Name: Air-Fryer Mini Glazed Turkey Meatloaves
Total time: 1 h
Ingredients: 1 shallot , minced; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1 garlic clove , minced; ½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme or ⅛ teaspoon dried; Pinch cayenne pepper; 1 slice hearty white sandwich bread , crust removed, torn into ½-inch pieces; 1 large egg , lightly beaten; 1 tablespoon whole milk; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon pepper; 1 pound ground turkey; ¼ cup ketchup; 1 tablespoon cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar; ½ teaspoon hot sauce

Why This Recipe Works

For a lighter version of meatloaf, we started with ground turkey, perking up its mild flavor with garlic, shallot, and thyme. Worcestershire sauce provided some savory meatiness, while cayenne added subtle heat. To hold the loaf together, we mixed in an egg and a panade made from white sandwich bread and milk, which also helped the meatloaf to remain moist. Shaping two free-form mini loaves, rather than one big loaf, enabled the dish to cook in just 25 minutes and provided more surface area to be glazed. We made a flavor- packed glaze from ketchup, cider vinegar, brown sugar, and hot sauce. To ensure that it stuck, we applied a first coat to the meatloaves and let them cook until the glaze was tacky, then added a second coat of glaze, which stuck to this base coat in an even layer. Since the loaves were delicate, we placed them on an aluminum foil sling, which allowed us to rotate and also remove them easily.

Before You Begin

Be sure to use ground turkey, not ground turkey breast.

Instructions

Make foil sling for air-fryer basket by folding 1 long sheet of aluminum foil so it is 4 inches wide. Lay sheet of foil widthwise across basket, pressing foil into and up sides of basket. Fold excess foil as needed so that edges of foil are flush with top of basket. Lightly spray foil and basket with vegetable oil spray.

Microwave shallot, oil, garlic, thyme, and cayenne in large bowl until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add bread, egg, milk, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper and mash mixture to paste using fork. Break up ground turkey into small pieces over bread mixture and knead with hands until well combined. Shape turkey mixture into two 5 by 3-inch loaves. Arrange loaves on sling in prepared basket, spaced evenly apart.

Combine ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and hot sauce in small bowl, then brush loaves with half of ketchup mixture. Place basket in air fryer and set temperature to 350 degrees. Cook until meatloaves register 160 degrees, 25 to 30 minutes, brushing with remaining ketchup mixture and rotating meatloaves using sling halfway through cooking.

Using foil sling, carefully remove meatloaves from basket. Tent loosely with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve.