Thanksgiving Dinner

Have you ever found yourself alone at Thanksgiving but still wish you had the whole taste experience of the great big dinner? Or maybe it is just you and your partner and you don’t want to fix the whole meal and deal with all those leftovers. Sometimes it comes down to wanting the dinner but your wallet says you can’t. I have the solution. I have developed a Thanksgiving meatloaf. (It is great for other holidays or regular meals as well).

To get the special taste of the holidays you will need a few ingredients:

Ground turkey

Jar of turkey gravy

Boxed stuffing mix

Vegetables – green beans, peas, carrots

French fried onions

Egg (optional)

Place the ground turkey in a large mixing bowl. Add a bit of the turkey gravy. Open the box of stuffing mix and add a bit to the turkey and gravy. Mix well. (I use my hands to get a thorough mix – make sure your hands are clean.)

Take some of the vegetables. You can use only green beans or peas and carrots or both depending on what you like. I use canned but you can also use fresh or frozen. Mix these in well. Now it shifts to your own personal tastes. If you think you want more vegetables, add them.

An egg can be used as a binder. If you prefer a meatloaf that falls apart, leave the egg out. If you like a drier meatloaf, you can add more of the dry stuffing mix. Make sure the stuffing is right from the box. Do not prepare it. The meatloaf will make the stuffing moist. The stuffing also contains all the seasoning and spices. You can add some pepper if you like. There is no need to add salt as there is enough in the stuffing and gravy.

A note about the gravy. The turkey gravy takes the place of the tomato sauce as you use in a traditional meatloaf. You can adjust the amount to get the right consistency you prefer in your meatloaf.

Form the mixture into a loaf in a pan. A loaf pan works best as it keeps the shape as the meatloaf cooks. Once the meatloaf is in the pan, use some of the turkey gravy and pour it across the top.

Bake this Thanksgiving meatloaf in a 350 degree oven. I usually leave mine in for an hour to make sure the turkey is cooked thoroughly and all the way through. Depending on your oven, you may need less time. If you want to use a thermometer, remember to check it for poultry. When it is done, take it out of the oven to let it set and cool a bit before slicing.

Now you have two options with the French-fried onions. I use the classic can that we are all used to at Thanksgiving. You can sprinkle the onions across the top of the meatloaf or have them available for people to sprinkle on their individual slices.

Serve the meatloaf with extra gravy in case someone wants to add a little extra. Mashed potatoes and a bit of cranberry sauce make the perfect sides.

This meal makes a simple and more affordable alternative to the traditional turkey dinner. Another huge advantage is that the cleanup is much easier as you will be using fewer dishes to prepare this meal. It is also easier if you have company. You can prepare the meatloaf the night before and just pop it in the oven. This will allow you to spend time with your friends and family and not trapped in the kitchen. Enjoy watching the game or the parade and dog show. If you have more people, you can just make two meatloaves.

I hope this helps make your holidays easier, more affordable and enjoyable. Please leave a comment as to how yours turns out. I also would appreciate a tip so I can buy the ingredients for my own Thanksgiving meatloaf, and of course a slice of pumpkin pie.