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.
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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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[email protected]+thebigmansworld says
Ugly food tastes better than visually aesthetic food.
If that’s your definition of ugly food…damn 😉 Looks delicious and love the sweet/salty combination!
Taylor Kiser says
TRUF. It does.
Thanks Arman….sweet and salty FTW!
P.s do people say FTW anymore? ha!
Lauren @ Hall Nesting says
I am too scared to watch AHS lol. I love the idea of having meatloaf in a muffin pan!
Taylor Kiser says
I probably should have never started watching it, but now I’m addicted. Thanks Lauren!
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Oooh I make turkey mini meatloafs, but now I must add your pineapple BBQ sauce. That sounds absolutely perfect!!
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks Maryea! I totally hope that you love it! Have a great day! 😀
[email protected] says
Don’t feel too bad, because I’m a complete scaredy-cat/wussy myself—can’t STAND scary movies. I literally wouldn’t be able to sleep for a week straight if I watched American Horror Story. I’ve seen previews and those ALONE scare me. LOL. And these meatloaves?! Girl, I don’t think anyone could call them ugly—-totally ADORBS. Get in mah belly!
Taylor Kiser says
I used to be SUCH a horror movie junkie. UGH. growing up = not fun.
AW thanks for the meatloaf love lady – you made me feel better about posting them! 😀
Katharine says
If that’s what you call “crawling out of a swamp” food….I could live and eat in a swamp with no issues. 🙂 (Maybe not live; they have alligators in them)
The best ugly food I’ve seen is from those Pintrest fails that sometimes go out. I laugh so hard I cry with some of those!
Taylor Kiser says
Ya, living with alligators…well, that doesn’t work.
OH MAN. Those Pinterest fails are SO funny! LOVE!
Thanks Katharine 😀
[email protected]+A+Healthy+Life+For+Me says
My husband is going to LOVE this recipe. This will be great on Sundays when we are watching Football with friends. Pinning now!
Taylor Kiser says
Yay! Thanks for the love and pin Amy!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I love American Horror Story! I only started watching it last season, but I quickly became hooked. I like this season too, but not as much as the others, at least so far. These mini meatloaves are the cutest! I love that you added pineapple and bbq sauce. Gives it so much flavor!
Taylor Kiser says
RIGHT? It is SO addicting!! I think the first season is still my fav though!!
Thanks Gayle! 😀
gloria kersh says
I love the twist of flavor you have on these. We are vegan, but I do have some “meatloaf” dishes I make, I’m gonna try them with this sauce! Thanks for sharing.
Taylor Kiser says
You’re welcome! Thanks so much Gloria, please let me know if you try it! 😀
[email protected]+Joyful+Healthy+Eats says
Oh gosh! My neighbors watch that show and it just freaks me out. I use to watch CSI, Criminal Minds, and those type of shows but would have horrible nightmares, now I have to be careful to even see a scary preview of a show!
These mini meatloafs are not scary at all, loving the combination Taylor so creative and pineapple just makes everything better! YUM!
Taylor Kiser says
It’s SO good though!! But it is a wee bit scary 😉 Thanks girl!
Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says
Lol!! Oh my… I laughed my way through this because I’m posting something in a few days that tastes great but looks unappetizing, and I started writing about it and called it “ugly food” too, so great minds think alike!! Haha. Sometimes you have to look past a food’s icky exterior, right? I love that these would be portable for lunches and stuff!
I really want to watch that show! I love scary movies and tv even though I get nightmares also. I just love to torture myself apparently! You’ve persuaded me!
Taylor Kiser says
Haha! great minds DO think alike! Why is it that the ugliest food tastes the best?!!
You NEED to watch it then. It’s so addicting!! Thanks Sarah!