Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Turkey Meatloaf that is similar to Boston Market Meatloaf but better, healthier, moister and cheaper since you make it in your own home.
Pressure Cooker Turkey Meatloaf
Imagine having a moist and juicy meatloaf in under one hour from start to finish! No more dried out meatloaf.
This Pressure Cooker Turkey Meatloaf recipe cooked in an Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker ensures a moist and delicious meatloaf, like no other. Then we will use the Mealthy CrispLid or your broiler and warm the topping.
I’ve never been a fan of meatloaf until my husband decided to cook dinner one night. He asked why I never make meatloaf and I replied that it is not something I particularly like.
Since he likes meatloaf, I decided I better figure out a recipe we would both enjoy.
I remembered hearing about how much people love Boston Market Meatloaf and I set out to find that recipe. I found a copycat version and realized that it was a very simple meatloaf.
We understood the result we both wanted and came up with a simple recipe, based loosely on what we learned.
Most meatloaf recipes are overly flavored, have lots of add-ins, including barbecue sauce, bacon and the like. I didn’t want “stuff.
I wanted a delicious, old fashion and comfort style meatloaf; I wanted it simple. The result was fabulous.
Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Turkey Meatloaf
Hubs served it with his famous Creamy Whipped Potatoes and peas and I became fan. The next time we wanted meatloaf for dinner, hubs again cooked dinner and it fell flat. Great.
I asked if he wrote down what he did and he said, ah, eh, well, no. So, the next time he decided to make meatloaf, we recreated that first conversation about meatloaf and we figured it out. Thank goodness!!!
We gave up eating red meat for several years after I had surgery and wasn’t allowed to eat red meat for a while (we’ve slowly reintroduced beef), so this recipe is also delicious using beef instead of turkey!
The meatloaf recipe was converted to a turkey version and we love it just as much. We now make it in the Pressure Cooker in a fraction of the time it takes in the oven.
For other recipes using ground turkey, check out my Pressure Cooker Tex-Mex Turkey Chili, my Pressure Cooker Beef and Macaroni, and my Pressure Cooker Healthy Inside-Out “Egg rolls” recipes.
Ground Turkey, Grapenut Nuggets, Eggs
Turkey is much drier than beef and since we wanted to add a little more fiber to our diet, we decided to use GrapeNuts Nuggets Cereal to help keep in the moisture and add some fiber.
We almost always add GrapeNuts Nuggets Cereal and Worcestershire Sauce when using ground turkey, as it adds a huge flavor boost and gives a beefy taste to the meat.
Dice Onions Very Small
Make sure to dice the onion really well, or else you will have crunchy onions in the meatloaf, which is nasty.
Add Drained Diced Tomatoes which were Pulverized
We like to use a can of diced tomatoes, drained and we use an immersion blender to form the sauce. Half of the sauce it is used in the meat mixture and the other half is sweetened for the topping.
Blended diced tomatoes, which are less processed than tomato sauce, tastes to much better than using tomato sauce to make the Meatloaf Sauce.
Mix it all Together – Hands are Good!
In a Mixing Bowl and with clean hands, mix together the ingredients.
Shape Meat into Oval Loaf
Since we are using a Pressure Cooker, you will need to make a foil sling. You will want to be able to easily lower the meatloaf onto the Steamer Trivet and into the Pressure Cooker.
Then of course, you will want to remove your Pressure Cooker Turkey Meatloaf from the Pressure Cooker and into an oven safe pan.
So, form the meat mixture into a loaf 6-8 inches long. The size of your loaf will depend on the size of your Pressure Cooker.
Place Loaf in Steamer Basket
This Steamer Trivet comes in both a 6 quart and 8 quart size, so choose the best size for your Pressure Cooker.
Add water to the bottom of your Pressure Cooker cooking pot, place a trivet and put a Steamer Trivet on top.
Lower the meatloaf onto the Steamer Trivet into the Pressure Cooker and lock on the lid………
Unless, you want to make Mashed Potatoes at the same time!!!!!
Bottom Layer for Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Can I Cook Potatoes with Meatloaf in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker?
- Yes, you can!
- After adding water, you would then add a Short Legged Trivet, so that the Potatoes are not sitting in the water.
- Then place whole potatoes on top of the Short Legged Trivet.
- With a longer cook time, the potatoes will do best if left whole and will steam to perfection.
