• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Meatloaf and Melodrama logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Collaborate
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
    • Collaborate
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
      • Collaborate
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Recipes » Recipes

    Italian Meatloaf Muffins

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Aug 31, 2017 · Modified: Mar 25, 2021 by Dee

    Italian Meatloaf Muffins topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese cook in a muffin tin for a quick and easy 30-minute dinner!

    Jump to Recipe -

    Italian meatloaf muffins with marinara sauce and provolone cheese on a plate

    Raise your hand if you like meatloaf! My family happens to love when I make meatloaf for dinner. In fact, it's one of the few foods that we all agree on, which might seem strange, since it's not the most exciting dinner in the world.

    And even though it's a family favorite, a loaf of meat that's big enough to feed 7 people takes a long time to cook, which really heats up the house. In the winter, that's not a problem, but since winters in Phoenix are so short, we don't have regular meatloaf that often.

    So, I started making meatloaf in a muffin tin, and now we actually prefer it this way. Usually, I make Cheddar Barbecue Meatloaf Muffins, since my kids love anything made with barbecue sauce. But I wanted to try something different, so I made these delicious Italian Meatloaf Muffins the next time around. It's a quick and easy dinner and ready in just 30 minutes!

    They're a lot like the cheddar BBQ muffins, except that you add marinara sauce and mozzarella instead of barbecue sauce and cheddar. And, making mini meat loaves is practically the same as making one big loaf. The only real difference is that you bake them in a muffin tin instead of a large pan.

    To Make Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Just:

    • Mix the meat and seasonings
    • Place meat in the muffin tin
    • Bake, and add sauce and cheese

     

    italian meatloaf muffins with marinara sauce

    The beefy muffins take about 20 to 25 minutes to cook. And when they're done, you add a little extra marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese to the muffin tops,  pop them back into the oven to let the cheese melt, and then, they're done!

    If the muffins get too juicy, you can use a turkey baster to pull out some of the extra liquid -- works like a charm and prevents spills!

    Italian meatloaf muffins baked in muffin tin with pasta sauce and mozzarella

    I served these individual meat loaves with mashed potatoes and peas, since the kids absolutely love that combo. It's like whenever meatloaf is on the table, we have to have mashed potatoes and peas. But since we're using Italian flavors, you could serve these with pasta, a side salad or just about any veggie.

    This recipe makes 12 individual meat loaves, which is a lot of food. But the good news is that they make amazing leftovers, and they're also freezer friendly. Just wrap them up, and reheat them later.

    italian meatloaf muffins recipe

    How to Make Italian Meatloaf Muffins

    Italian meatloaf muffins with marinara sauce and provolone cheese on a plate

    Italian Meatloaf Muffins

    Published by Dee
    Mini Italian Meatloaf Muffins topped with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese bake in a muffin tin and are done in 30 minutes!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 12
    Calories 150 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 pounds lean ground beef
    • 2 tablespoons marinara sauce, plus additional sauce for brushing over muffins
    • 1 tablespoon dried minced onions
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 egg
    • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
    • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray, and preheat oven to 400 degrees
    • In a large mixing bowl, mix the beef, 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce, onions, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, egg and Parmesan cheese together. Use hands to squish ingredients together and form into a large ball
    • Fill muffin cups evenly with meat mixture, and bake for 25 minutes
    • Brush marinara sauce over tops of muffins, and top each muffin with shredded mozzarella
    • Bake for additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and internal temperature is at least 160 degrees, according to meat thermometer

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 19gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 339mgPotassium: 290mgVitamin A: 105IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 2.1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    Italian Meatloaf Muffins

    My family loves these Italian Meatloaf Muffins, and I hope you will, too!

    Happy Cooking,

    Shared at Weekend Potluck

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    More Recipes on the blog

    • Everything Bagel Dip Recipe
    • Valentines Rice Krispie Treats
    • Valentine's Day Snack Mix
    • Steak Quesadilla Recipe

    You May Also Like

    baked reuben casserole with corned beef and sauerkraut on a plate with a pickle
    Baked Reuben Casserole Recipe
    jalapeno popper wonton cups with bacon on a plate
    Jalapeno Popper Wonton Cups with Bacon
    shredded crock pot Mississippi pot roast with peperoncini peppers over mashed potatoes
    Crock-Pot Mississippi Pot Roast

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Review Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Miz Helen says

      September 10, 2017 at 7:40 am

      Your Italian Meatloaf Muffins are a great idea for a busy family! I really appreciate you sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and hope you are having a safe and enjoyable weekend.
      Come Back Soon!
      Miz Helen5 stars

      Reply
    2. Jenny | Honey and Birch says

      September 07, 2017 at 5:01 pm

      Making meatloaf in muffin tins is a genius idea!

      Reply
    3. Cathy @ Lemon Tree Dwelling says

      September 06, 2017 at 8:11 pm

      I want to keep my freezer stocked with these!

      Reply
    4. Lauren @ Hall Nesting says

      September 06, 2017 at 12:17 pm

      I love this idea. And it looks freezer friendly too!

      Reply
    5. Erin says

      September 01, 2017 at 5:09 pm

      These look great, Dee. I love the idea of everyone having their own mini meatloaf. Some of my kids like sauce on top of their meatloaf, some don't. Some like cheese on top, others don't. This is an easy way to customize to everyone's preferences. Pinning this recipe for dinner next week! Visiting from Best Friday Features.

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 04, 2017 at 2:47 pm

        Thanks so much, Erin! My kids are the same way, so individual portions are perfect for us. 🙂

    6. Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie says

      September 01, 2017 at 10:29 am

      My family would devour these for dinner!5 stars

      Reply
    7. Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      August 31, 2017 at 8:38 pm

      These look totally yum and are perfect for individual servings!

      Reply
    8. Delaney | Melanie Makes says

      August 31, 2017 at 5:05 pm

      I would love to have this for dinner tonight!

      Reply
    9. Jen says

      August 31, 2017 at 3:35 pm

      This is such a great idea! Plus I think my kids would love to see their own little meatloaf muffin on their plate!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 31, 2017 at 3:37 pm

        This is exactly how my kids are, and they don't argue about who got the bigger piece! 🙂

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • Baked Breaded Pork Chops
    • Best Dutch Oven Beef Stew Recipe
    • Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage
    • Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
    • Grandma's Kielbasa and Sauerkraut Recipe
    • Maple Brown Sugar Overnight Oats
    • How to Cook Ramen Noodles in the Microwave
    • Easy Chicken Stuffing Bake

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • All About Dee
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As Seen On

    as seen on buzzfeed delish country living forbes southern living

    Copyright © 2023 Meatloaf and Melodrama