of types of apples, and which you choose really depends on your preferences and the dish you’ll be making. According to The Washington State Apple Advertising Commission, some of the most popular apple types can be described as:

    Red Delicious: crunchy and mildly sweet

    Golden Delicious: mellow and sweet

    Gala: crisp, aromatically sweet

    Fuji: super-sweet and crisp

    Granny Smith: extremely tart and juicy

    • Honeycrisp: tangy-sweet 

    Storing Wisdom:

    Keep them in the fridge. Apples are best stored in the refrigerator, with access to humidity. Place them in the crisper drawer with a damp paper towel on top as soon as you get them home.

    Did you know?

    If something is as American as apple pie, it’s actually not all that American after all. History books trace pie-making as far back as 14th century England, and those skills, along with apple seeds, arrived on U.S. soil thanks to the Pilgrims.

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