• About
  • Work with Me
    • Contact
  • Food Photography
  • Newsletter

Chef Janet

So good, they'll never know it's gluten-free.

  • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Cooking Basics
  • Gluten-Free Diet Tips
Home Β» Appetizers and Snacks Β» Muffin Tin Ground Turkey Meatloaf with Homemade Glaze

April 24, 2023

Muffin Tin Ground Turkey Meatloaf with Homemade Glaze

No ratings yet
Janet Harlow
Leave a Comment Jump to Recipe

This meatloaf recipe bakes in a mini muffin tin and is a great snack, appetizer or kid-friendly meal. It is made with ground turkey and topped with a sweet and tangy homemade meatloaf glaze.

Be sure to check out more of my muffin pan recipes including my fun sized muffin tin chicken pot pies, ricotta and kale tartlets and my muffin tin corn dog bites.

Ingredients

Bread crumbs absorb the liquid that is mixed in with the meatloaf. As the meatloaf bakes, the bread crumbs hold in the moisture and provide some binding power as well.

I prefer to use seasoned or Italian bread crumbs. They already have some flavor. If you use bread crumbs without seasoning, add a few pinches of salt a few pinches of garlic powder and a few pinches of onion powder.

An egg also helps to provide moisture richness and binding power to the meatloaf.

I use milk as the liquid. If you are lactose-free or dairy-free you can use a dairy-free milk substitute like coconut, almond, oat or soy milk.

Minced onion, in addition to adding flavor, also adds moisture to the meatloaf. As it cooks it releases its moisture into the meat. It’s important that you immensely onion into small pieces. Because this is a mini meatloaf you don’t want to have large chunks of onion.

To add more layers of flavor, the recipe includes garlic powder (not garlic salt), finely chopped parsley and ground black pepper.

And of course salt enhances all the flavors in the meatloaf and makes it taste great.

Overhead view of muffin tin meatloaf with glaze on white plate with fork. Small bowl above with meatloaf glaze.

Tips for Moist Tender Meatloaf

  • The first tip is to use dark meat turkey (usually 7% fat). Turkey breast has very little moisture and fat and flavor and is not a good option for meatloaf.
  • The next tip is to mix some liquid with the bread crumbs. The bread crumbs will absorb the liquid and hold it in the meatloaf as it bakes.
  • The last tip is to bake the meatloaf just until done. Turkey is safe to eat at 165Β°F. So if you have a meat thermometer, you can test the temp. and remove it from the oven as soon as it reaches 165Β°F.
Overhead view of rectangular white platter with muffin tin mini meatloaves with meatloaf glaze and parsley garnish. Small bowl with glaze and spoon in upper right.

Meatloaf Glaze

Ketchup is a traditional and super easy glaze for meatloaf. If you like ketchup, use it! Your favorite BBQ sauce can also be a great topper for meatloaf. But I prefer a homemade glaze with a little less salt and one that is exactly to my taste.

The glaze recipe in the card below is made with a base of tomato paste and has a few other ingredients to make it sweet and tangy. For the sweet, I like agave, maple syrup or brown sugar. I prefer a liquid sweetener because it incorporates easily. The tangy flavor comes from vinegar and soy sauce or tamari. A little sweet and pungent flavor comes from onion powder.

Finally, salt enhances and brings all the flavors together. I have made this glaze to my tastes. I completely expect you to taste it and adjust it to your preference. Maybe you like it saltier or sweeter or more sour. If so, add a small amount salt, sweetener or vinegar at a time and taste until you are satisfied with the flavor.

Close up of muffin tin meatloaves topped with glaze and parsley garnish on white parchment and wood board.
Close up of muffin tin meatloaves on white parchment and wood board. Spoon on left with glaze.

