Freezer Meals 101

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meatloaf

Turkey Meatloaf (freezer meal)

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If you’re looking for a new family-friendly recipe to add to your kitchen arsenal, try this moist turkey meatloaf freezer meal. It can be made ahead as a freezer meal which means getting dinner on the table quickly. partially sliced meatloaf sits on a rectangular white plate with text that reads "make ahead turkey meatloaf" #freezermeals101 #turkeymeatloaf #makeahead

We sometimes change things up with turkey such as our turkey sloppy joes. Using ground turkey in your meatloaf creates a healthier version than using ground beef. This recipe uses a variety of spices that give it a nice Italian flavor.

Turkey meatloaf variations:

  • Add finely chopped mushrooms to add more moisture to the loaf.
  • Sneak in some finely chopped veggies such as bell peppers or spinach.
  • Wrap your meatloaf in bacon before cooking. Add a bit of cooking time to account for the extra fat. 
  • Shape the turkey mixture into meatballs instead of meatloaf and bake the turkey meatballs on a baking sheet.
  • Make this recipe into meatloaf muffins.

sliced turkey meatloaf topped with sliced green onions on a white plate

Turkey Meatloaf Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs. ground turkey
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. minced onion
  • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1-1/4 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1-1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup skim milk
  • 3/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

Sauce ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1-1/2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

a collage of 4 photos showing the making of meatloaf mixture using ground turkeyAssembly instructions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce.
  2. Add the bread crumbs, milk, and eggs.
  3. Mix with your hands until all ingredients are combined.
  4. Scoop the meatloaf mixture into a greased loaf pan OR shape the mixture into a loaf shape.
  5. Place the loaf pan or the loaf shape into a large resealable plastic freezer bag. Remove the excess air.
  6. Whisk together the sauce ingredients and place them in a medium resealable freezer bag. Seal. Staple it onto the meatloaf bag and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°.
  3. If your mixture is not yet in a pan, coat a loaf pan with cooking spray and pat the mixture into it.
  4. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes.
  5. Remove the meatloaf from the oven. 
  6. Pour the glaze on top and place it back in the oven for 10 additional minutes.
  7. Garnish with chopped green onion if desired.
  8. Slice and serve.

a collage of photos of sliced meatloafThis may just be the recipe that converts you into a ground turkey fan!

sliced turkey meatloaf topped with sliced green onions on a white plate
Print
Turkey Meatloaf
Course: Main Course
Keyword: meatloaf, turkey
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 305 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. ground turkey
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. minced onion
  • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1-1/4 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 tsp. pepper
  • 2 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1-1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup skim milk
  • 3/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
Sauce ingredients:
  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup dark brown sugar packed
  • 1-1/2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
Instructions
Assembly instructions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce.

  2. Add the bread crumbs, milk, and eggs.

  3. Mix with your hands until all ingredients are well combined.

  4. Scoop the meatloaf mixture into a greased loaf pan OR shape the mixture into a loaf shape.

  5. Place the loaf pan or the loaf shape into a large resealable plastic freezer bag. Remove the excess air.

  6. Whisk together the sauce ingredients and place in a medium resealable freezer bag. Seal. Staple it into the meatloaf bag and freeze.

Cooking instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°.

  3. If your mixture is not yet in a pan, coat a loaf pan with cooking spray and pat the mixture into it.

  4. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes.
  5. Remove the meatloaf from the oven.

  6. Pour the glaze on top and place back in the oven for 10 additional minutes.

  7. Garnish with chopped green onion if desired.

  8. Slice and serve.

Check out some of these other kid-friendly freezer meals:

Instant Pot Turkey Sloppy Joescollage of Instant Pot turkey sloppy Joes with sides of fries and pickles
Meatloaf Muffinsmeatloaf muffins in a pan

Beef and Bean Burritosbeef and bean burritos wrapped in foil and in a freezer bag

Moist Meatloaf Muffins (freezer meal)

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Looking for a family-friendly ground beef freezer meal? These moist meatloaf muffins are sure to be a hit with the whole family. muffin tin tray filled with cooked meatloaf on top. Blue plate on bottom with two meatloaf muffins and orange peppers #freezermeals101 #meatloafmuffins #easyfreezermealThere’s a little parenting trick that I learned many years ago. Kids are more likely to eat anything that looks like a muffin! Thus the muffin tin meatloaf!

