By Becky Hardin
Updated Oct 14, 2025
I love how these 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! I find it’s a quick and easy dinner that always hits the spot and can be served with any of my favorite side dishes.
Pin this recipe for later!
Mini Turkey Meatloaves 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! This family favorite dinner recipe is so easy to make and is guaranteed to satisfy every hungry belly gathered around my 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!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 tbsp unsalted butter (⅛ stick)
- ▢ ½ cup diced onion
- ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 lb. ground turkey beef or chicken also work
- ▢ 1 large egg lightly beaten
- ▢ ¼ cup milk
- ▢ 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ▢ 1 tsp Italian seasoning store-bought, homemade, or try Creole or chili seasoning
- ▢ ½ tsp kosher salt
- ▢ ¾ cup finely crushed cheese crackers such as Cheez-It
- ▢ 4 oz. shredded or cubed cheese divided, pepper Jack, cheddar, or mozzarella also work
- ▢ ¼ cup ketchup
- ▢ 1 tsp brown sugar
- ▢ 1 tsp yellow mustard Dijon also works
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 tbsp 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 lb. ground turkey, 1 large egg, ¼ cup milk, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp 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 loaves on the prepared baking sheet. 4 oz. shredded or cubed cheese
- In a small bowl, whisk the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard together. ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp yellow mustard
- Brush the top of each “loaf” with ketchup mixture.
- Bake for 60 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Mini Turkey Meatloaves Step by Step
Prepare oven and baking sheet: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray the parchment lightly with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Cook the onions and garlic: Heat 1 tbsp of butter in a medium skillet over medium heat, and then add ½ cup of onions and 3 cloves of garlic. Cook for 5 minutes so the onions soften. Cool slightly.
Make the meatloaves: In a large bowl, combine the onion mixture with 1 lb. of ground turkey, 1 large egg, ¼ cup milk, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp kosher salt, and ¾ cup finely crushed cheese crackers. Using your hands, mix thoroughly but do not overmix.
Shape the mixture into 4 equal balls, flatten each one, and place 1 oz. of cheese in the center. Pinch the edges to fully seal the cheese inside. Place the loaves on the prepared baking sheet.
Make the topping: Whisk ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tsp brown sugar, and 1 tsp yellow mustard together in a small bowl.
Brush and bake: Brush the top of each “loaf” with ketchup mixture. Bake the loaves for 60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Serve: Serve with your favorite side and enjoy.
How to Store
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.
Store leftover turkey meatloaves in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.
Freeze mini turkey meatloaves tightly wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving this 15 minute mac and cheese alongside these meatloaves. Or, if I’m thinking we need something green, this broccoli cheese casserole or cheesy crispy baked green beans will fit the bill. My kids also love it when I make creamy mashed potatoes with these meatloaves.
more oven baked turkey recipes
Baked Turkey Meatballs
Turkey Rice Casserole
Turkey Sliders
Turkey Meatloaf
Mini Turkey Meatloaves Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter (⅛ stick)
- ½ cup diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb. ground turkey beef or chicken also work
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning store-bought, homemade, or try Creole or chili seasoning
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¾ cup finely crushed cheese crackers such as Cheez-It
- 4 oz. shredded or cubed cheese divided, pepper Jack, cheddar, or mozzarella also work
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp yellow mustard Dijon also works
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 tbsp 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 lb. ground turkey, 1 large egg, ¼ cup milk, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp 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 loaves on the prepared baking sheet. 4 oz. shredded or cubed cheese
- In a small bowl, whisk the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard together. ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp yellow mustard
- Brush the top of each “loaf” with ketchup mixture.
- Bake for 60 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
