Mini Turkey Meat Loaf

Your family is going to devour these Mini Turkey Meat Loaves with balsamic glaze. They are so delicious and just so cute too! Browning the onions before adding them to the mix just elevates the flavor and makes these mini loaves extra special! I bet they will love these Buffalo Turkey Meatballs too!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The perfect sheet pan meal, Mini Turkey Loaf, ready in under an hour: makes it a work week staple that the whole family will love. It makes the best leftovers for lunches too.

It’s Paleo and Whole30: Having no gluten, grains, or dairy, it is the perfect dish if you need to keep it Paleo or Whole30 friendly.

Ingredients You Will Need

Ground turkey: is minced turkey meat, typically made from a combination of light and dark meat, and sometimes from breast meat only. I love Grass Roots Coop for all my meat purchases.

Onion: yellow onion has a bolder flavor than sweet onions but you can certainly use sweet if you prefer for the Mini Turkey Loaf.

Ghee: incorporating ghee into this sauce for your mini turkey loaf adds a rich, nutty flavor. I love Fourth and Heart ghee.

Eggs: are a good source of protein and vitamins and are one of the few foods that should be classified as “superfoods”.

Almond flour: is typically finer and made from blanched almonds, while almond meal is coarser and often includes the almond skins in its preparation. Perfect for mixing into a Mini Turkey Loaf!

Garlic powder: is best for when you want a milder flavor that will also coat meats easier for sautéing or quickly frying.

Salt and black pepper: salt enhances the overall flavor of the dish and ground black pepper adds a gentle heat.

Ketchup: unsweetened ketchup allows the true sweetness from the tomatoes to shine through.

Balsamic vinegar: is the best choice for this recipe as it lends an intense vinegar flavor that can be reminiscent of red wine when used in a sauce over your Mini Turkey Loaf.

Instructions

Preheat oven: to 350˚.

Line a rimmed sheet pan: with parchment paper for your Mini Turkey Loaf.

Mix 2 tbsp of ketchup: with 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar in a small bowl and set aside.

Melt the ghee: in a pan and add the onions, cooking till just browning and allow to cool slightly.

Combine: remaining ingredients in a large bowl along with the onions and mix well.

Shape into mini loaves: and place on the sheet pan.

Spoon ketchup mixture: over each loaf.

Bake: 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Don’t over mix: your ground turkey for the Mini Turkey Loaf as it can make them turn out dense.

Cooking the onions: can be done ahead of time making this recipe come together even quicker.

Recipe Variations

Ground chicken or beef: can be used in place of the ground turkey for a different twist on Mini Turkey Loaf.

Italian bread crumbs: make a good substitute for the almond flour if you are not concerned with keeping this recipe Paleo and Whole30 friendly.

Storage Tips

You can store these Mini Turkey Loaves in the refrigerator for up to 4 days when placed in an airtight glass container. They freeze well for up to 6 months.

FAQs About Mini Turkey Meat Loaves:

Why is my turkey meatloaf dry?

Cooking your Mini Turkey Loaf too long will make them dry.

What is the secret to moist meatloaf?

The secret is to not over mix the meat mixture. Overworking will result in a tough, dense loaf.

What can I put on top of meatloaf instead of ketchup?

This recipe combines ketchup with balsamic vinegar which makes it taste more like a bbq sauce than ketchup by itself.