Mini Meat Loaf

These cute little individual meat loaves bake fast in a muffin tin. They stay juicy, full of classic flavor, and come with a sweet tangy glaze on top. Perfect for busy evenings when you want comfort food without waiting forever

Mini Meat Loaf

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (use 90-93% lean for better results)
  • 1/2 cup quick cooking oats or breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional but adds nice melt)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • For the glaze: 2/3 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard

Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin or use liners.
  • In a big bowl, mix the milk, oats, egg, salt, pepper, garlic powder, chopped onion, and cheese if using. Let it sit for a minute so the oats soak up the milk.
  • Add the ground beef. Mix gently with your hands or a spoon just until everything comes together. Do not overmix or it will get tough.
  • Divide the mixture into 8 equal parts and press each into the muffin cups. Smooth the tops.
  • Stir the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard in a small bowl to make the glaze. Spoon about 1-2 tablespoons over each mini loaf.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes until the centers reach 160°F on a meat thermometer. Let them rest for 5 minutes before removing from the tin.
  • Serve hot with mashed potatoes or steamed veggies.

Nutritional Information

(per mini loaf, approximate based on lean beef and ingredients)

  • Calories: around 220-250
  • Protein: 18-20g
  • Fat: 12-14g
  • Carbohydrates: 12-15g
  • Sugar: 8g (mostly from glaze)
  • Sodium: 400-500mg
  • These numbers can vary a bit depending on exact brands and if you add cheese.

Recipe Credit

Inspired by classic family-style recipes like those from Allrecipes and EatingWell, but rewritten fresh here with simple tweaks for everyday home cooking. Enjoy!