Lightened-Up Quinoa Meatloaf
Lightened-Up Quinoa Meatloaf blends lean turkey and beef with sautéed peppers, onion, and garlic for a moist, well-seasoned slice. Quinoa adds a tender bite and hearty richness, while a tangy-sweet ketchup and brown sugar glaze caramelizes on top. Serve it for a comforting weeknight Dinner or casual gathering when you want something wholesome yet satisfying.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook50 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lightened-Up Quinoa Meatloaf, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 49 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 38 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 51 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 56
- Heart Health
- 40
- Metabolic
- 55
- Digestive
- 36
- Inflammatory
- 46
- Performance
- 45
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- 2
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute the onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper in the hot oil until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic to the vegetable mixture and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Season with salt and black pepper, then remove from the heat to cool.
- 3
Mix the turkey, beef, quinoa, milk, eggs, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, sweet chili sauce, and ground ginger together in a bowl until well combined.
- 4
Add the sauteed vegetable mixture and stir until completely incorporated.
- 5
Gradually add bread crumbs to the meat mixture until the mixture is moist and holds together.
- 6
Form into 6 mini loaves and place the loaves on the prepared baking sheet.
- 7
Whisk the brown sugar, ketchup, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce together in a bowl until the sugar is dissolved and the glaze is smooth.
- 8
Bake the meat loaves in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- 9
Spread the glaze over each loaf and continue baking until the loaves are no longer pink in the center, 10 to 15 minutes more.
- 10
An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
- Calories 578.7 kcal High 29%
- Protein 31.2 g Good Source 62%
- Carbohydrate 77.16 g 28%
- Total Fat 16.15 g High 21%
- Saturated Fat 3.44 g Moderate 17%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 122.93 mg High 41%
- Sodium 360.41 mg Moderate 16%
- Dietary Fiber 7.51 g Good Source 27%
- Total Sugars 17.29 g --
- Added Sugars 4.54 g Moderate 9%
- Calcium 96.47 mg Low Source 7%
- Iron 6.51 mg Good Source 36%
- Potassium 479.02 mg Moderate 10%
- Vitamin A 84.72 mcg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin C 28.37 mg Good Source 32%
- Vitamin D 0.58 mcg Low Source 3%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Lightened Up Quinoa Meatloaf is made with 16 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 1 hr 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Bread Crumbs, Brown Sugar, Eggs, and Green Bell Pepper. Each serving provides about 578.7 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Lightened-Up Quinoa Meatloaf made of?
- The main ingredients are Bread Crumbs, Brown Sugar, Eggs, Green Bell Pepper, Ground Ginger. The full list of 16 is above.
- How long does it take to make Lightened-Up Quinoa Meatloaf?
- About 1 hr 10 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 50 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 578.7 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Lightened-Up Quinoa Meatloaf easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 16 ingredients and 10 steps.
- Is Lightened-Up Quinoa Meatloaf healthy?
- Lightened-Up Quinoa Meatloaf has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 578.7 calories and 31.2 g of protein, or 62% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, iron and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 360.41 mg (16% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 3.44 g (17% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 4.54 g (9% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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