Mini Turkey Meatloaves are flavor-packed little entrees, filled with gooey cheese and topped with a tangy ketchup mixture. This kid-friendly dinner idea might just be your new favorite recipe! It’s a quick and easy dinner that always hits the spot and can be served with any of your favorite side dishes.
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Mini Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
Juicy turkey meatloaf that’s perfectly portioned for each plate, stuffed with cheese, and topped with the most mouthwatering ketchup mixture? Count me in for these mini turkey meatloaves! This family favorite dinner recipe is so easy to make and is guaranteed to satisfy every hungry belly gathered around the table.
This cheese-stuffed turkey meatloaf recipe comes together in just a few hassle-free steps with simple ingredients. Plus, you can plate it with just about any side dish you like! It’s a flexible entree that’s delicious and packed with protein. If you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to sneak some protein onto your little one’s plate!
Why You’ll Love this Cheese Stuffed Turkey Meatloaf:
- Filling: These meatloaves may be mini, but they pack a protein-packed punch! The meat itself combined with the cheesy centers are totally satisfying.
- Kid-Friendly: This picky eater-approved dinner gets the stamp of approval from just about every kid who tries it!
- Quick Prep: You’ll only need about 15 minutes or less to prep these mini meatloaves. After that, the oven does all of the work for you!
Don’t let the “mini” title fool you. These cheesy turkey meatloaves are perfectly portioned – you may be full after just one serving, but I don’t blame you for craving a second or third!
How to Make Mini Turkey Meatloaves
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Sauté the garlic and onions.
- Combine the onions and garlic with the ground turkey and next 6 ingredients.
- Form the mixture into 4 equal balls.
- Place 1 ounce of cheese in the middle of each flattened ball.
- Pinch the edges around the cheese.
- Place the loaves on a prepared baking sheet.
- Create the ketchup topping and brush each loaf with it.
- Bake at 350°F for one hour.
Absolutely! You can use ground beef, chicken, or a mixture!
I like to flatten each portion of meat, then add the cheese to the center and fold up the sides around it, rolling it between my hands to seal.
You don’t need to cover these mini meatloaves, but if they do start to brown too much (or even burn) on top, you can tent them with foil for the remainder of the bake.
If your turkey meatloaves fell apart, this is likely because you did not use enough binder in your mixture. If you are using medium or small eggs, you may want to add an additional egg to help the meat bind together better.
Serving Suggestions
Here are just a few of my favorite side dishes to plate with these mini meatloaves!
- 15 Minute Mac and Cheese
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Crispy Baked Green Beans
This is one of those recipes that you make once, then everyone requests it over and over again. Soon, you won’t even need to look at this recipe. You’ll have it memorized!
Make Ahead Instructions
You can shape these meatloaves and place them on a baking sheet (without the ketchup mixture) covered with plastic wrap for up to 1 day. Brush with ketchup and bake, adding up to 5 extra minutes to the bake time to make up for the cold start.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover mini turkey meatloaves in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze mini turkey meatloaves tightly wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Substitutions
- You can sub any single meat or combination of ground meats in place of the turkey, such as beef or chicken.
- Feel free to use a different seasoning blend to change up the flavor, such as creole or chili seasoning.
- Use your favorite kind of cheese, such as pepper Jack, cheddar, or mozzarella.
- You can use a different type of mustard, such as Dijon, for a richer flavor.
Scaling Up
Easily scale up this recipe for a crowd! Simply double the recipe to feed 8 people.
More Oven-Baked Turkey Recipes We Love
- Cheesy Turkey Meatballs
- Creamy Turkey Rice Casserole
- Baked Turkey Sliders
- More Ground Turkey Recipes
Everything’s more fun with a gooey, cheesy center, right? This easy mini turkey meatloaves recipe is easy to make, kid-friendly, and always yields delicious results. What more could you want in a weeknight dinner recipe?!
More Sheet Pan Dinner Recipes to Try:
- Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Sheet Pan Lemon Salmon
- Sheet Pan Thanksgiving Dinner
- Italian Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner
- Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
- Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Mini Turkey Meatloaves Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (⅛ stick)
- ½ cup diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup finely crushed cheese crackers such as Cheez-It
- 4 ounces shredded or cubed cheese divided (see note)
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray lightly with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- Heat the butter in a medium skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, until onions soften. Cool slightly.1 tablespoon unsalted butter, ½ cup diced onion, 3 cloves garlic
- In a large bowl, combine onion mixture with ground turkey and next 6 ingredients (through cheese crackers) Use your hands to mix thoroughly, but be careful not to overmix.1 pound ground turkey, 1 large egg, ¼ cup milk, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¾ cup finely crushed cheese crackers
- Form mixture into 4 equal balls. Flatten each ball and place 1 ounce of cheese in the center. Pinch the edges to fully surround the cheese with the turkey mixture. Place loafs on prepared baking sheet.4 ounces shredded or cubed cheese
- In a small bowl, whisk the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard together.¼ cup ketchup, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- Brush the top of each “loaf” with ketchup mixture.
- Bake for 60 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Becky’s Tips
- Cheese: Use your favorite kind of cheese, such as pepper Jack, cheddar, or mozzarella.
- You can sub any single meat or combination of ground meats in place of the turkey, such as beef or chicken.
- Feel free to use a different seasoning blend to change up the flavor, such as creole or chili seasoning.
- You can use a different type of mustard, such as Dijon, for a richer flavor.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
These look delicious! Do you think I could use Goldfish crackers instead of the Cheez-Its?
It could work!