Recipes

[Bhvbum]

To those not likeing stuffing, hat's why they call it stuffing, it is meant to go inside the turkey and cook.

And it is a perfect way to cook a turkey because with the stuffing inside steams and the turkey stays moist.My family only had stuffed turkey.

The only thing you need to do is when dinner is over make sure the turkey stuffing is removed from the bird and put in a separate container so that it cools quickly in the refrigerator and it allows the bird to cook quickly in the refrigerator too. The only problem could arise is if the staffing does not chill fast enough when it's put in the refrigerator.   I have never heard of meatloaf stuffing. But putting stuffing in meatloaf is really good. 

[abbalulu]

Thank you all for your input.

Mostly I was trying to find if anyone else's family did this.

My Husband said he always preferred the meatloaf in the turkey to the actual turkey when he was a kid.

I had it at his families' house years ago after we were first married but wasn't that impressed I think mostly because I missed my families' bread stuffing and my parents moved across the country from us about two weeks after we married.

My husband always said the meatloaf absorbed the juices from the cooking turkey and it gave it a great flavor.

I just don't remember what it tasted like very well as it was years ago and after a few years I think his Mom stopped doing it I think after her father passed as he usually helped with the stuffing. Plus I think the daughters in law started requesting bread stuffing and other things from their own family celebrations.

@annie315What you talked about sounded like it could have been something similar to what my MIL made and my husband always thought it was wonderful.

I was asking this question more to find out if it was a regional or ethnic tradition.

My husband's family is Lithuanian so I thought it may have had something to do with that but he doesn't remember if any one else that he grew up with did the meatloaf stuffing or not.

I really don't know how his mother made it but he says it was definitely a ground beef type of meatloaf.

Thanks again for your input.

[vabreeze]

I've had meatloaf made with ground turkey which was then flattened out on parchment paper, then covered with a layer of prepared stuffing and rolled up jellyroll-style and place in a loaf pan to bake. It was called 'meat!oaf stuffed turkey' which, to me, is a misnomer; I think a more appropriate description/name  would be Sausage or Potato or Bread or Cornbread, etc-Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf Roll. I betcha some saved roasted turkey pan drippings poured over such a lean mix turkey meatloaf roll would definitely enhance the flavor.

[GinzTonic]

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@abbalulu wrote:

Has anyone ever heard of stuffing a turkey with meatloaf?

This is what my husband's family always did and I have never heard of anyone else doing it.

After all this time I finally thought of asking about it here where there are many posters from different regions and different nationalities across this country.

I am interested to hear of anyone else doing this.

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Yes , French meat stuffing , made w  pork, beef, sage & saltines .  Got better with turkey than expected 

[ECBG]

I've never heard of stuffing turkey with meatloaf and I have had access to countless cookbooks.

I wouldn't like meatloaf with turkey myself and I do love meatloaf with mushroom gravy.

[moonandthestars]

I've never heard of meatloaf as stuffing for a turkey - if I understand correctly it's not mostly (bread) stuffing with some meat (loaf).  If it is actually meatloaf, it reminds me conceptually of that turducken that people make / eat.  

[beach-mom]

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@Love my grandkids wrote:

@abbalulu That just sounds nasty. I don't even put dressing in my turkey. I make a fabulous meatloaf but no way would it go into anything! I agree, it sounds unsafe and greasy, ick.

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This. I usually make turkey breasts these days, but I don't think I'll ever put dressing inside again. My first time doing this did not go well!

And I would NEVER ruin a good meatloaf! But it's interesting to learn about different customs!   

[RespectLife]

@abbalulu 

I think it sounds delicious and different!

We smoke our turkeys now unstuffed....but I miss it cooking IN the bird.

My gram (Italian) made a meatless type meatloaf IN the bird. 

She saved the dried bread ends for weeks.  Eggs, milk, parm cheese and herbs.  It cooked up just like a meatloaf in the bird.

You actually sliced it like a meatloaf...made the BEST sandwiches.

Sadly, it was never written down.  I tried it 2x with very dismal results.

No one in my family likes crouton stuffing/dressing.  I make a sausage, cherry, wild rice w/ sliced Almond stuffing/dressing.

[abbalulu]

@RespectLife  I'm sorry that no one else in your family likes the bread stuffing.

We never had our family stuffing recipe written down either but my daughter found a recipe that pretty well duplicates it so we use that now.

I hope eventually you will be able to duplicate your grandmother's recipe. It sounds delicious.

Have you tried reaching out here or looking around online to see if you find something similar?

[RespectLife]

@abbalulu   Thanks...

Oh yes, I have searched.  I have asked all relatives still alive and they look at me like I am making it up!  LOL  None even remember my gram cooking!

Sis and I went by memory, but it didn't come out.  I did make a hearty wall paper paste though!

It is a total bread recipe...that is the only main ingredient besides eggs, herbs and parm cheese.  Not sure about a liquid....milk maybe or maybe not?  Don't know.

I have found some Bread Dumpling recipes that look the same minus the parm....I'm going to give them a whirl some time!