Mini Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe (2024)

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ByJamie Sanders

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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!

Mini Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe (1)

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 asuccess.
  • I especially love this recipebecauseit is so easy andflexible.
  • 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.
  • Parmesancheese | 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.

Mini Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe (2)

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

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

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5. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Enjoy!

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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.)
Mini Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe (6)

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Favorite Sides to Serve With Mini Meatloaves

  • Loaded Mashed Potato Bake
  • Parmesan Ranch Baked Potato Wedges
  • Roasted Baby Carrots
  • Corn On The Cob In The Microwave
  • Baked Potato Mac And Cheese

Let us Know What You Think!

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. If you share an image on Instagram or Facebook, be sure to tag me and use #scatteredmomrecipes!

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Mini Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe (7)

Mini Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe

★★★★★5 from 49 reviews

  • Author: Jamie Sanders
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Cook Time: 30 min
  • Total Time: 35 min
  • Yield: 10 to 12 meatloaf muffins 1x
  • Category: main dish
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: american
Print Recipe

Description

Meatloaf Muffins are a fabulous alternative to regular meatloaf. Kids just love them and mini meatloaf muffins cook much faster than traditional meatloaf.

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 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…)

Instructions

  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).
  4. Top with a dollop of tomato sauce/ketchup on each one.
  5. Cook for 30-35 minutes.
  6. Serve two per person.

Notes

Nutritional Info: Using 1 egg,93/7 Ground Turkey, 1/2 cup of ketchup and dividing into 10 meatloaf muffins, the calorie count is about 110 per muffin. (Pretty good if you ask me!)

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 meatloaf muffins
  • Calories: 220
  • Sugar: 6
  • Fat: 10
  • Carbohydrates: 9
  • Protein: 22

Keywords: mini meatloaf, meatloaf muffins

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About the AuthorJamie Sanders is a wife and mom of 2, located in the heart of Texas. She founded Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom in 2011 as a place to share creative ideas and family friendly recipes. Her work has been featured on Martha Stewart, Woman’s World, HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, CNET, Good Housekeeping, Yahoo, Oprah Daily, and Redbook, plus many other publications. To date, she had given away just under a million free pdf sewing patterns.
Mini Meatloaf in a Muffin Tin Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How many cups are in a muffin tin? ›

A single cup within a jumbo muffin tin is 242.13 millilitres (8.1875 US fl oz), and again because these are uncommon, there are several standard numbers of cups per tin, including 4, 6, and 12 cups per tin. Muffin tins can be made out of aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, or silicone.

How do you keep meatloaf from falling apart in the oven? ›

When this happens, it's because you didn't use enough. Next time, try adding in an extra egg and/or some more breadcrumbs. Alternatively, rice, barley, corn flakes, crackers, and dried soup mix can also stand in as binding ingredients as well. Including larger quantities of these items should help solve the problem.

Should you bake meatloaf in a loaf pan? ›

When choosing a baking pan, avoid a small loaf pan or baking dish. A tight fit means that the loaf will steam — think school cafeteria meatloaf. Instead, use a sheet pan or a large baking dish and leave some breathing room so the edges will caramelize nicely. Also consider making a few small loaves.

How much batter do you put in mini muffin pan? ›

The recommended amount of batter to fill a mini cupcake liner is 1 tablespoon. And as is the case with a regular cupcake, the liner should be filled ⅔ of the way full to avoid flat tops.

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? ›

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

To help your meatloaf stay together add things such as eggs, bread, crushed croutons, oatmeal, crackers, and breadcrumbs, these are all key ingredients that help meat stick together. I hope that this helps to answer your question. What are the secrets to a firm, sliceable meatloaf that slices and won't fall apart?

What is the best binder for meatloaf? ›

The most traditional meatloaf binder is probably torn up bread soaked in milk, but you can also use bread crumbs, Panko, dehydrated potato (instant mashed potatoes), or just about any other grain.

Why milk instead of water in meatloaf? ›

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

Should I saute onions before adding to meatloaf? ›

The answer is: it depends. Onions are a great addition to meatloaf because they add a lot of flavor and moisture. Raw onions have a strong, pungent flavor and will give the meatloaf a sharper taste. However, if the onions are cooked before adding them to the meatloaf, they will become sweeter and milder.

What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

The Basic Meatloaf Formula

All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

Is meatloaf better on a sheet pan or loaf pan? ›

Not only does sheet pan meatloaf bake up faster than its traditional loaf-shaped cousin, it also has more surface area, meaning every bite is laden with that deliciously caramelized topping.

Is it better to bake meatloaf in glass or metal? ›

Because metal heats up faster than glass, it contributes to a better rise and crisper, browner edges. But whatever you're baking, it's important to remember that not every metal pan is a great metal pan.

Can you use parchment paper in a loaf pan for meatloaf? ›

Parchment paper is a great option to line your pan the next time you cook meatloaf. It prevents the meat from sticking to the pan resulting in a meatloaf that is evenly cooked all the way through and looks ready to eat.

What is a standard muffin tin size? ›

Most standard baking cups measure 2" x 1 1/4" and are commonly used for traditional-sized cupcakes or muffins. Mini baking cups with a 1" diameter can be used for presenting chocolate-covered cherries or caramels, and 3 1/2" diameter jumbo baking cups can be used for gorgeous gourmet cupcakes.

How many formed cups are there in a muffin pan? ›

12-Form Jumbo Muffin Pan | JB Prince Professional Chef Tools.

How much muffin batter in each cup? ›

Fill your cupcake cases 2/3 full – around 3 tablespoons – or one decent ice scream scoop. Avoid filling your cupcake cases with too much batter as they will not bake properly and might overflow when they rise.

How big is a 12 cupcake pan? ›

Product information
Product Dimensions1.27 x 10.49 x 14.5 inches
Capacity‎12 Cups
Specific Uses For Product‎Baking
Occasion‎Birthday
Included Components‎Cake Dish
14 more rows

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