Slow Cooker Stove-Top Stuffing Turkey Meat Loaf is moist and flavorful. The stove-top stuffing is used as a binder in this delicious meatloaf recipe.
I had to try this recipe in the slow cooker. I am a Stove-Top Stuffing fan for side dishes and using as a topping for chicken and have only tried it for that. The stuffing does such a great job as a binder in this. The usual binder I use for meatloaf is crushed up saltine crackers and years ago I used oatmeal or breadcrumbs.
Using the stove-top stuffing adds great texture and a bit of flavor to the meatloaf. Though I did add more seasonings to this recipe than what is in the stuffing mix. The first time I tested this recipe I did not add any extra seasonings and it was lacking something. The 2 pounds of turkey needs a little more seasoning than just the stuffing, the next test of this recipe I added salt, pepper and rubbed sage (not ground). That extra seasoning made this meatloaf have outstanding flavor.
I also sautéed onions, carrots and celery in butter. I let that cool before adding to the meatloaf mixture. I decided to cook the veggies first so they would be very soft in the cooked meatloaf, and the butter that they are cooked in adds flavor to the meatloaf too.
Mix the above ingredients with clean hand then shape into a loaf form in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
Below is what the turkey meatloaf looks like after being cooked for 5 hours on low.
This turkey meatloaf isn’t like the beef meatloaf where ketchup or a sweet ketchup mixture is put on top. I loved this meatloaf plain, without a topping. But a turkey gravy is a good option for the sauce, especially good with mashed potatoes too.
What do you think of this recipe? I think this recipe is a keeper! Have a great week. See you soon with another recipe.
Slow Cooker Stove-Top Stuffing Turkey Meatloaf
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup diced carrots
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 2 lbs. ground turkey, I use 7% fat
- 6 oz. box turkey Stove-Top® Stuffing
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 tsp. rubbed sage not ground, this is still from a jar
- 3 Tbsp. milk
Instructions:
- In a medium sized skillet set over medium high heat. Add the butter, when the butter is melted sauté the carrots, onion, and celery until soft. This will take about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool while you get the other ingredients ready.
- In a large bowl add the turkey, stuffing mix, eggs, salt, pepper, rubbed sage and milk. Add in the cooked and cooled onions, carrots and celery. Mix together with clean hands.
- Shape the meat mixture into loaf form in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Serve and enjoy!
Hi.
I don’t care for ground turkey. Can leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken be used??
No, it needs to be raw meat for this recipe.
Can I cook on high for shorter amount of time? Or if I need it faster can I bake it?
It’s hard to say without testing in the slow cooker on high. Oven may be a better route.
Do you need to use cooking spray so the meatloaf doesn’t stick to the slow cooker?
I do spray my slow cooker with non stick spray, but it really would be fine without since it’s not touching the sides, and the bottom will release easily from the liquid in the crock pot.
May have been mentioned but I bet a handful of dried cranberries mixed in would be great or either a reduced glaze of cranberry sauce on top.
Looks really great and I want to try it! But what is rubbed sage? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. Is it available in the grocery store with other spices?
Look under Sage in the spice section. It should be there. I think mine was Fred Meyer Brand.
How do you get it out of the crock pot in one piece? other recipes say to use aluminum foil or parchment paper to lift out when done.
I’ve used 2 spatulas, but normally I slice and serve right out of the slow cooker.
Instead of putting meatloaf in Crock-Pot could you cook it in the oven .
Thank you very much… It turned out great
Is there nutritional info on this dish you could provide?
Has anyone ever frozen this first? Could you? Would you thaw then place in slow cooker or cook frozen frozen with a couple hours tacked onto cooking time?
I would thaw first. 🙂
Hi! This recipe looks amazing, I found it on Pinterest. I’m quite eager to try it, however I won’t be able to work within the 5hr cooking timeframe unless I wait till my day off…. which I’d rather not wait haha. If I were to cook it in the oven, at what temperature and how long would you say?
350 degrees for about an hour covered in foil, I usually take the foil off towards the end.
Thank you so much!
I wanted to make this however, I do not have a Crockpot that is the recommended size. I appreciate your posting an alternate cooking method. I have two questions.
1. Are you placing the finished product in a regular loaf pan to cook?
2. Can the recipe be altered for a 4qt Crockpot?
Thanks.
You can cook in a 4 quart, I do not put in a loaf pan, try to put the meat in the crockpot without touching the side edges, can make it a round loaf.
Hi Sarah, my question is do you use the seasoning that comes with the stove top stuffing? I would love to try this. It looks and sounds amazing.
The stove top stuffing has the seasoning mixed in, so yes 🙂
oh ok, Sorry its been so long since I used Stove top, I was thinking separate packets like hamburger helper
I remember that!
Can you sub the turkey for ground beef and. Chicken stuffing?
I don’t see why not! Let me know how it turns out.
Sarah – if I don’t have Turkey stuffing but instead have Stove Top Cornbread Stuffing, do you think that would work?
Yes that would work fine! Might be even better!
Thanks for the guidance Sarah! I’ll let you know how it turns out! Your recipes are a BIG hit for me – they’re so easy – and so yummy! I make dinner for my elderly parents and take it to them every week – the slow cooker option is so fantastic, and they’re loving your recipes too!
That’s really great to hear Steve! I’m glad your parents enjoy the recipes too!
I love this. I modified it based on the time I had to prep and the ingredients I had on hand. It was AMAZING. I omitted the celery and carrots but did use a little celery salt. I added a half can of cream of mushroom soup in with the mix and I sautéed the onion along with minced garlic with a tiny bit of butter. Cooked it all up and in the last 15 minutes of cooking added the rest of the can of soup (the loaf was a little dry for me along the bottom) to the sides of the loaf and added a half can of brown gravy to the top and cooked that for an additional 15 minutes. Best meatloaf ever
Hi Lisa – I just signed up for your weekly emails!!
This Stove Top Turkey Meatloaf recipe sounds really good and I want to try it but I have a couple questions first. 1) Do you need to put any liquid in the crock pot?. I didn’t see any mentioned but I just wondered. 2) My crock pot is only a 4 QT., will it still fit and cook well?
Thanks,
Lori
Hi Lisa, I think a 4-quart should do fine, just keep the lid on the entire time. No liquid needed! It will stay moist if the lid is left on.
I wonder if you could substitute Bells or poultry season for the sage.
I was thinking of making this into meatballs and cooking in the gravy in the crockpot.
Hi Lisa, you can substitute whatever you would like. It just needs a little something extra! Meatballs is gravy sound so good!
can you make meatloaf without using eggs? I want to can some and am concerned about canning eggs.
I made this without eggs and it turned out great. I increased the milk from 2 tablespoons to about 1/3 cup to make up for the moisture.
This looks and sounds amazing however unfortunately for me i have celiacs disease. My local grocery store does sell a gluten free stove top stuffinf mix that im going to try as a substitute for the regular. Hopefully it turns out ok but you never know foe sure when substituting something gluten free for something that wasnt. If it turns out ok ill keep you posted. Im on your weekly mailing list so i get your recipes all the time and most of them i can try without changibg anything and if i do its just something simple like gluten free soy sauce instead of regular and id like to thank you for that. Now a days its all fillers and junk but you keep it simple and real the way it should be so thank you for sending out healthy options that arent all fillers and junk
Hi Dana! I think it should be fine with the gluten free stove top! It’s great that there is that option for gluten free people