MINI MEATLOAF RECIPE with CHEDDAR CHEESE (2024)

Published by Nellie on July 9, 2019

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Mini Cheddar Meatloaves made with just 6 common ingredients in under an hour! Mini Meatloaf is so easy to make- just shape and top with our special 3 ingredient sauce and bake. This meatloaf recipe is gluten free, low in carbs and absolutely delicious!

Mini Cheddar Meatloaves have become a new favorite dinner recipe at my house. A friend gave me this recipe quite a while ago and I admit that I kept putting it off because meatloaf has never been one of my favorites. I finally decided to try it and now my whole perspective on meatloaf has changed – this is absolutely amazing!

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How do you make a moist meatloaf?

I like to make a moist meatloaf by adding one simple ingredient- CHEESE! I would have never thought of adding cheese to the meat, but it adds a wonderful flavor and it keeps the meatloaf from being too dry. I used mild cheddar shredded cheese but any variety of cheese would probably be delicious. I think next time I will try a cheddar/Monterey Jack blend or maybe even mozzarella!

Another ingredient that adds moisture in this meatloaf recipe is milk. This recipe also does not call for bread crumbs like many other meatloaf recipes which I really love.

How long do you cook mini meatloaf?

I love the mini meatloaf concept – these meatloaves are pre-portioned making them easy to serve and they bake faster! These mini meatloaves bake for just 40-45 minutes. I think they look pretty on a plate too. I’m sure that you could make this recipe in a loaf pan and it would still be delicious, but this way you don’t have to slice the meatloaf in order to serve it.

How to make sauce for meatloaf

You only need three basic ingredients to make the incredible sauce that goes on top – ketchup, dried mustard and brown sugar. Don’t leave the sauce off either; it’s the best part of the recipe! The sauce recipe makes enough to drizzle over each mini meatloaf, but when I make this mini meatloaf recipe, my husband always asks me to double (or even triple!) the sauce because he loves it so much.

Ingredients in Mini Meatloaf Recipe with Cheddar Cheese

1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup diced onion
1 tsp salt
1 lb. ground beef

How to make Mini Cheddar Meatloaves

Beat egg and milk together. Stir in cheese, chopped onion and salt.
Add the entire mixture to ground beef.
Shape into 8 small loaves. I have found that the easiest way to do this is to use my hands! Place the mini meatloaves in a greased 9×13 pan.
Prepare the sauce and pour on top of each loaf and then bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Ingredients in Meatloaf Sauce

2/3 cup ketchup
1 1/2 tsp dried mustard
1/2 cup brown sugar

How to make sauce for meatloaf

If you double the sauce, you can save some of it and warm it up in a saucepan to use as a dip also. It’s so simple, but it really is fantastic!

MINI CHEDDAR MEATLOAVES

Mini Cheddar Meatloaves made with just 6 common ingredients in under an hour! Mini Meatloaf is so easy to make- just shape and top with our special 3 ingredient sauce and bake. This meatloaf recipe is gluten free, low in carbs and absolutely delicious!

4.69 from 19 votes

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Course: Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: meatloaf

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup Mild Cheddar shredded cheese
1/2 cup diced onion
1 tsp salt
1 lb. ground beef

SAUCE

2/3 cup ketchup
1 1/2 tsp dried mustard
1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions

Beat egg and milk together. Stir in cheese, chopped onion and salt. Add the entire mixture to ground beef.
Shape into 8 small loaves. Place in a greased 9X13 pan.
Combine ketchup, dried mustard and brown sugar to make the sauce.
Put sauce on top of each loaf and then bake for 40 minutes at 350°.

Video

Nutrition

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What to serve with meatloaf?

We love to pair meatloaf with potatoes! Mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, fried potatoes, alfredo twice-baked potatoes, scalloped potatoes…for some reason, meatloaf just tastes better with potatoes! Add a green vegetable (asparagus, broccoli, green beans) and you have a complete, well balanced meal!

Is meatloaf gluten free?

This meatloaf recipe is completely gluten free. Some meatloaf recipes have breadcrumbs in them, but this recipe does not. This meatloaf is a wonderful low-carb, high protein meal option!