Muffin Tin Ground Turkey Meatloaf with Homemade Glaze

Author: Janet Harlow
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 mini meatloaves
This meatloaf recipe bakes in a mini muffin tin and is a great snack, appetizer or kid-friendly meal. It is made with ground turkey and topped with a sweet and tangy homemade meatloaf glaze.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Recommended Products

  • Fat Daddio’s Mini Muffin Pan

Ingredients
  

Muffin Tin Meatloaf

  • Β½-ΒΎ medium sized onion, enough to make Β½ cup minced, packed tightly
  • 1Β½ lbs. dark meat ground turkeyΒ 
  • 1 large egg
  • Β½ c Italian bread crumbs (or seasoned bread crumbs)*
  • 2 Tbsp finely chopped parsley
  • ΒΌ c milk or dairy-free milk substitute
  • 2 tsp garlic powder (not garlic salt)
  • ΒΎ tsp salt
  • 3 pinches finely ground black pepper

Meatloaf Glaze

  • ΒΌ c + 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • ΒΌ c apple cider vinegar
  • ΒΌ c maple syrup, agave or brown sugar
  • 1 tsp soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • Β½ tsp salt

Instructions
 

Make the Muffin Tin Meatloaf

  • The pan can get pretty messy after baking meatloaf. I recommend using a good quality pan with a non-stick coating or a pan made from anodized aluminum (no toxic coatings).
  • Preheat the oven to 400℉. Do not grease the pan yet.
  • Mince the onion. See my post How to Cut an Onion With Minimal Tears for info on how to easily mince an onion. You'll need Β½ cup packed.
    Overhead view of muffin tin meatloaf ingredients on wood boards.
  • To a large mixing bowl, add all of the ingredients except the ground turkey.
    Overhead view of glass bowl with bread crumbs, minced onion and other ingredients for muffin tin meatloaf.
  • Beat well with a fork or whisk.
    Overhead view of glass bowl with bread crumb mixture for muffin tin meatloaf.
  • Add the meat and gently fold it in using your hands until it is evenly combined. Do not mash – mashing will create dense meatloaf.
    Overhead view of glass bowl with hands mixing meatloaf mixture.
  • Grease just 3 of the mini muffin tin openings and be sure that every inch of the surface is coated. Oil spray tends to puddle as it sits. This creates ungreased spots causing the meatloaf to stick. So spraying just 3 at a time will help this problem.
  • Use a 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) scoop or use your hands to form the meat into a size that will fit in the muffin pan. Form the mini meatloaf with a medium amount of pressure. Too much pressure will create dense meatloaf.
    Overhead view of mini muffin pan with meatloaf being scooped in.
  • Continue to work 3 at a time.
    Overhead view of mini muffin pan with unbaked meatloaf.
  • I prefer to save the glaze until after baking and allow the tops to brown a little. But if you prefer, spoon a little bit of the glaze on top after 10 minutes of bake time.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until the center of the meatloaf reaches 165℉.
  • Let them cool for just 3-4 minutes. Then run a mini spatula or knife around the edges and remove.
  • These meatloaves will stay fresh when refrigerated for at least 5 days. They can also be frozen for 3 months.

Make the Meatloaf Glaze

  • Place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix with a fork or whisk until smooth.
  • Taste. Feel free to adjust it to your preference. Prefer it more sweet? Add more sweetener a teaspoon or two at a time. More sour? Add more vinegar a teaspoon or two at a time. More salty? Add more salt a few pinches at a time.

Notes

*If using plain, unseasoned bread crumbs, add 1/4 tsp onion powder, 3 pinches, garlic powder and 3 pinches salt.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how it was! Tag @chefjanetk on Instagram.

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Posted In: Appetizers and Snacks, Main Course · Tagged: muffin tin

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and review when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means a great deal to me.

Thank you!
Janet

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me
Hi, Welcome! I'm Chef Janet and I create gluten-free recipes that everyone will love, gluten-free or not.

Set up a customized lesson with me to learn basic cooking techniques, gluten-free, menu planning and kitchen tips to make your life easier. Follow me on instagram to keep up with my latest and let me know how I can help.

