Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf

This meal can be made, baked off, and on your table within 45 mins. Your family and friends will think you were in the kitchen all day making this delicious dinner. A dish of pasta, cooked al dente, makes this a complete meal.

Ground turkey, especially 97% fat-free, is a blank canvas, awaiting spices. I took this recipe in an Italian direction but you can re-create Thanksgiving by stuffing it with cornbread stuffing, cranberries, and apples.

Let's getting cooking you'll need:

1 package of ground turkey

1 small onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic chopped

2 eggs

Italian breadcrumbs (enough to bring the mixture together)

1 tsp ground oregano

1 tsp of Italian Seasonings

1/2 tsp of garlic powder

1 container of Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes

1/2 lb of sliced Mozzarella

1 cup of shredded Mozzarella

4 cups of Pasta Sauce

In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, onions, garlic, seasonings. Add the eggs and breadcrumbs, mix like a traditional meatloaf.

Turn the meat mixture into a large baking pan, (I use disposable because it does make a mess). Make a well in the middle of the meat. By this, I mean an indentation about 2" deep but not down to the bottom of the pan.

Heat Bob Evan's Mashed Potatoes and put them in the meat well. Yes, I don't make homemade mashed potatoes for this dish. These are my "cheat" when making casseroles or other dishes that call for twice baked potatoes. They tend to be a little salty, so I don't add additional salt to the meal. This is a personal preference and you can add salt and pepper to taste.

Add half of the mashed potatoes, reserving the other half for the top of the meatloaf. Layer 4 slices of mozzarella cheese and a few tablespoons of pasta sauce. Repeat with more mashed potatoes and cheese. Since shredded mozzarella melts better than sliced, put the shredded mozzarella on top.

Bake for 30 minutes and remove carefully from the oven. Top with a few more tablespoons of pasta sauce and fresh basil torn over the top. Allow this to cool a few minutes before you cut into it. It's obscene how the mozzarella oozes from the center and mixtures with the mashed potatoes. OH MY!!

Short cuts are acceptable for a busy worknight meal, that will be our secret.

Enjoy!