You can also make a Healthy Carrot/Potato Mash by adding carrots to the mix. You don’t need to mash them if you don’t want and can eat the veggies, as it.
Turkey Meatloaf with Carrot Potato Mash
Here you can see how pretty colors of the Healthy Carrot Potato Mash.
Place the Meatloaf on the Trivet or on top of Potatoes
With the remaining pureed diced tomatoes, add in the sugar and whisk together well.
Cover the Top of the Meatloaf with the Sauce
Remove the meatloaf to an oven safe Baking Dish. If you are going to serve right from the Baking Dish, remove the foil.
If you want to place the meatloaf on a serving platter, after it comes out of the oven, leave the foil sling in place, as it will make it easier to lift onto the serving platter.
Pour 3/4 of the remaining sauce over the meatloaf and place under the broiler or Mealthy CrispLid for about five minutes or in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.
Alternatively, leave the meatloaf in the pressure cooker and use your Mealthy CrispLid.
Instant Pot Turkey Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
See my Pressure Cooker Whipped/Mashed Potato recipe for mashing instructions and ingredients for perfectly delicious Mashed Potatoes
Serve your Pressure Cooker Turkey Meatloaf with Healthy Potato Carrot Mash or Garlic Whipped Potatoes and peas, or another green vegetable. Drizzle the remaining sauce over each serving.
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot, Mealthy MultiPot or Pressure Cooker
- J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk – a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
- LamsonSharp Chef’s Slotted Turner – I totally love this spatula!
- Alton Brown Salt Box
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
- Stainless Steel Tall/Short Trivet & Egg Cooker Set
- Stainless Steel Basket Rack w/ Holes for Meatloaf
- 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Pyrex Oblong Glass Baking Dish
- GrapeNuts Nuggets Cereal
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
Meat Mixture
- 1.5 pounds Ground Turkey
- 3/4 cup Grapenuts Nuggets
- 1/4 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt or to taste
- 3/4 cup Yellow/Brown Onion finely diced
- 1 teaspoon Granulated Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 15 oz can Diced Tomatoes drained, pulverized
- 4 large Russet Potatoes peeled/left whole
Meatloaf Sauce
- 3/4 cup Tomato Sauce (leftover from pulverizing diced tomatoes)
- 2 Tablespoons White Sugar
Recommended Products
Instructions
- Peel Potatoes and place in a bowl of cool water and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients, except Potatoes, Diced Tomatoes and Sugar.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the diced tomatoes and add half to the meat mixture and mix together and set aside the rest to make the Meatloaf Sauce.
- Form the meatloaf into a tall oval shape and place on Steam Rack.
- Add 2 cups of water into cooking pot and place a Short Legged Trivet into cooking pot. Lay whole Potatoes in a single row on top. Place the Steam Rack on top of the potatoes.
- Lock lid in place and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes. When Beep sounds, wait 10 minutes and then release the rest of the pressure.
- To make Meatloaf Sauce, add 2 Tablespoons of Sugar to the blended tomatoes that were set aside and mix well.
- Remove Meatloaf from Pressure Cooker and place into oven safe dish. Pour 3/4 of Meatloaf Sauce on top of Meatloaf and place under the broiler for 5 minutes.
- If you have a CrispLid, set temp to 400 degrees and time to 5 minutes, but keep an eye on it.
- While the Meatloaf is in the oven, mash the potatoes (see my Mashed Potatoes Recipe).
- Spoon the remaining Meatloaf Sauce over individual servings.
Notes
- See my Pressure Cooker Whipped/Mashed Potatoes post for mashing/ingredient instructions.
- Do not cut up Potatoes. Because of the longer cook time, the Potatoes need to remain whole, to prevent overcooked and water logged Potatoes.
- For a healthy spin on Mashed Potatoes, peel four large Carrots, break them in half and add them in with the Potatoes. Mash Carrots and Potatoes together.
- If you omit the Potatoes, use a Taller Trivet. First make a Foil Sling by taking 20 inches of foil and folding it in thirds. Lower Steamer Rack into cooking pot, using the Foil Sling.
- Don’t forget to serve with Green Peas!
- Beef can be used in place of turkey.
Nutrition
PIN this Pressure Cooker Turkey Meatloaf & Potatoes {Instant Pot}!
I love meatloaf, but have never been able to make one at home. This recipe is a game changer! It’s delicious and even my picky husband and son liked it. A keeper to put into my meal rotations. Thank you!!
