Easy Mexican Meatloaf: Healthy Recipe for Runners + Athletes (2024)

This Mexican Meatloaf recipe is a double twist on the classic meatloaf, combining Mexican flavors with a healthy take on this delicious dinner dish.

With three different peppers, mushrooms, carrots, and spinach, all mixed with lean ground beef and/or turkey, you’re sure to have an incredibly tasty and filling meal that’s super easy to make too!

It’s also a gluten-free, runner-friendly meal that’s perfect for my athlete friends out there, or anyone who’s interested in having delicious food but without the extra calories!

With this recipe, you’ll have a tasty dinner meal that’ll last in the fridge for days making it a great way to meal prep in advance too!

So, read on to learn exactly how to make this delicious and easy Mexican Meatloaf for you and your family today.

What is Mexican Meatloaf?

Mexican meatloaf is a twist on the classic meatloaf by combining Mexican favorites with lean ground beef and/or turkey for the perfect combination.

It’s known as a meat ‘loaf’ because ground meat is mixed with other ingredients and then rolled into a loaf pan before being baked in the oven. This makes it a pretty easy meal to make because most, if not all, of the cooking is done hands-free.

What Makes This Mexican Meatloaf Recipe Special?

This is not just any Mexican Meatloaf recipe though, this is a healthy take on this delicious meal meaning it includes only whole foods and is also gluten-free!

But that’s not all, it also includes runner-friendly carbs making it the perfect dinner meal recipe to add to your repertoire! It’s one of my go-to recipes for a weeknight meal because it’s so easy to throw together.

And what’s best is that it’s a real crowd-pleaser; everyone in your family is going to absolutely love the flavors. And it’s also pretty versatile, so it’s easy to add any other veggies you love to add your own personal touch to this dish.

When you try this recipe once, you’ll want to make it every day of the week; it’s really that good!

What You Need to Make Mexican Meatloaf at Home

Making this delicious yet healthy meatloaf at home requires simple, pantry-staple ingredients. Let’s look at what these are in more detail:

Meat: First of all, we’ll need some meat! Go for either lean ground turkey or beef, or you can even combine the two!

Peppers: We’ll also use bell peppers in this recipe to add a Mexican twist. I’ve added red, yellow, and green peppers but you can add whichever one you have on hand.

Carrots: You’ll also need some shredded carrots to add extra crunch and flavor to the meatloaf. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, fiber, Vitamin K, potassium, and even antioxidants. Plus, they’re a great weight-loss-friendly food which is perfect for this recipe.

Mushrooms: Not only will mushrooms add the perfect flavor profile to your meatloaf, but they’re also a great source of active polysaccharides, which activate your immune system and improves the body’s ability to fight infections.

Garlic: Garlic will enhance the flavors of the meat and is the perfect aromatic to balance out all the other ingredients.

Onion: We’ll also be adding half an onion to the meatloaf as the sweet yet sharp flavor will enhance the taste of the meat.

Spinach: You’ll also need some spinach to add to the meat mixture. It’s an incredible source of iron that helps create hemoglobin in our bodies. This helps bring oxygen to our tissues, which is exactly what we runners need!

Quinoa: To make the meatloaf more filling and to add more fiber, we’ll be incorporating some cooked quinoa into the meatloaf.

Flax eggs: Flax eggs are a great egg substitute which is made up of ground flax seeds and water. This will help hold everything together.

Spices and seasonings: We’ll also be adding some delicious seasonings and spices to our meat mixture, such as paprika, cumin, and chili powder. Top it off with some black pepper and salt to taste.

How to Make Mexican Meatloaf Step by Step

This is an incredibly easy dinner meal, making it perfect even for weeknights. Here’s what you’ll need to do step by step to make it at home:

Step 1:

This is an optional step, but you can first brown the beef or turkey meat to drain off the liquid. If you want to skip this step, you can. Just follow the rest of the steps to know when to drain the liquid.

Step 2:

Start by cooking the quinoa according to package instructions and set it aside. Next prep all the veggies by dicing the peppers and onion and chopping the mushrooms.

Step 3:

Now mix all the peppers, mushrooms, spices, and spinach in a large bowl. Once the quinoa is done cooking, allow it to cool.

Step 4:

Next, preheat the oven to 350F or 180C. Then combine all the ingredients into the large bowl with your hands; this is also why you need to allow the quinoa to cool down first.

Step 5:

Prepare a loaf pan or baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray. Then add the meat mixture to it.

Step 6:

Let it bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes. After removing it from the oven, you may need to top the dish over the sink to drain some liquid if you didn’t pre-brown the meat.

Step 7:

Allow it to cool before slicing to make sure it holds its shape. Your Mexican Meatloaf is ready to be served! Serve alongside some salsa for an added Mexican kick!

Recipe Variation Ideas for Meatloaf

This tasty meatloaf recipe is absolutely perfect as is, and you have got to try the original recipe to know what I mean! But if you’re looking to add your own personal touch to it, here are some ideas you may want to try:

Spices: You can vary the spices you add to change up the flavor. Experiment with some taco seasoning, or even add a pinch of cayenne pepper to make it spicier!

Crunchier: Looking to make it crunchier? Then add some crushed up tortilla chips or corn chips to the meat mixture before transferring it into the pan. You can also add some breadcrumbs instead.

Veggies: If you love any other veggies, add them to the loaf! You can also sprinkle in some chopped green chilies or green onions for added flavor and texture.

How to Store Leftover Meatloaf

This meatloaf stores really well in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Alternatively, you can also freeze it for up to 3 months! Just make sure to place it in a freezer-safe container.

To have it, all you need to do is let it thaw in the fridge overnight before warming it up in the oven before serving it.

Changing up a classic - Southwestern Turkey Meatloaf packed with veggies! #glutenfree Click To Tweet

Tastes even better the next day!! And if you don’t get enough veggies in the casserole serve it up with brussel sprouts like I did!

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