Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf in the Air Fryer

by Dorothy Reinhold on June 21, 2018


Print This Post Print This Post MEXICAN TURKEY MEAT LOAF: Done from start to finish in a half hour, this healthy meat loaf is warmed by chili and cumin, perfumed with cilantro and zipped up with green chiles and salsa. Bonus: it uses only 1 bowl, too!

Done from start to finish in a half hour, this healthy Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf is warmed by chili and cumin, perfumed with cilantro and zipped up with green chiles and salsa. Bonus: it uses only 1 bowl, too!

This new air fryer has really changed my kitchen life. It’s the little engine that could, from baking stuffed mushrooms to crisping up frozen French fries to making the best chicken fingers a kid ever ate. I’m sure they named it an air fryer because it is supposed to achieve that crispy fried exterior without dipping the food in hot oil. But if you think of it like a powerful little convection oven — perhaps an oven on steroids — you’ll soon see it can conquer almost anything!

Easy Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf in the Air Fryer on a leaf-patterned plate on ShockinglyDelicious.comCase in point, this meat loaf. I had a pound of ground turkey and everyone was going to be home in half an hour. What to do? Sure, burgers would have solved it, but I didn’t have any burger buns. What about meat loaf? That’s fine, but meat loaf can take 45-60 minutes to bake. As I contemplated, I thought of the air fryer as a solution, with its powerful convection aspect. As the food bakes, the hot air swirls, which eliminates a considerable amount of cooking time. In fact, I cut the cooking time in less than half with the air fryer, and I even checked the temperature inside the finished meat loaves to make sure I was correct that they were done. Voila!

Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf part way through cooking in the Gourmia air fryerI took a peek and this is what it looked like a few minutes into the cooking…

Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf finished baking in the Gourmia air fryer…and here’s what the finished loaves looked like. There was hardly any grease on the bottom.

Since we love Mexican food and flavors, I wanted to Mexi-up this loaf. I found a wonderful starting point with an oven-baked recipe on the blog Family Food on the Table, and adapted from there to amp up and add some spices, add cilantro and garlic and adjust the amounts and directions for the air fryer. It has an overall green-ish feel from the green chiles, kale, cilantro and salsa verde. (You don’t have  to tell anyone there’s kale in it.)

I served the individual loaves over a tossed green salad dressed with a simple vinaigrette. It was utterly delicious.

Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf with salsa on top on a white plate on ShockinglyDelicious.comHere it is with some salsa on top!

Let’s make Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf in the air fryer. Dinner is served!

Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf in the Air Fryer

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Serves 4.

Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf in the Air Fryer

MEXICAN TURKEY MEAT LOAF: Done from start to finish in a half hour, this healthy meat loaf is warmed by chili and cumin, perfumed with cilantro and zipped up with green chiles and salsa. Bonus: it uses only 1 bowl, too!

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
  • 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs, unseasoned
  • 1 cup (about 4 ounces) grated Mexican blend cheese (or use Cheddar or Monterey Jack)
  • 1/4 cup salsa verde (green salsa)
  • 1 cup finely sliced kale leaves
  • 2-4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • A few grinds of black pepper
  • .
  • Garnish: extra salsa verde (or use a red salsa if you like)

Directions

  1. Spray the basket of the air fryer with nonstick spray and set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, crack the egg and use a fork to beat it lightly. Add the turkey, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, cheese, salsa, kale, cilantro, green chiles, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Gently mix with your hands.
  3. Using your hands, shape the turkey mixture into 4 loaves; I like to shape them like footballs, but you could make squares or rounds if you like. Place them in the air fryer, turn the heat to 400F degrees, and set the timer for 20 minutes.
  4. As they bake, loaves will brown on the outside and smell great! Remove basket from oven, and place each meat loaf on a dinner plate. Top with additional salsa -- either salsa verde or red salsa, as you like. I like to serve an individual loaf on top of a fresh green salad dressed with a simple vinaigrette.

Notes

Recipe source: Adapted from Mexican Meatloaf by Kathryn at Family Food on the Table.

OVEN: You may also shape this into a single loaf and bake it in the oven for about 45 minutes.

https://www.shockinglydelicious.com/mexican-turkey-meat-loaf/

areyoupinningIf you like this recipe and want to save it, pin the image below to your Pinterest board.

Mexican Turkey Meat Loaf in the Air Fryer pinterest image on ShockinglyDelicious.com This is the air fryer I have.

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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }

Richa Gupta June 29, 2018 at 6:14 pm

Wow this looks yum and love being it Mexican!

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Crystal Faulkner June 27, 2018 at 3:02 pm

Thanks for this!! I love the idea.

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Lindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen June 27, 2018 at 1:14 pm

I so need to get an airfryer!

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Dorothy Reinhold June 27, 2018 at 8:40 pm

Lindsay,
You really do!

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SallyBR June 27, 2018 at 1:06 pm

made it yesterday for dinner! two thumbs up! I left a comment with pictures on your facebook page, not sure you’ve seen it…

THANK YOU!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold June 27, 2018 at 8:40 pm

Sally,
Thank you! So happy you made it and enjoyed it!

Reply

Renee - Kudos Kitchen June 27, 2018 at 5:08 am

Another reason for me to purchase an air fryer. Who knew you could do so much in one?!!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold June 27, 2018 at 8:41 pm

Renee,
Think of it like a small convection oven with super powers!

Reply

Krista June 25, 2018 at 9:25 am

This meatloaf looks so good! I have to make it this week!

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Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie June 25, 2018 at 4:51 am

I love that this is made in and air fryer! it looks amazing!

Reply

Dee June 24, 2018 at 8:23 pm

This looks amazing! I need to get my hands on an air fryer!

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Toni | Boulder Locavore June 23, 2018 at 7:53 am

Oh so yummy! This looks really good!

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Catalina June 23, 2018 at 2:53 am

Easy and delicious summer dinner or lunch idea!

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Jeff the Chef June 23, 2018 at 2:34 am

This looks great! What’s an air fryer, though? A convection oven?

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Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert June 22, 2018 at 11:46 pm

Oh yum! These are gorgeous!

Reply

I Heart Naptime June 22, 2018 at 6:07 pm

Yum!

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Kimberly June 22, 2018 at 5:20 pm

Those look so flavorful and delicious!

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Abeer June 22, 2018 at 4:20 am

Now i know what I will have for dinner tonight!

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Megan Ancheta June 21, 2018 at 9:57 pm

I really need to get an air fryer. I don’t have one, but have heard so much about them! These look great!

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Dorothy Reinhold June 22, 2018 at 1:58 pm

Megan,
I am using it every single day.

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Melanie | Melanie Makes June 21, 2018 at 8:04 pm

What an amazing main dish for the air fryer!

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Michelle June 21, 2018 at 5:00 pm

Mexican meat loaf? YES!! Can’t wait to try this!

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I Heart Naptime June 21, 2018 at 3:28 pm

Great idea! Fun spin on the traditional meatloaf recipe.

Reply

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