Thanks, Kris. I never liked it either until we (my hubs and I) decided that a simple meatloaf might be good and yes, it was incredible. Jill
What if you do not have a steamer trivet with your pressure cooker? I got the Bella 10qt Multi Cooker for christmas this year (Dec 2018) and it only came with a small wire rack and that’s it.
The pressure cooker turkey meatloaf was delicious. I made it with ground chicken instead though. I also added a half a teaspoon of liquid smoke. I stuffed red yellow and orange peppers with the meatloaf mixture. I had enough for for peppers and another small meatloaf. I put the four peppers into one instant pot and the small meatloaf into another instant pot. ( I have for instant pots). I am a Weight Watchers member so this is a great recipe for me. Thank you so much.
Made just like it says
This is very delicious and moist
No potatoes just the loaf
Glad you enjoyed. 🙂 Jill
Aluminum foil is very bad to cook with. Do you have an alternative?
Looks so good! Haven’t had meatloaf in a while – need to make soon! Yummmm!?
Thanks, Carol. Enjoy. Jill
I have been cooking for 60 years and without a doubt this is the best meatloaf I’ve ever made or eaten.
I followed the recipe as written using 85% beef.
Thank you for a special treat.
Hi Rita. How nice! I am so glad you enjoyed this meatloaf recipe. 🙂 Jill
Hi This old Gal,
I made this today using 1 cup of Aleia’s gluten free panko crumbs and 2 cups of veggie stock at the bottom. I really enjoyed your recipe. Thank you for all of your hard work!
Oh, and I used coconut sugar in the tomato sauce. As the others commenters mentioned the tomato puree is excellent!
What could I use in place of the steamer basket?
Just checked mine coming out of the broiler and it was still raw on the inside :(. I put it in for 20 mins on high pressure and let it NR for 10. What could I have done wrong.
I’ve been counting my macros for my fitness goals. Any suggestions on how I could make this in 6-ounce individual servings cups?
This was the best meatloaf I ever had! I just had to let you know. I made it in the bowl I use for the ‘pot in pot’ method in my Instant Pot, then I turned it out into my air fryer pan and did the final step in the air fryer. So moist and delicious, and it’s a turkey meatloaf! I love your tip about using pulverized canned tomatoes instead of tomato sauce. That made a big difference and was delicious! So fresh tasting. Thank you for the recipe.
Hi Judy~
You are very welcome. I am glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Jill
So, if you are using beef instead of turkey, do you change anything else?
If I’m making beef, do I leave the grapenuts out?
What is cooking time if meatloaf is frozen?
I can get gluten free panko bread crumbs, but what do you suggest I use instead of Grape Nuts to make a gluten free meatloaf?
Hi Andrea~
Oatmeal would work well. I chose Grapenuts because they hold in moisture AND they are in fiber. Oatmeal, would have the same great result.
Jill
Hi. I made the turkey meatloaf last night and it was a nice change up from a typical one I do and thanks for the idea about using an immersion blender with canned tomatoes to get sauce – great idea!
But was wondering if you thought I could get a more firm texture, of the meatloaf, if I cooked it less in the IP and more in the oven afterwards.
My hubs, and kiddo both said that they like the “normal” firmness of the meat in the oven vs
the IP (same for meatballs).
Thanks and I’m so thankful that you’re such a great resource for cooking in the IP (still a relative newbie).
I have to be gluten free, so using Grape-Nuts is out. Can you suggest a substitute? I do have gluten-free panko crumbs, though.
You can use quick oats instead of Panky and Grape-Nuts. My mom has always used osts.
I just saw a recipe where they use ground up pork rinds in a turkey meatloaf. Trying it tonight.
How much ground up pork rinds did you use? Any particular flavor? And how did that turn out?
You say the turkey is more dry than beef but then add cereal and Panko crumbs (drying) and no fat.
I don’t understand the reasoning here.
Is it to make a low fat meat loaf?
I would certainly add some fat to this in order to avoid a dry meatloaf or does just pressure cooking the meatloaf make it moist?
It certainly looks good.
I use a stove top pressure cooker which needs less time if I am not mistaken. : )
Hi If~
The add ins help keep the moisture in the turkey mix and does not make it more dry. Also, the condensation will also keep the turkey moist. You don’t need to add any fat.
Let me know how it goes.
Jill