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Though small, these Meatloaf Muffins are big on flavor! These very satisfying mini meatloaves are ready to eat in under an hour.
MEATLOAF MUFFINS RECIPE
Meatloaf has always been one of those meals that I always wish I had leftovers of. I just can’t seem to get enough of it. It seems that my options had either been to eat less meatloaf (not very fun), or cook extras. Well, what if there was a compromise here? What if we just made smaller meatloaves, just a bunch of them at one time? Now, leftovers are included in the original equation. There are enough servings available for a dozen people at a potluck, or tailgate party. These meatloaf muffins are great for serving hungry kids, or for meal prepping. They are easy to prepare, and they can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Leftovers, beware!
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WHAT IS A MEATLOAF MUFFIN?
Meatloaf is an American dish made with ground beef, herbs, spices, and occasional ketchup. A meatloaf muffin is a small, single-serving meatloaf. They are called muffins because they are cooked in a muffin pan instead of a casserole dish or a bread pan, which traditional meatloaves are cooked in.
WHAT DOES MEATLOAF MUFFINS TASTE LIKE?
These miniature meatloaves taste just like regular meatloaf, they are just smaller. They are perfect for packing in a lunch or as a grab-and-go snack to fill you up. This is a savory and herbaceous recipe.
MINI MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS
- Ground beef – 1.5 pounds
- Minced garlic – 1 tablespoon
- Dried thyme – 1/2 teaspoon
- Dried oregano – 1/2 teaspoon
- Black pepper – 1/2 teaspoon
- Salt – 3/4 teaspoon
- Onion powder – 1/2 teaspoon
- Italian bread crumbs – 1/2 cup
- 1/2 cup and 1/4 cup (optional) ketchup*
- Worcestershire sauce – 1 tsp
- 1 large egg
*use the additional 1/4 cup ketchup if you want to add a layer of it to your meatloaves at the end of baking.
HOW TO MAKE THIS MUFFIN TIN MEATLOAF RECIPE
There are 3 simple phases to making this recipe. Mixing the ingredients. Portioning out the mixture, and then baking. Easy-peasy!
- Preheat the oven to 375°F
- In a large mixing bowl using your hands, or in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, mix all the ingredients until well combined.
- Roll meat mixture into balls about a half cup in size and place into individual cups of a muffin baking tray.
- Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
- Serve hot or refrigerate for future enjoyment.
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CAN YOU MINI MEATLOAVES AHEAD OF TIME?
Yes, you can make these ahead of time. Just make sure you heat them before serving. 45 seconds, to a 1 minute in the microwave should be plenty of time. Since the main ingredient is ground beef, the juices in the meat can conjeal when cooled giving it a slimy texture. Reheating can fix that easily.
CAN YOU FREEZE MEATLOAF MUFFINS?
You can freeze mini meatloaves in an airtight container. This is a great recipe for meal plan prepping. Just make sure you fully reheat them before serving.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH A MINI MEATLOAF?
Meatloaf is one of the ultimate comfort foods for me. I like to serve it with either garlic mashed potatoes or something simple like steamed broccoli or corn. You can also bring this as your contribution to a potluck. Looking for more potluck ideas? Try these recipes:
WHAT KITCHEN TOOLS DO I NEED TO MUFFIN TIN MEATLOAF?
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground beef
- 1 Tbsp garlic minced
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ cup bread crumbs Italian
- ½ and ¼ cups ketchup divided
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- In a large mixing bowl using your hands, or in a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, mix all the ingredients until well combined
- Roll meat mixture into balls about half a cup in size and place into 12 individual cups of a muffin baking tray
- Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
- Serve hot or refrigerate for future enjoyment.
Notes
