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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Susan
I have a turkey meatloaf recipe that I like which has quinoa in it. It might be fun to try this one, too, for a change. I know my poor husband would love it if I'd quit making new dishes all the time, but I love variety and trying new things. This one sounds like a real winner.
Brenda Bennett
I love using oats in my meatloaf but i love even more than you added zucchini into these!
Amanda @ The Kitcheneer
This recipe is just what I was looking for! I will definitely be adding this to my weekly meal plan next week! It's low carb and that's right up my alley 😉 Especially served with some cauliflower mash!
Liz
Thanks Dara for the nice turkey muffin recipe. Have a great week.
KalynsKitchen
I never would have thought of Hoisin Sauce on meatloaf, but I love the sound of it. BTW, my sister made your Hoisin chicken and loved it!
Ciao Florentina
What a great idea! I'm trying to be a vegetarian but definitely must try these for my man. Sounds delish !
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
Dara, I love these!!! these are like portable meatloaf muffins!!! I love it! and I love hoisin sauce. . we go through a couple bottles a month!
Pink guava
What a great alternative to meatloaf. I stopped making years ago as I was tired of the dried out, crusted tomato paste on top of the old-fashioned version. These will be wonderful for freezing, pre-cooked, or frozen raw in the muffin pans and popped out and stored, ready to cook. Thanks for a great new version to an old favourite.
Jenny @ The Peachy Pair
Love anything made in muffin pans. Instant portion control! And I love meatloaf, so these are a must try for me.
Brianna
This sounds delish! We tried your chicken hoisin sammies and have made them a few times since! Great idea bringing this flavor to meatloaf. 🙂