These are a great solution to “what’s for dinner” any day of the week and can be prepped well ahead of time!
A Quick Weeknight meal
Mini meatloaves are quick to prepare and to cook. These are made with lean beef but ground chicken or turkey works well too. It’s easy to make extras and freeze for future dinners when you’re short on time.
Ingredients MEAT Use lean ground beef (80/20). You want a little fat to keep them moist but not too much (so they’re not oily). FLAVORS Some freshly diced bell peppers, onions, and garlic add flavor (and moisture). BINDER Seasoned bread crumbs are blended together with some herbs and seasonings for these yummy little burger bombs.
Variations
Mini Meatloaf is easy to make with ground beef, chicken, or turkey. These loaves can be stuffed with cheese or topped with faves like sliced greens or bacon bits. For a keto version, replace the breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds (and use just sugar-free ketchup for the topping). Our special combo of ketchup and chili sauce gives each mini meatloaf a little burst of flavor. But you can also spread some ketchup or bbq sauce before baking.
How to Cook Mini Meatloaf
Mini meatloaves cook up faster than a traditional full-sized meatloaf! If preferred, these can be made into meatloaf muffins by forming the mixture in a muffin tin.
What to Serve with Meatloaf
Everything and anything goes with meatloaf! We like to serve meatloaf with a hearty side dish like mashed potatoes or hasselback potatoes, and a veggie like glazed carrots or some roasted parmesan asparagus!
Leftovers
Store mini meatloaves in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze in zippered bags with the date labeled on them for about 6 months and pop out anytime you want to make mouthwatering meatloaf sandwiches or need a quick dinner. Reheat in the microwave and refresh with salt & pepper.
More Meatloaves We Love
Air Fryer Meatloaf Parmesan Chicken Meatloaf Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf Instant Pot Meatloaf Crockpot Meatloaf Mini Chicken Meatloaf
Did you enjoy this Mini Meatloaf recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! © SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
title: “Mini Meatloaf” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-22” author: “Wendy Fink”
This mini meatloaf recipe turns ground beef into a quick weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
What You’ll Need For Mini Meatloaves
Ground Beef: I use lean ground beef (80/20), which has just enough fat to be flavorful. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken or replace ⅓ of the ground beef with ground pork. Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs bind the meatloaf together and keep it nice and juicy. Use seasoned bread crumbs in this recipe. If using plain breadcrumbs, season them with extra garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Egg: Eggs also help the meatloaf muffins to hold together. Flavor: I add green bell pepper, onion, and a bit of bbq sauce for flavor. Since these cook quickly, the onion should be softened or replaced with ¾ teaspoon onion powder.
Mini Meatloaf Topping Variations
Zesty Topping: ⅓ cup ketchup, ⅓ cup chili sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar Brown Sugar Topping: ⅓ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon dry mustard BBQ Topping: combine equal parts BBQ sauce and ketchup
How to Cook Meatloaf in Muffin Tins
Remove when done and allow to rest for several minutes before serving.
Holly’s Tips
Muffin tin meatloaf cooks quickly, and everyone loves them. Here are my tips for perfection.
Use cooking spray or parchment liners to ensure the meatloaves don’t stick. Mix just until combined, overmixing can cause dense meatloaves. These bake for about 22 – 26 minutes at 425°F. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure they reach 160°F.
Storage & Freezing
This mini meatloaf recipe is practically tailor-made for the freezer, either as a make-ahead meal or for leftovers.
After Baking: Bake as directed and cool completely. Freeze in freezer bags or a freezer-safe container. Freezing Raw: You can freeze raw meatloaf muffins for cooking later. Prepare as directed and freeze in the pan. Once frozen, transfer to freezer bags or an airtight container and freeze for up to 4 months. If the meatloaves are frozen to the pan, dip the bottom of the pan in hot water for a few seconds to release them. To bake, place the muffins back into the muffin tin, cover with plastic wrap, and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Bake as directed adding 3 to 4 minutes to the baking time.
Did you enjoy these mini meatloaf muffins? Leave a comment and rating below. © SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