Follow along on Instagram

This gluten-free strawberry sheet cake is filled w This gluten-free strawberry sheet cake is filled with fresh strawberries in a strawberry swirl. It's the perfect dessert for a crowd on a spring or summer day. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ“πŸŽ‚πŸ“
Simply take some fresh strawberries and whirl them in the food processor until they're finely chopped. Mix some into the batter and spread the rest between layers of batter to create a pretty swirl when you cut into the cake. 
πŸŽ‚πŸ“πŸŽ‚
#glutenfreecake #strawberrycake #freshstrawberries #sheetcake #glutenfreedessert #berrydessert #strawberrydessert #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreelosangeles #strawberrydesserts #bbqdessert #memorialdaydessert
This Gluten-Free Lemon Bundt Cake is a dreamy good This Gluten-Free Lemon Bundt Cake is a dreamy good, sunny treat. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
#glutenfreebundtcake #glutenfreelemoncake #lemonbundtcake #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreecake #lemondessert #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreedessert
This Gluten-Free Carrot Cake is fluffy, moist and This Gluten-Free Carrot Cake is fluffy, moist and packed with cinnamon spice goodness. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ₯•πŸŽ‚πŸ₯•
I prefer my carrot cake with no crushed pineapple or nuts or raisins. I use a little applesauce to give it some fruity flavor but that's it. So if you're on team nut-free, raisin-free, this is the cake for you.
πŸ₯•πŸŽ‚πŸ₯•
#glutenfreecarrotcake #glutenfreecakes #glutenfreeeaster #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreedesserts #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreedessertrecipes #easterdesserts
Whether it's summer peach season or not you can ma Whether it's summer peach season or not you can make this gluten-free peach cobbler. The recipe includes instructions for fresh, frozen or canned peaches. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘
#glutenfreepeachcobbler #glutenfreecobbler #peachdessert #peachcobbler #losangeleschef #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreechef #glutenfreelosangeles #summerdesserts #glutenfreedesserts
This gluten-free chocolate mug cake is ready in ju This gluten-free chocolate mug cake is ready in just 5 minutes. When you want a cake just for yourself, it's the perfect recipe. Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸŽ‚πŸ«πŸŽ‚πŸ«
#glutenfreecakes #chocolatemugcake #glutenfreemugcake #singleservedessert #glutenfreechocolatecake #glutenfreeblog #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #dessertforone #glutenfreedesserts #fastdessert
Do you need a cake or cupcakes for a gluten-free b Do you need a cake or cupcakes for a gluten-free birthday celebration? I've got you covered with a blog post with 16 ideas for fun,  festive & yummy cakes and cupcakes.
πŸŽ‚πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‚
All are gluten free and many can be made dairy-free as well. Most use Measure for Measure flour from @kingarthurbaking.
1. GF Carrot Cake
2. GF Funfetti Cupcakes
3. GF Red Velvet Cake
4. GF Lemon Cake
5. Grain-Free Vanilla Almond Flour Cake
6. GF Vanilla Cake
7. GF Mini Cupcakes in Choc & Vanilla
8. GF Vanilla Cupcakes
9. GF Coconut Layer Cake
πŸŽ‚πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‚
Not pictured: GF Chocolate Orange Loaf Cake,
GF Chocolate Cupcakes, GF Apple Pie Cupcakes, GF Butternut Squash Cake, Gf Chocolate Mug Cake, GF Vanilla Snack Cake, and GF Carrot Cake Cupcakes.
πŸŽ‚πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‚
#glutenfreebirthdaycake #glutenfreebirthday #losangeleschef #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreecake #glutenfreecupcakes #glutenfreecarrotcake #glutenfreevanillacake #glutenfreeredvelvet #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreelemoncake
No lie, these chicken wings were baked in the toas No lie, these chicken wings were baked in the toaster oven and still came out with golden brown delicious skin. 
🌽 🌭🌽
Those mini corn dog bites are the favorite at my parties and are SUPER (pun intended) easy to make.
πŸ“πŸ—πŸ“
Link to the recipes in my profile.
🌽🌭🌽
#glutenfreesnacks #sportsnacks #glutenfreecorndogs #glutenfreerecipes #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #sportsfood #partysnacks #partyappetizers #glutenfreeparty
This gluten free red velvet cake is so moist and t This gluten free red velvet cake is so moist and tender they'll never know it's gluten free. Get the full recipe at chefjanetk.com
β™₯οΈπŸŽ‚β™₯οΈπŸŽ‚
#redvelvet #glutenfreecake #glutenfreeredvelvetcake #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreeblog
#glutenfreebaking #glutenfreedessert #glutenfreebirthdaycake #bestglutenfreecakes #glutenfreerecipes

Copyright © 2023 Chef Janet · Support by Foodie Digital · Privacy Policy · Accessibility Policy · Web Stories