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
- ⅓ 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, ⅓ 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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Heather
I only have ground venison thawed out. Can I use it Instead of turkey?
Dara
Hi Heather, I've never tried this with venison, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Rachel
I love zucchini muffins- what a great way to make them healthier but still delicious!
Roz
Don't have any oats. Could I use Panko breadcrumbs? If so, how much would you recommend? Would it affect the nutritional facts by much? Thanks!
Dara
Hi Roz, I haven't made these with breadcrumbs, so I'm not exactly sure of the amount. I would add until the mixture hold together when you form a small amount in a ball. For the change in nutritional facts, you can use a calculator such as Sparks recipes calculator. I hope that helps.
Ala @ Ala Lemon
That sounds amazing, and like something you can easily freeze. I might sub the turkey for veal as ground turkey is uncommon here (and I don't have a grinder)
Liz
Thank you Dara for the nice recipe. Have a good day and week.
Elizabeth @ Food Ramblings
That looks like a tasty and healthy dinner!
Renee @ Tortillas and Honey
What a great recipe! I cannot wait to try this recipe, it's looks so easy and flavorful. I think I'm also going to double it!
Nutmeg Nanny
Sometimes I feel like the only person who actively grew up loving meatloaf...haha. Someone just asked me what meal is my ultimate comfort food and my moms meatloaf was the answer. I think this jazzed up version sounds awesome though - so full of flavor and packed full of veggies. Love that hoisin glaze.
Karissa | Sweet as a Cookie
I've never had meatloaf ever... the closest I've come is a meatball. I love that these are mini 🙂 Too cute!
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic
Ugh! Meatloaf used to make me cringe, so naturally it's my husband's most favorite dinner ever. Seriously. The guy requests meatloaf every single time I ask for menu requests. Every. Single. Time. The name isn't all that appetizing, and it takes forever in the oven to cook. Mini meatloaf muffins solve that problem! I *really* like your zucchini addition. I bet that keeps the turkey nice and juicy.
RK
I made your hoisin chicken & my family loved it! Now I'm going to try this recipe since I have the hoisin sauce. These would be perfect to have in the freezer now that I have started back up on MyFitnessPal (I'm assuming they'd freeze well). What type of ground turkey do you recommend ? At my grocery they have options based on how much dark meat to breast meat ratio. Thank you !
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
I'd be begging for this meatloaf too! Mini is perfect!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
I thought I had commented on this yesterday, but now I don't see it. Oh well, these look so good they're worth commenting twice on. I love anything mini, and the glaze you've used on these leaves my stomach growling and my mouth watering. Such a great recipe!
Kate @ Diethood
Your updated version of meatloaf looks amazing! And it sounds soooo good!!
Bea
Oh those a gorgeous!!! Now I have to admit that meatloaf is one if our family favorites. I mix it up with veggies / without but adding hoisin sauce sounds divine. Love it!!!
kellie | The Suburban Soapbox
Huge meatloaf fan here! Holy healthiness....I love that you put zucchini AND oats in them. I think I'd have a hard time not eating 6 or 7 at a time.
Heather | girlichef
I have never cringed when I heard the word meatloaf, it's been one of my favorite meals since I was a kid! I also love hoisin, and can't resist individually portioned sizes, so I know I'd love these. My family is going to be happy to eat them, too.
Kim Beaulieu
I am such a serious meatloaf girl. I love the stuff. It just screams comfort food. These are fabulous, healthy and cute, what more can you ask for. I really dig hoisin, it's such a great sauce.
Paula-bell'alimento
So much fabulous flavor!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
These. Are. Adorable! There is definitely nothing "cringe-worthy" about them 🙂 Loving the addition of hoisin and spices!