Easy Meatloaf Muffins Recipe

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 04/09/21
Meatloaf muffins on a plate

The Spruce
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yields: 12 muffins
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
336 Calories
11g Fat
20g Carbs
40g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 336
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 15%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 143mg 48%
Sodium 792mg 34%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 40g
Vitamin C 3mg 15%
Calcium 58mg 4%
Iron 4mg 25%
Potassium 552mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Meatloaf muffins are a nice change from the average meatloaf. There's no trick to the recipe; you'll simply bake a basic meatloaf mixture in muffin tins for smaller servings. It's a fun alternative that you may recognize from diner menus, and they're sure to be a hit with kids. It's also the ideal dinner when short on time, as the muffins take about a third of the time to cook compared to a full meatloaf and somehow seem like a lot less work. The meatloaf stays moist thanks to the inclusion of an egg into the meat mixture, along with ketchup in both the mixture and as a bit of a basting glaze that you add halfway through the baking process.

One of the great things about meatloaf is its amazing versatility. It's easy to "hide" grated carrots or other vegetables in the meat mixture, add a bit of cheese with the ketchup topping, or turn them into meatloaf sliders. Serve the meatloaf muffins along with chips, fries, or mashed potatoes and a vegetable. The muffins freeze well, too, so it's a fantastic recipe for meal prep menus.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for meatloaf muffins
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  2. Heat the oven to 350 F. Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray or grease with shortening or melted butter.

    Lightly grease muffin tins
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  3. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion to the pan and sauté until lightly browned and tender.

    Sautéing chopped onion in large skillet
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  4. Add the finely minced garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute longer.

    Add minced garlic to the skillet
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  5. In a bowl, combine the ground beef with the breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup of the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, beaten egg, thyme, oregano, ground black pepper, and salt.

    Combine ground beef with the other ingredients
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  6. Add the sautéed vegetables, mixing until well blended.

    Mix the sautéed vegetables into the ground beef
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  7. Pack the meat mixture into the prepared muffin cups.

    Pack meat into muffin cups
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  8. Bake the meatloaf muffins for 20 minutes.

    Bake meatloaf muffins
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  9. Top each meatloaf muffin with a few teaspoons of the remaining ketchup. Return to the oven and bake for about 5 to 10 minutes longer.

    Topping meatloaf with ketchup
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  10. Cook until an instant-read thermometer registers at least 160 F inserted into the center of a muffin.

    Checking meatloaf muffins with an instant-read thermometer
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  11. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • If the muffin cups are slightly overfilled, place a rimmed baking pan or sheet of foil under the muffin tin to catch any overflow.
  • Make a big batch of meatloaf muffins and freeze them for future lunches or dinners. When making ahead, bake the meatloaf muffins without a topping. After baking, place the muffins on a baking sheet and move them to the freezer. When they are frozen solid, transfer them to freezer bags. Label with the name and date and freeze for up to three months.
  • Reheat meatloaf muffins in a 350 F oven for about 35 to 45 minutes, or until they register 165 F (the minimum safe temperature for leftovers). Add a ketchup topping just before they're ready and enjoy.

Variations

  • Feel free to add some other finely minced veggies to mix, such as 1/2 cup carrots or bell peppers.
  • For a more Italian taste, add 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese to the mixture.
  • Serve the muffins as sliders on tiny rolls with extra ketchup on the side and oven-baked french fries.
  • Substitute finely ground crackers or rolled oats (pulse them in the food processor) for the breadcrumbs.