This cute way of serving mini meatloaf also serves another purpose as well. It allows you to take out only as many as needed. Kids can take out their own and reheat as a lunch or snacks like the make-ahead burritos, English muffin pizzas, or ham and cheese roll-ups. This also makes them good when cooking for yourself or cooking for two.

How long to cook muffin tin meatloaf:

Cook meatloaves in a regular-sized muffin tin at 425° for 23-25 minutes. If using a mini muffin tray, you’ll need to reduce the cooking time. I don’t recommend using a mini muffin tray though as it’s too easy for them to be dry or hard.

How do you freeze meatloaf?

When I make meatloaf whether it’s full-sized or muffin-sized, I generally cook it before freezing and then reheat it, but meatloaf can also be frozen raw and then thawed and cooked.

For meatloaf, wrap it in plastic wrap before placing it in a resealable freezer bag. For meatloaf muffins, allow them to cool before removing them from the pan and placing them in a resealable freezer bag. Be sure to thaw before cooking or reheating.close up of meatloaf muffins in a pan

Meatloaf Muffins Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
  • 1/2 onion, minced
  • 1/2 green pepper, finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp. chili sauce
  • 1 egg
  • salt, pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. parsley

collage of meatloaf muffins being put together in a bowl and in the muffin pan before and after being cookedAssembly instructions:

  1. Mix everything together in a bowl. I find using my hands works best. This is a great step to have the kids help out with.
  2. Grease muffin cups.
  3. Put the meat mixture into the muffin tin tray.
  4. Bake at 425° for 23-25 minutes.
  5. Cool the mini meatloaves completely before placing them in a freezer bag.
  6. Remove excess air. Seal and freeze.

Reheating instructions:

  1. Thaw. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.
  2. You can serve it with ketchup if you want.

plate with meatloaf muffins, one cut up and the other with BBQ sauce on it, orange peppers on the side

Print
Meatloaf Muffins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef, meatloaf
Servings: 12
Calories: 138 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
  • 1/2 onion minced
  • 1/2 green pepper finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp. chili sauce
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tbsp. parsley
  • salt
  • pepper
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Mix everything together in a bowl.
  2. Grease muffin tin.
  3. Put into muffin tin tray.

  4. Bake 23-25 minutes in a 425° oven.

  5. Cool muffins completely before placing them in a freezer bag. Remove excess air. Seal and freeze.

Reheating instructions:
  1. Thaw. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.
Recipe Notes

Suggestions for hiding extra veggies in this meatloaf:

grated carrots
grated zucchini
vegetables such as broccoli, green pepper, red pepper, and/or spinach blended in the food processor 

So let’s chat about kids who will eat meatloaf (especially in muffin tin form!), but won’t eat them if they can see the vegetables in them. This recipe is great for picky eaters because it allows you to hide all those veggies. Your kids won’t even have to know how healthy they’re eating!

Suggestions for hiding extra veggies in this meatloaf:

  • grated carrots
  • grated zucchini
  • vegetables such as broccoli, onion, green pepper, red pepper, and/or spinach blended in the food processor

What to serve with your mini meatloaves:

  • raw vegetables such as carrot sticks, orange or yellow pepper slices, broccoli, cucumber, radishes
  • french fries
  • mashed potatoes
  • wilted spinach
  • sautéed mushrooms
  • green salad
  • peas
  • cooked broccoli

You may also be interested in these family-friendly freezer meals:

Easy Cheesy Tater Tot Casseroleclose up of a scoop of tater tot casserole with strings of cheese

Homemade Hamburger Helperbowl of creamy tomato beef skillet meal on lots of noodles

Instant Pot Pizza Casserolea fork is lifting some instant pot pizza casserole from a plate that's garnished with cheese