Mini Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe

Name: Mini Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 1 pound ground turkey or ground beef; 1/3 cup breadcrumbs or oatmeal (Either works, but I now use oatmeal); 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese; 1 egg; 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce (Instead of the tomato sauce, I often substitute with around 1/4 cup of ketchup in the meat mixture and at least another 1/4 cup for the top. Personal choice to use the ketchup vs tomato sauce I do prefer the taste of ketchup – must be the added sugar.); 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; Salt and pepper; several shakes of Worcestershire sauce (about a teaspoon); A couple of handfuls of whatever other veggies you have on hand… (onions, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, spinach, lentils…)

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Mini Meatloaves in a muffin tin? Yes, Please! These Mini Meatloaf Muffins are a fun and delicious alternative to regular meatloaf.

Baking the meatloaf in a muffin tin shortens the cooking time and is always a hit with the kids!

Why Meatloaf Muffins are a Must Make!

We love everything in miniature over here.

You can cook just about anything in a muffin tin and it will be a success.
I especially love this recipe because it is so easy and flexible.
I can hide whatever veggies I have on hand and get no complaints!
Meatloaf muffins are perfect when you don’t have a lot of time to cook as the cooking time is much shorter than regular meatloaf.

If you haven’t tried your meatloaf in a muffin tin yet, you really should give it a try!

You can use your own favorite meatloaf recipe, just use the cooking time below or my recipe is pretty darn yummy too!

Ingredients in Meatloaf Muffins + Notes

Ingredients at a glance, find the full printable recipe at the bottom of the post.

Ground Beef | Use a lower fat ground beef if you can. The less fat in the beef, the less fat the will end up in the wells of the muffin pan. Ground turkey works fine too.
Oatmeal | Oatmeal helps to bind the meat and other add-ins together. You can use bread crumbs in a pinch, but I prefer the texture the oats give to the meatloaf muffins.
Egg | Large (works with the oats or breadcrums as a binder to help hold the meatloaf together.
Tomato Sauce | For flavor. Instead of the tomato sauce, I often substitute the tomato sauce with +/- 1/4 cup of ketchup in the meat mixture and at least another 1/4 cup for the top. Personal choice to use the ketchup vs tomato sauce I do prefer the taste of ketchup – probably due to the added sugar.
Parmesan cheese | For flavor. Use whatever kind you have on hand.
Seasonings | Garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper
Optional | A couple of handfuls of whatever other veggies you have on hand. (onions, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, spinach, lentils…)

How To Make Meatloaf Muffins

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, but only use about ¼ of the tomato sauce/ketchup in the meat mixture. Reserve the rest for the tops of the meatloaf muffins.

3. Press the meat into the muffin cups (you should be able to get eight to 10 out of this amount of meat).

Press the meatloaf muffins into the muffin pan

4. Top with a dollop of tomato sauce/ketchup on each one.

5. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

Don’t forget the spray your muffin man, especially if using turkey or very low fat ground beef.
Use as low fat meat as you can. This will help keep your muffins from swimming in fat in the muffin tin and also helps the muffins come out in a nice shape. (They wont shrink up quite as much. (Ground beef containing a higher percentage of fat will shrink up more because the fat will cook cook out, leaving less meatloaf muffin.)
Dont leave out the Worchestershire sauce. It really adds a nice depth of flavor to the meatloaf muffins.
I’ve made this meatloaf muffin recipe so many times and so many ways that I can tell you, oats instead of breadcrumbs are the way to go.

FAQ’s

Can Muffin Tin Meatloaf be Frozen?

Yes, Of course you can freeze these Meatloaf Muffins!
Follow the recipe as specified and let the mini meatloaves cool. Add to a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 6 months.
To thaw, place in the fridge overnight and you can either reheat in the microwave (at about a minute per muffin) or all at once in the oven for about 20 minutes. (Use a thermometer to make sure the muffins are fully warm in the center.)

Can this Recipe be Doubled?

Yes, this meatloaf muffin recipe is the perfect recipe for doubling. I often make a double batch to freeze for later.

How Long Do I Cook Meatloaf Muffins?

As I mentioned earlier, one of the benefits of meatloaf muffins over a traditional meatloaf recipe is the faster cooking time. I cook these mini meatloaves for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. I do recommend a meat thermometer to ensure your muffins are cooked completely. (They are done when the center reaches 160 degrees F.)

Variations on this Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe

Use barbecue sauce instead of ketchup.
Like a bit of kick to your food? Add some red pepper flakes.
Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef. (Cook time is the same, but use your meat thermometer and make sure the center temperature registers to 165 F for poultry.)
Slice the mini meatloaves in half and serve as meatloaf sliders.
I love to hide veggies in my meatloaf. Lentils, carrots, mushrooms, etc… (just dice the veggies into fine pieces.)

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Favorite Sides to Serve With Mini Meatloaves

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