Meatloaf and Melodrama

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Cheddar BBQ Meatloaf Muffins

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Cheddar BBQ meatloaf muffins are mini meatloaves made in a muffin tin and topped with BBQ sauce and cheese. An easy meatloaf recipe for dinner!

mini meatloaf muffins with cheddar cheese and bbq sauce on a plate

 

Cheddar BBQ meatloaf muffins are mini meatloaves made in a muffin tin and topped with BBQ sauce and lots of cheese. This easy meatloaf recipe is a quick and easy dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes, and it’s super kid friendly and picky eater approved!

My entire family loves meatloaf, and it’s probably one of the few foods that we all agree on. In fact, that’s one of the reasons that this blog happens to be called Meatloaf and Melodrama. The only reason that I don’t make meatloaf more often is that it takes a long time to cook, especially since I always make enough for all of us, plus leftovers.

My middle child, the Monkey, is the one who suggested making meatloaf in a muffin tin. She saw these somewhere — probably Pinterest — and asked me to try making them even before Christmas. The idea is anything but new, but I’m usually late to get on board the trendy train, sigh.

Anyway, I’m always looking for easy ground beef recipes, so I finally got around to trying the easy meatloaf muffins. And, I love how much easier they are than traditional classic meatloaf!

One of the best things about these little individual meatloaves is that there’s no fighting over who got a bigger piece. My kids do this all of the time, and it can really wear you down. My son still talks about the time I gave him five roasted potatoes while his sister got seven! So yeah, this is much better!

How to make easy mini meatloaf in a muffin tin

This is a super simple ground beef recipe with just a few ingredients. I just used my favorite easy meatloaf recipe for cheddar BBQ barbecue meatloaf. But, I adjusted the amounts a little bit and pressed the beef in a muffin tin instead of the usual large pan.

ground beef in muffin tin

I used lean ground beef, but there was still a lot of juice around the meat, so I sucked it out with a turkey baster – easy peasy! Right before the beef was done, I brushed some barbecue sauce on the tops and crowned the mini meatloaves with shredded cheddar cheese.

brush bbq sauce on mini meatloaf muffins in muffin tin

I stuck the pan back into the oven for a few more minutes until the cheese was melted and bubbly.

mini meatloaf muffins with bbq sauce and cheddar cheese in muffin tin

They do shrink a little, but it’s really not too bad. If you want the portions to be bigger, just pack the meat into the muffin cups  a little higher.

cheddar bbq meatloaf muffins with mashed potatoes on a white plate

More easy meatloaf recipes

Cheddar BBQ Meatloaf Muffins Recipe

mini meatloaf muffins with cheddar cheese and bbq sauce on a plate

Cheddar BBQ Meatloaf Muffins

Dee
Cheddar BBQ meatloaf muffins are mini meatloaves made in a muffin tin and topped with BBQ sauce and lots of cheese. This easy meatloaf recipe is a quick and easy dinner that's super kid friendly and picky eater approved!
4.92 from 12 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Course Main
Cuisine American
Servings 12 muffins
Calories 172 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce any kind, plus more for brushing on muffin tops
  • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  • In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together, except for the cheddar cheese, and form into large ball
  • Fill the muffin tin with the meat mixture
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, and remove extra juice if desired
  • Brush tops of muffins with barbecue sauce, and sprinkle cheddar cheese over the sauce
  • Return to the oven, and bake until cheese melts and internal temperature is at least 160 degrees, according to meat thermometer

Video

Notes

Variation -- You can use 1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese or 1/2 cup breadcrumbs to help the meatloaf muffins absorb the juices from the meat if you want.

Nutrition

Calories: 172kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 20gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 401mgPotassium: 297mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 155IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 125mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cheddar bbq meatloaf muffins, meatloaf
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Cheddar BBQ Meatloaf Muffins recipe

Serve these little cheddar barbecue meatloaf muffins with roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes and maybe some peas, and your dinner is served. Just remember to give your kids equal portions!

cheddar-barbecue-meatloaf-muffin-recipe

I hope you enjoy these easy cheddar BBQ mini meatloaf muffins as much as we do!

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Recipe has been updated.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Miz Helen says

    5 stars
    Congratulations!
    Your post is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week and will be pinned to our Features Board. Thanks so much for sharing with us and hope you are having a great week!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

  18. Sarah says

    5 stars
    These look like an awesome, make-ahead, tasty meal! Every ingredient and flavor puts a smile on my face – will definitely have to make ASAP!

    Reply

  19. Carol says

    Now I’m super-hungry for meatloaf! We really like meatloaf, too, but I’ve never made them in a muffin pan. That seems like a really good idea for kids.

    Warm hugs,
    Carol

    Reply

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