Friday Recipe: Turkey Meatloaf Cupcakes and Mashed Potato Frosting

By Lana Buseman, Communications Design Specialist

 
The art of the cupcake has recently taken this country by storm. Cupcake-only bakeries are popping up all over the place and networks like TLC and the Food Network have new shows dedicated to the tiny cakes. I never jumped on the cupcake bandwagon for the sole reason that I’m not a baked-goods person -- but I have to admit there are times I wish I were because the cupcake of today is pretty much a work of art and comes in tons of unique flavors. Plus, the concept of eating a miniature version of something is always appealing.

So what about people like me who might prefer savory to sweet? Well, I noticed a place in Chicago called The Meatloaf Bakery that specializes in making different kinds of meatloaf in baked-goods form. Their bite-sized “loafies” look like cupcakes, but are made with ground chicken, lentils or even salmon.

I love my mom’s turkey meatloaf and decided to try my hand at meatloaf cupcakes. I also figured that no cupcake is complete without some frosting, so I made a mashed potato topping. I used red potatoes and kept the skin on to preserve some nutrients.

My 12-year-old brother gave me the thumbs up at dinner, so I know these are kid-approved! I also made sure to add as many chopped veggies as possible to the mix as these mini-meatloaves are excellent vehicles for delivering some fresh produce!

Turkey Meatloaf Cupcake Ingredients

• 1 package lean ground turkey
• ¼ cup carrot, chopped finely
• ¼ cup onion, chopped finely
• ¼ cup yellow bell pepper, chopped finely (I just used any veggies I had on hand, but feel free to swap out for what you have.)
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon grill seasoning (I suggest Montreal Steak seasoning.)

Mashed Potato Frosting Ingredients

• 3-4 good-sized red potatoes
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix meatloaf ingredients in a large mixing bowl. I like to add the veggies, egg and seasoning first and add the meat last.
3. Gently mix until all the ingredients are evenly dispersed.
4. This recipe makes 12 ½ cup cupcakes, so spray two six-cup muffin tins with cooking spray and then, using a spoon or ice cream scooper, scoop meatloaf into the tins.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through and brown on top.

While your cupcakes are baking, make your “frosting.”

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add your potatoes.
2. Cook the potatoes until they can be easily pierced with a fork.
3. Drain potatoes and add milk, butter and salt and pepper.
4. Mash with a potato masher until smooth.
5. Spread mashed potato “frosting” on top of each cupcake and serve!

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Plus, for more savory cupcake ideas, click here!