Mexican Meatloaf

This Mexican meatloaf brings taco night to a whole new level. Made with lean ground turkey and flavored with taco seasoning, salsa, green chilis, and taco sauce.

I’m no stranger to creating meatloaf recipes inspired by our favorite foods. This cheeseburger meatloaf, Italian meatloaf, Reuben meatloaf, and pizza meatloaf are perfect examples. Of course, it only makes sense to pay homage to our beloved taco night with this tasty Mexicanmeatloaf recipe.

Reasons you’ll love this recipe

• Next level taco night.  Everyone will love this Mexican-inspired twist on a classic.
• Easy to prepare. All you have to do is mix the ingredients, form them into a loaf, and bake.
• Lean yet will still fill you up. This is lightened-up comfort food at its best.
• Make-ahead superstar. Prepare it on Sunday for the week or assemble and freeze later on.

Ingredients

• Bread and milk. If dry meatloaf is an issue, then mashing bread and milk into a paste and adding it to the meatloaf mix will do the trick. Trust me, it works! This is one of my secret weapons to the best turkey meatballs too.
• Ground turkey. This keeps the meatloaf low in fat and calories while filling you up.
• Eggs. Acts as a binder and gives structure to the meatloaf.
• Worcestershire sauce. This is another one of my secrets for a tasty meatloaf recipe. Worchestershire sauce gives the turkey a meaty, rich flavor.
• Taco seasoning. If you have the ingredients available, I recommend whipping together this homemade taco seasoning and using three tablespoons of it in this meatloaf recipe. It adds the perfect amount of flavor without all of the extra ingredients often found in store-bought packets. However, if you’re going to use store-bought, read the ingredients to find the highest quality. I like Simply Organic southwest taco seasoning for this Mexican meatloaf.
• Salsa, green chilis, and taco sauce. This trio gives this meatloaf recipe that taco-inspired flavor. Of course, you can increase the heat or add layers of flavors by using different salsas or other taco condiments.
• Monterey jack shredded cheese. What’re tacos without cheese? We love Monterey jack, pepper jack, or cheddar cheese in this recipe.
• Panko bread crumbs. Breadcrumbs act as another binder for the meatloaf to provide structure. You can also use crushed tortilla chips to keep with the taco theme.

Cooking Tips

• Swap in beef. More often than not, I turn to ground turkey when making meatloaf. It’s lean and is the perfect canvas for any flavor. However, if you prefer ground beef, then go ahead and use it.
• Make it gluten-free. This meatloaf recipe can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free bread and breadcrumbs. Also, check the labels of the other ingredients to make sure there’s no hidden gluten.
• Use your favorite salsa. This is a great way to change the flavors or add more heat to the taco-inspired Mexican meatloaf recipe. 
• Spice it up. Pickled jalapenos or fresh jalapenos will increase the heat and add more flavor. You can also add cayenne pepper or dried ancho chili pepper for extra spice.
• Mix in beans. This Mexican meatloaf recipe already has a lot of protein, but if you want to add more protein and fiber, mix a can of drained black or pinto beans before cooking it. 
• Add in extra veggies. You add canned corn, bell peppers, or onions for flavor, texture, and nutrition.
• Fix mushy meatloaf. if you think the meatloaf mix is too mushy or wet, add in extra breadcrumbs. You do want the meatloaf to be on the wet side to keep it moist after it cooks. But it also needs to hold its shape.

Serving Suggestions

• Mexican potatoes and roasted asparagus
• Mashed potatoes or oven-roasted potatoes
• Loaded cauliflower mash
• Spicy sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli
• Brown Rice
• Salad

Check out these other delicious healthy meatloaf sides.

Supplies

• Mixing bowls
• Large rimmed baking sheet or meatloaf pan
• Glass storage containers

How to Make Mexican Meatloaf

• Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is heating, put together the meatloaf mixture.
• In a large bowl combine the bread slices and milk until it forms a paste.
• Add the ground turkey, eggs, Worchestire sauce, taco seasoning, salsa, diced chilis, shredded cheese, and breadcrumbs to the paste. 
• Use your hands to mix the ingredients together.
• Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray; you can also use parchment paper. If you want to use a meatloaf pan, then that’ll work too. I always made meatloaf using a large rimmed baking sheet, so that’s what I use.
• Pour the meat mixture onto the baking sheet and form it into a loaf.
• Spread the taco sauce over top of the meatloaf.
• Place the meatloaf into the oven and cook for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reads 160 degrees.
• Remove from the oven and let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing.

Do you want more information on freezing meatloaf? Great! I put together a tutorial teaching the different ways you can freeze meatloaf ahead of time for healthy easy freezer meals.

Do you like Mexican-inspired recipes? Check out these favorites

• Taco stuffed peppers
• Crockpot taco meat
• Crockpot turkey tacos
• Mexican shredded beef
• Slow Cooker Mexican shredded chicken
• Easy Beef Enchiladas

Did you make this recipe?

Have you tried this Mexican Meatloaf recipe? If so, I’d love for you to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. We all learn from each other’s experiences. Also, it would be awesome if you could share a picture on Instagram and tag it #organizeyourselfskinny. I can’t wait to see it!