Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipe
If you love meatloaf but you’re busy, this slow cooker meatloaf recipe cooks itself in your slow cooker!
I couldn’t help but do another slow cooker recipe before the season ends.
Mini Chef is down for the count with a head cold and bad congestion, and I’m fighting seasonal allergies right and left (thank you, San Francisco Bay Area!). My husband is covering extra shifts at work for an employee who injured himself, and I have about 90 recipes left to go for my upcoming super foods cookbook and less than 8 weeks to create them all. (June 2012 release). So, right now, the slow cooker is definitely my friend. Even with this incredibly beautiful weather, we’re having right now. Blue skies and sunshine everywhere you look. In fact, I have to seriously question if we’ve even had a winter at all here in California. I swear we’ve had about 2 days of rain and not a drop more. But I digress…
I’m not sure why, but meatloaf is never the first thing I think of when I think about what to make for dinner. I just didn’t grow up with it, so it’s not something I crave or remember from my childhood. I do like it, I just never think to make it. But that’s all changed because this recipe is now a family favorite, me included.
While several of my slow cooker recipes require only a relatively short cooking time, this one will cook all day for you while you’re away at work (up to 10 hours!). And the longer it cooks, the better the house smells. It’s really pretty amazing stuff (she says, ever so humbly).
More Healthy Recipes
Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipe
Slow Cooker Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 3 lb. ground turkey
- 1 cup whole wheat Panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese (or ½ cup grated)
- 1 tsp. poultry seasoning
- 1 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 2 medium carrots, grated
- salt to taste after cooking
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well using your hands to knead.
- Lightly spray your slow cooker with a bit of olive oil and place the meat inside, molding it into a meatloaf form. (My slow cooker was a 5 quart.)
- Press your fingers between the meat and the edge of the slow cooker to bring the meat a finger’s width away from the side of you insert. So basically, you are creating about a 1/2 inch space around the edge of the meat so that the sides of the meatloaf don’t touch the sides of the slow cooker.
- Cook on Low for 8-10 hours. Slice into 18 pieces and serve with sweet potatoes and a vegetable for a complete, comfort food meal.
Notes
Nutrition
We’re having a very mild winter here in Missouri too! No ice at all and maybe 2 inches of snow all together…crazy! Anyway, thanks for this recipe…meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans with bacon has to be one of my favorite meals from childhood (not that I eat it anymore). The only thing that I feel like this meatloaf might be missing is the ketchup on top…but I cannot wait to try it anyway! Hope you and your son get to feeling better.
Crystal – Thanks! I thought about the ketchup too, but found it really didn’t need it. Either way, I hope you enjoy it!
Denise – Sounds heavenly!!
Denise – Sounds heavenly!!
Guest – Sounds yummy!
Susan – Hope you enjoy it!
Where do you find whole wheat panko? I’ve not seen them before, but I’d love to use them instead of the white refined version. Thanks!
Niki – I found mine at Whole Foods. I’ve heard some people say Walmart carries them, but I’m not positive on that one. I would call around and ask. If nothing else, Amazon.com has it.
SS – Agreed!
Kabrumm – I don’t know how they work, but I would just purchase turkey breasts and grind them. Follow the directions that came with your mixer though. I’ve never done it before.
Sbweeks – You can use any whole wheat bread crumbs.
Bette – Haha! No worries. I actually have one like that too, though I don’t use it any longer. But yes, you would simply put the meat into the slow cooker.
Jennifer – Congrats on the 12 lbs! That’s great! I’m so happy you’re enjoying my recipes. Keep up the great work!
Jennette – I may try doing a few over the summer, but I really start to depend on my grill more when the weather is nice. I’ll see what I can come up with.
I just found your blog and am so excited for it! My husband and I have cut out most processed foods so I can’t wait to read through your recipes.
I also love my slow cooker — I definitely want to try this meatloaf soon!
Anne – I hope you enjoy it! Welcome!
OF – It would be simplest just to omit it completely.
Bette – Haha!!! I’m glad it all worked out for you! Enjoy!
Jennifer – Welcome! Let me know how you like the meatloaf!
I made this today! It will be made again! I wanted to share that I substituted the bread crumbs with oats ground up in my food processor. It was wonderful! The only problem was that after 8 hours on low (when I walked in from work), the bottom of it had burned and was sticking to the bottom of the pot. Both my husband and I loved the burned portion, and it was really only the part on the very bottom. The rest of the loaf was moist (ugh I hate that word but can’t think of a better one and I apologize to those of you that hate that word too!) and just right. I still can’t get over how easy it was. Great job, Tiffany!
Cec – Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, it’s moist. LOL!
Leellyn – Haha!! That’s wonderful!
Coraldemar – Haha!!! That’s wonderful!!! I might have to try it with hot sauce. Sounds good!