Your family will start to beg you to meatloaf as soon as they taste these Mini Hoisin Turkey and Zucchini Meatloaf Muffins. Make ahead for a quick and easy dinner.
Raise your hand if you cringe when you hear the word "meatloaf". I get it because I used to feel the same way. The word painted pictures of 1950s-esque bricks of dried meat, served alongside lumpy mashed potatoes and limp broccoli. **Cringe**
Let's wipe those images out of our heads and give meatloaf new life by lightening it up with ground turkey and some grated zucchini, and giving it a punch of flavor with hoisin sauce and Chinese 5-spice powder. Now we're talking!
If you're not familiar with hoisin sauce, the best way I can describe it is a Chinese barbecue sauce. It's rich, savory and full of sweet and salt flavors. It can be found in the international aisle of most grocery stores, but can also be bought online, along with Chinese 5-spice powder. Gluten-free versions are also available. To make this recipe completely gluten-free, be sure to buy gluten-free oats.
Don't worry that hoisin sauce won't go to waste. You can use the extra for my favorite Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken recipe, which we make at least every couple of weeks.
You could easily turn this into a full meatloaf and slice it just before serving, but I like using muffin tins to make mini versions, both for the cute factor and for the quick cooking time. Prepare the mixture and scoop it into the muffin tin in the morning or even the night before, and pop them into the oven just before dinnertime. Twenty-five minutes later, they'll be ready to serve.
Now, there's one unsavory thing to deal with when we're talking mini meatloaves. When you bake these little guys, some liquid will be released from the ground turkey and will pool on top of the meatloaves. Using a small spoon or a paper towel, just scoop or dab that liquid away. Voilà...problem solved.
Whip up some brown rice and a green salad or steamed veggies, and you have a healthy meal that your family will love. They may actually start to beg for meatloaf!
Other healthy ground turkey recipes:
Turkey Cannelloni with Roasted Peppers & Spinach
Turkey Taco Twice-Baked Potatoes
Printable Recipe
Mini Hoisin Turkey & Zucchini Meatloaf Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground turkey
- 1 ½ cups grated zucchini liquid squeezed out
- â…“ cup + 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce divided
- ¾ cup old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup minced flat-leaf parsley
- ¾ teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a muffin tin with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, zucchini, â…“ cup hoisin sauce, oats, parsley, 5-spice powder, salt, pepper and egg.
- Use slightly less than ½ cup of the mixture for each meatloaf, placing each portion into one of muffin tin slots.
- Brush the tops of the meatloaves with the remaining 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce.
- Place the muffin tin on a baking sheet (to catch any drips). Bake until the meatloaves are cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes, then remove with a small metal spatula. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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Lauren @ Healthy Delicious
ooooh I always forget about hoisin sauce. I bet these are delicious!
Stephanie @ Back for Seconds
Ok, these flavors sound wonderful! Great recipe!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
I love the hoisin and five spice powder combination! These little bites are the best for portion control and so fun for kids too.
Dara
Thanks, Jeanette. Portion control is exactly why I like making mini meatloaves. I know exactly how much I can have!
Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily
HaaHaa, I've never been a fan of traditional meatloaf, but then again red meat isn't my fav in general. I do love 'untraditional' ways to rev up the flavor like in this recipe.
Dara
Thanks, Gwen! We love using ground turkey for meatloaf and the nontraditional flavors always keep things interesting.
The Food Hunter
what a great idea making them in mini form
Dara
Thanks, Theresa. My kids seem to love them that way.
Angie
I'm one of the weird ones that loves traditional meatloaf too, well most of the time, depends on who's making it, lol. But I know I would more than love these meatloaf muffins. OMG, they look too good to be true!
Dara
That's definitely the key...who is making it. 🙂 I hope you have a chance to try this version.
Danae @ Recipe Runner
I'm probably weird because I actually love meatloaf! The Asian twist is a nice change up on traditional meatloaf and I love that these are mini!
Dara
Thanks, Danae! You're not weird...you just must have a really good meatloaf recipe. 🙂
Colleen (Souffle Bombay)
I'm personally not into the meatloaf of my childhood, however my husband LOVES it...as in he would eat it weekly if I made it. As it is I make his childhood version twice a year! Love that you used hoisin as well as zucchini in your mini's! My daughter makes meatloaf "cupcakes" (she calls them) with sauteed sweet potatoes, carrots & rice which gives it the sweetness she craves.
Dara
Thank you so much, Colleen! I love the sound of your daughter's mini meatloaves!
foodwanderings
Why is it that I always imagining eating your food?! Something about yours has my name written all over it. Love that you made mini turkey meatloaf versions. So much more delicate.
Dara
That is the best compliment, Shulie! Someday we need to break bread together.
Christie - Food Done Light
I've loved meatloaf since I was a kid! My Mom always made fantastic meatloaf so I only have good memories of it. Now my daughter absolutely adores it. She is going to love this version for sure.
Dara
That's great that you've passed your love of meatloaf on to your daughter. You must have a wonderful family recipe!