This mini meatloaf recipe features a pineapple BBQ sauce and is made out of turkey to keep it healthy. Quick, easy and great for kids!
You guys. Have you ever watched “American Horror Story?”
We just started watching it and we are HOOKED. Like “first-season-in-2-days-oh-my-gosh-we-forgot-to-eat-dinner-because-we-were-too-busy-watching-and-sleep?-what-is-that-we-don’t-need-that” kind of hooked.
“Just started watching” is probably the understatement of the past eleventy billion years. It’s more like “just started letting it consume our ENTIRE life.”
I even thought about watching it WHILE I ate gluten free pancakes. But I think my brain would explode from SO MUCH excitement.
However, through our new found addiction, I learned something about myself.
My old age has turned me into a complete and utter wussy.
I used to be able to watch scary things with ALL the lights turned off, ALONE in the middle of the night and go to bed with ZERO problems.
But, apparently the glory days of my youth are gone, because this girl has been waking up in the middle of the night from the scaries.
But. THIS SHOW. It’s SO worth it. Plus, the Huberoni is home at night time now so I can just wake him up to experience what I am going through.
He enjoys when I do that. A lot.
I can’t confirm or deny that the above sentence is a true statement.
I could continue my possible-maybe-ok-yes-I-was-lying streak and tell you that we ate this mini meatloaf recipe during one of our binge watching sessions, and they were SO good that we almost stopped watching.
But, I actually made these about a billion years ago (pre-addiction) and just forgot to share them with you.
There’s a few things we need to discuss about them though. The key point being:
- They are not pretty.
BUT, I asked you guys on Facebook if you would judge me for posting something that looked like it had just crawled out of a swamp, and you said no. So, you brought it upon yourselves.
And I love you for being equal opportunity ugly food-ists.
Not only are these little bites of turkey meatloaf packed with PROTEINY good-nosity. But they also have a smokey-sweet-but-still-a-little-tangy fo’ yo’ MOUF goin’ onnnn.
And pineapple. You know the yellow, tropical fruit that makes us forget that it’s October and we suddenly feel like it’s the Summer again? That one. Remember the BBQ chicken summer rolls? Pineapple and BBQ sauce were MADE for each other.
Yes, forgetting it’s October, MAY be a bit of a stretch. Don’t question it.
Just eat them. Love them. And feel really good about yourselves for your inclusive-ugly-food ways.
BIG HUG.

Ingredients
- For the sauce:
- 4 Small Jalapenos or 2 large
- 2 20 oz Containers of pineapple chunks
- 1/2 cup + 3 Tbsp Pineapple juice
- 1 Tbsp Garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp + 1 tsp Balsamic vinegar
- 2 1/2 tsp Molasses
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- Good pinch of pepper:
- For the mini meatloaves:
- 1 1/2 Lbs Lean ground turkey I love Jennie-O!
- 1/2 Cup Old fashioned oatmeal
- 1 egg
- 1/3 Cup Onion diced
- 1/2 Tbsp Garlic minced
- 1/2 cup Pineapple tidbits *
- 1/4 Cup Cilantro roughly chopped
- 3/4 tsp Smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 TbspHickory liquid smoke
- 3/4 tsp Salt
- Pinch of pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your broiler to high, line a baking sheetwith tinfoil and spray it with cooking spray
- Cut the jalapenos lengthwise, and take out the seeds. Place them cut side down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Drain the pineapple (keep the juice!) and lay them out onto the baking sheet with the jalapeno.
- Broil until charred and black, about 15-20 minutes.
- Add the broiled jalapenos and pineapple into a large food processor, along with the pineapple juice**, garlic, balsamic vinegar, molasses, salt and pepper. Blend until well combined. You will not get a totally smooth sauce, as the pineapples stay a little chunky.
- Pour the sauce into a medium saucepanand simmer on medium low heat until most of the water is evaporated and the sauce slightly thickens, about 25-30 mins, stirring occasionally.
- While the sauce cooks, mix all the meatloaf ingredients in a large bowl until well Incorporated.
- Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray and preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Fill the muffin tinwith the turkey mixture, and spread about half of the sauce over top of each meat loaf.
- Bake until no longer pink inside, about 20-23 minutes.
- Serve with additional sauce on the side to dip and DEVOUR
Tips & Notes:
*You may need more juice than what is reserved from the 2 cans of pineapple chunks
You can get away with only 1/2 the sauce, but then you won't have any leftover to dip the meatloaf in.
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAG @FOODFAITHFIT AND #FOODFAITHFITNESS ON INSTRAGRAM! I LOVE SEEING YOUR RECIPE RECREATIONS! 🙂
More mini food recipes:
Gluten Free Mini Banana Chocolate Hazelnut Pancake Skewers
Mini Gluten Free Chocolate Cherry Brownies
Mini Funfetti Protein Cupcakes
Mini Meatloaves from around the web:
Chipotle Turkey Meatloaf Muffins – Ifoodreal
Feta & Sage Mini Chicken Meatloaves – Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen
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Kim Beaulieu says
This is the coolest meatloaf ever. I’m a sucker for meatloaf so this is right up my alley. And it’s totally not ugly at all.
I still haven’t hopped on the AHS bandwagon yet. I’m too busy watching TWD ten bajillion times. Ha
Taylor Kiser says
Well thanks for not hating its exterior! 🙂
HAHA, my husband keeps trying to get me to watch TWD, but I know I don’t have any time for another addiction!!
Shashi RunninSrilankan says
American Horror Story is sick – not SIK -but sick – I watched a couple (ok maybe a couple times couple times a couple) and I was so freaked out!
As for these morsels – these are SIK – not sick – I think they look mouthwatering – I mean look at the pineapple and I bet that pineapple juice and balsamic had these smelling heavenly!
Taylor Kiser says
Haha! I guess I am a little crazy, but I adore it!!
I am glad you don’t think they’re hideous! And, you’re right, they smelled SIK 😉 Thanks girl!
Amanda says
These look so tasty!
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks friend!
Karen+@+strawberrywoman says
Girl, you make me laugh. Love the “honesty”. I’m not much into horror, but I do love anything mini and these look great. I think you did great with the photos – they don’t look ugly at all. Not like my sweet & sticky chicken today – that was just not pretty and I’m clueless with the camera anyway!
Enjoy the AHS addiction!
Taylor Kiser says
You are not clueless! Give yourself more credit pretty lady!
But thank you! We can still be friends even though you don’t like horror 😉
Jessica Knott {Swankyrecipes} says
I always wanted to make meatloaf in muffin tins and I need to try this recipe. Looks so delicious!
Taylor Kiser says
Yes you do! Mini food is more fun!
Thanks Jessica!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I have never been a meatloaf fan – but Taylor you have convinced me that I have seriously been missing out on something delicious. I love your mini versions.. definitely a recipe I need to try!
Taylor Kiser says
Hey, I never was either! Until these….I hope you try them and fall in all kinds of meatloafy love! Thanks Thalia!
CarriesExpKtchn says
I don’t think your meatloaf is ugly at all! In fact, my family loves when I make anything in smaller portions. Thanks for sharing my Feta & Sage Mini Chicken Meatloaf. Great roundup!
Taylor Kiser says
You are so welcome Carrie! Thanks for the meatloaf love!
Liz says
Thank you for the nice recipe.
Taylor Kiser says
You’re so welcome Liz!
Maria says
These are the cutest little meatloaves!!!!
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks a heap Maria! 😀
Annie @Maebells says
What a fun idea! I am not a big meatloaf person but this flavor combo looks great!
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much Annie! 😀