Turkey and spinach meatloaf

Turkey and spinach meatloaf is loaded with nourishing ingredients, is a snap to put together, and pleases almost everyone in my family. Turkey and spinach meatloaf | Me & the moose #meandthemoose #meatloaf #glutenfree #dinnerrecipes #turkeymeatloaf

This turkey meatloaf is quick, nutritious, gluten free, and delicious!

Take me to the recipe!

Turkey and spinach meatloaf is loaded with nourishing ingredients, is a snap to put together, and pleases almost everyone in my family. Turkey and spinach meatloaf | Me & the moose #meandthemoose #meatloaf #glutenfree #dinnerrecipes #turkeymeatloaf

So, meatloaf. A bad one is dense, bland, kind of pasty, and just all around gross. This version is different! One of my secrets is adding in other stuff like onions and spinach to increase the water content, which adds steam while it cooks, which makes for a lighter and fluffier loaf.

The almond meal makes this gluten free, but I also find that it makes the loaf a little lighter because the traditional breadcrumbs and milk can add to the pastiness.

Basically, this meatloaf is a lighter meat and lots of veggies and aromatics held together with just enough egg and almond meal to make it a “loaf.”

I top mine with ketchup, but if you’re watching your sugar, tomato paste or sugar-free ketchup also work really well. My kids love BBQ sauce, so I’ll top one or two of the mini loaves with that instead of ketchup to suit their tastes.

Turkey and spinach meatloaf is loaded with nourishing ingredients, is a snap to put together, and pleases almost everyone in my family. Turkey and spinach meatloaf | Me & the moose #meandthemoose #meatloaf #glutenfree #dinnerrecipes #turkeymeatloaf

Turkey and spinach meatloaf is loaded with nourishing ingredients, is a snap to put together, and pleases almost everyone in my family. Turkey and spinach meatloaf | Me & the moose #meandthemoose #meatloaf #glutenfree #dinnerrecipes #turkeymeatloaf

Turkey and spinach meatloaf is loaded with nourishing ingredients, is a snap to put together, and pleases almost everyone in my family. Turkey and spinach meatloaf | Me & the moose #meandthemoose #meatloaf #glutenfree #dinnerrecipes #turkeymeatloaf

One note about how I make these loaves: I make them as mini loaves because they cook so much faster individually. If you like a traditional meatloaf made in an actual loaf pan, this recipe also cooks well in a pan, but it takes quite a bit longer. Still delicious either way!

Turkey and spinach meatloaf is loaded with nourishing ingredients, is a snap to put together, and pleases almost everyone in my family. Turkey and spinach meatloaf | Me & the moose #meandthemoose #meatloaf #glutenfree #dinnerrecipes #turkeymeatloaf

Turkey and spinach meatloaf

Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 mini loaves

1 lb ground turkey
1.5-2 cups spinach or greens, roughly chopped
1/2 large onion, minced
1 egg
1/2 cup almond meal or almond flour
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp kosher salt
pepper, to taste
Ketchup, tomato paste, or BBQ sauce, for topping

Preheat the oven to 400.

Roughly chop the greens. Mince the onion. Add these chopped veggies to a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, except for the ketchup, tomato paste, or BBQ sauce.

Using your hands or a spatula, mix the ingredients until just combined and distributed.

With a large spoon, plop four equal portions onto a sheet pan and smooth each into a rough loaf shape.

Top with ketchup or sauce of choice.

Bake for 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165.

Cheap and easy chicken meal prep

If the idea of “meal prepping” makes you roll your eyes, then this post is for you! A mostly hands-off process yields lots of rich chicken stock and shredded chicken that allows you to be flexible with your week’s meals while also being prepared for busy weeknights.

Take me to the chicken!

October is Hunger Awareness Month and it’s honestly kind of embarrassing that we even need an “awareness” month for a problem that’s so huge. According to the USDA, in 2019, over 13 million households experienced food insecurity including 2.4 million households with children. On top of those stats, unemployment in the US hit an all-time high in April 2020, so that’s a lot more people facing food shortages this year.

To that end, over on Instagram, Chelsea from The Dancer’s Pantry has created a new account which highlights original meals from different food bloggers, each costing less than $10 and aiming to serve at least 2 adults, but most serve 4 or more. There are vegetarian and carnivorous meals; breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; and I’m contributing this meal prep strategy! Check out Feed for 10 to see more.

I finally wrote down the ratios and cooking times for my favorite (and basically only) weekly meal prep. I don’t like rigid meal planning because, while I’m a devoted rule follower most of the time, when it comes to food rules, (even ones I make for myself!) I have a real “burn it all down” vibe.

Also, with kids it’s important to be able to pivot when suddenly they HATE something that was previously a favorite.

Enter: This easy, cheap, and mostly hands-off meal prep strategy. You come away with a huge amount of rich chicken stock that is so much more delicious and filling than the boxed stuff or a bullion cube. It freezes well and lasts frozen for 6 months. It also makes soups and stews much richer, which is helpful when you’re trying to make things stretch. I use this stock in any recipe that calls for stock, obviously, but also to cook these super easy and fast one-pot pastas because it really boosts their flavor.

The shredded chicken is also a lifesaver on busy nights. Throw it into tacos or enchiladas (if you’re feeling ambitious), stovetop mac and cheese or any other simple pasta dish, or smother it with your favorite BBQ sauce and have some messy but delicious pulled chicken sandwiches. The chicken also freezes well if you want to save it for later dinners.

$10 Meal prep (chicken stock and shredded chicken)

Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes, mostly hands off +15 minutes for straining 
Yield: 11 cups stock, 4 cups cooked, shredded chicken

1 chicken, cut into pieces (about 3½-4½ lbs) $11.95 from Trader Joe’s (I bought a pre-cut chicken, but there were whole chickens available for $7-$9)
1 large bag frozen veggie and aromatic leftovers (save everything from the previous week’s cooking in a large bag in the freezer including onion skins, garlic skins, tiny cloves of garlic, leek and fennel fronds, lemon rinds, dried up fresh herbs, unused parts of celery, carrot peels, potato peels, etc)
14-18 cups water (enough to cover the chicken and veggies entirely, but the full amount will depend on how much chicken and veggies you use) 
3 Tbsp kosher salt

Place everything into a large stockpot and bring to a boil over a high flame, about 20 minutes. 

Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low or just high enough to achieve a low rolling boil. Cook, uncovered, until the water has reduced by ¼, about 1 hour. 

Add enough water to return to roughly the original amount (about 4 cups) and turn the flame back to high. Stir the mixture and check the seasoning. Add more salt if necessary.  Bring the mixture back to a boil and then reduce back to a low rolling boil.  

Boil for 20 more minutes. Let cool.

Remove the large pieces of veggies and chicken bones. Strain the broth into a large container. Save all of the cooked chicken meat.