Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
Turkey meatloaf muffins? Yes please! Move away from the traditional meatloaf and make this quick, healthy and tasty version instead. These individual meatloaf servings are perfect for meal prepping or just for a really simple dinner.
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Turkey Meatloaf Muffins Recipe
I didn't ever think I'd end up with a meatloaf recipe on my site. I don't usually like meatloaf, for one. It always seems to be dry or crumbly and has just never done a whole lot for me. But then, something happened that changed my whole outlook on meatloaf.
First, I discovered this recipe for slow cooker Italian meatloaf from my friend Erin! I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner one day and I had ground turkey on hand. She sent me that recipe and we just loved it.
Around the same time, I also discovered this recipe for healthy turkey meatballs and then I found a third recipe I loved for keto turkey meatloaf. I had quickly grown to love eating meatloaf for dinner and knew I needed to give it a fair shot.
So I whipped up these turkey meatloaf muffins, and they are everything I hoped they would be. They are moist, flavorful and so easy to make. Plus, the addition of sauce and melted, gooey mozzarella cheese on top is just too good. The whole family will love these delicious meatloaf muffins!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
This classic comfort food is such a great recipe:
- Mini meatloaves are the perfect thing for an easy weeknight dinner. They'll come together quickly and pair well with all of your favorite side dishes.
- Turkey muffins are a healthier option for dinner time. The lean meat packs in plenty of protein without a high fat content.
- These cook much faster than traditional meatloaf! Have dinner ready in 30 minutes instead of close to an hour.
Ingredients
These simple ingredients are all that you need to make turkey meatloaf muffins:
- ground turkey
- egg
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- dried parsley
- dried oregano
- dried thyme
- salt
- pepper
- bread crumbs
- milk
- tomato sauce
- sliced mozzarella
Substitutions and Variations
You can swap out the turkey for lean ground beef and the cooking time should be the same. Be sure to test the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure the meatloaf is fully cooked.
To make these dairy free, skip the mozzarella or use dairy free cheese on top. Make sure to use dairy free milk too!
You can use almond meal instead of bread crumbs to keep this gluten free. Gluten free panko bread crumbs work great as well!
Add veggies into the meatloaf if you want. Diced onion, diced tomatoes and some bell peppers are great options.
For additional flavor, stir in some store bought or homemade onion soup mix!
Fresh herbs work in this recipe too. They are less concentrated than dried herbs, so you'll need about 3x the amount of fresh herbs.
How to Make Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
Follow these step by step instructions to make this great recipe in just 30 minutes:
Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 12 count muffin tin and set it aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients, except the tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Then use a cookie scoop or a spoon, and add the meatloaf mixture to every muffin tin, packing each one with as much meatloaf mixture as you can. Bake for 23 minutes and then remove from oven.
Top with sauce and a slice of mozzarella and broil on high for another 7 minutes. Be sure to check internal temperature to make sure they are fully cooked.
Allow to cool for a few minutes, then serve!
How to Store Leftover Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
Transfer fully cooled muffins to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze them — both fully cooked muffin or the raw muffins. They're really great for meal prep, so I love to make a big batch at the beginning of the week to store for later.
If freezing raw, then freeze the whole mixture or use a large cookie scoop to scoop mixture into balls. Flash freeze on a baking sheet for 10-20 minutes, then place into a zip top freezer bag to store in freezer for up to 6 months. Either method, be sure to thaw meatloaf completely in refrigerator before reheating or baking.
What to Serve with Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
You can serve these healthy turkey meatloaf muffins with rice and vegetables like garlic brown butter green beans or maybe prosciutto wrapped broccolini. It's also tasty with my roasted root vegetables and some cheesy garlic bread.
Potato salad or a quick broccoli bacon salad is yummy with meatloaf too. My simple sauteed zucchini and creamy mashed potatoes are also great with turkey meatloaf muffins.
Tips for Success
These few tips will help make your turkey meatloaf muffins a success:
- Spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray or grease it with butter before adding the meatloaf mixture. It'll keep them from sticking and ensure they pop out of the tin really easily.
- While I love the the portion control and ease of a muffin tin, you can put this mixture in a loaf pan if that's all that you have!
- Don't over-mix the ingredients or your meatloaf muffins could end up tough. Once everything is just combined, stuff the muffins tins and bake!
FAQ
Part of the solution is the cook time and part of it is the ingredients. One of the reasons mini meatloaf is so easy is because the bake time is significantly less and that helps keep it from getting dried out. Make sure you have ingredients like egg and breadcrumbs to hold the meatloaf together and ensure it doesn't dry out.
Cook these turkey meatloaves to 165°F (74°C). Use a quick read meat thermometer to accurately check the temperature before serving!
More Ground Turkey Recipes
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Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb turkey
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- ⅔ cup bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons milk of choice I used almond milk
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 8 oz sliced mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350?. Grease a 12 count muffin tin and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients, except tomato sauce and mozzarella.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, add meatloaf mixture to every muffin tin, packing each one as much as you can (they will not rise).
- Bake for 23 minutes. Remove from oven, top with sauce and a slice of mozzarella and broil on high for remaining 7 minutes. Be sure to check internal temperature (165?) to make sure they are fully cooked.
Nutrition
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We are big meatloaf fans and love making sandwiches with it the day after. This being in muffin form makes it easy for a portable lunch also!