Need some other main dish ideas? We’ve got tons!

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
Bacon Grilled Cheese
Easy Cheeseburger Recipe
Cheesy Meatball Bites
Easy Ranch Sausage Rolls
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Best Homemade Chicken Strips
Easy Salsa Chicken
Garlic Butter Pan Fried Steak
Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken
Best Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Mini Cheddar Meatloaves are gluten free and low in carbs! This mini meatloaf recipe is made with just 6 common ingredients in under an hour! The special 3 ingredient sauce on top is amazing too!

ABOUT US

I began Butter, with a Side of Bread to delve deeper into my fascination with food! I love cooking easy, delicious recipes and trying out new products. Welcome and I hope you stick around!

MINI MEATLOAF RECIPE with CHEDDAR CHEESE (2024)

FAQs

Why milk instead of water in meatloaf? ›

The only way to guarantee tender meat is not to overcook it. And that's a simple matter of using a thermometer when you bake the meatloaf. Milk does, on the other hand, add moisture and fat and is worth including for that fact alone.

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What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

Bread crumbs serve as a binding agent for the loaf, helping it not crumble after it's cooked.

What can I add to meatloaf so it's not dry? ›

By adding finely diced or pureed aromatic vegetables to your mixture, you are adding additional moisture into the meatloaf. Not only does this make your final product juicier, but it also adds lots of extra flavor.

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What does adding an extra egg to meatloaf do? ›

Sure, egg yolks add some rich flavor to a meatloaf, but the real reason we need eggs is for structure—to help bind the meatloaf together. This is especially important since we're making a free-form meatloaf, or one that you shape by hand, versus using a loaf pan.

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What is the secret to a great meat loaf? ›

Use high-fat meat.

For a meatloaf made with a leaner beef or turkey, consider mixing in some ground pork and/or veal in order to achieve a moist, tender meatloaf. Chopping up bacon and adding it to the mix is always a great way to add fat. Oh, and covering it in bacon never hurts, either.

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Should meatloaf be covered or not? ›

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.

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Why does my meatloaf come out dry? ›

Beware Breadcrumbs: Overusing breadcrumbs can soak up moisture and leave your meatloaf dry. Use breadcrumbs in moderation or try using alternatives like oats or crushed crackers. Use Extra Egg: Eggs act as binders and provide moisture. Add one or two eggs per pound of meat for a moist texture.

Should I spray a loaf pan for meatloaf? ›

Lightly grease a standard size loaf pan with cooking spray. Add all of the meatloaf ingredients to a large bowl and gently mix everything to combine (without over-working the meat). Add the meat mixture to a loaf pan and gently pat into an even layer. Bake for about 30 minutes.

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Should I saute onions before adding to meatloaf? ›

I later learned how I could avoid this problem and make a fully smooth meatloaf by pre-cooking any vegetables, especially the onion, before adding them to the ground meat. This way the meatloaf gets the flavor without the rawness -- a method from the smart people at Cook's Illustrated.

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Will onions soften in meatloaf? ›

It does seem quite a lot of onion, but as the onions cook they shrink in volume and should become very soft and slightly caramelized. So the meatloaf will not have the assertive, sharp flavour of raw onion but instead a mellow and sweet background flavour.

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Do you drain the juice from meatloaf? ›

Let the loaf cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. If you baked the meatloaf in a loaf pan, carefully drain off the liquid fat before transferring the meatloaf to a clean cutting board.

What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

Mix ground beef, salt, pepper, onion, bell pepper, egg, tomatoes and oats together well and place in a baking dish. Shape into a loaf. Topping: Mix ketchup, brown sugar and mustard and spread on loaf.

Learn More Now ›

What happens if you use milk instead of water in baking? ›

Yes, you may make cakes with milk instead of water. Because fat provides richness and solidity to the cake, milk can increase the cake's moisture content and flavor. 1) Use the same quantity of milk as water called for in the recipe.

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What happens to bread when you use milk instead of water? ›

Using milk instead of water in your yeasted bread is an easy way to add a touch of sweetness, making it ideal for challah, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, and hot dog buns. Milk sugars not only add a hint of sweetness but also result in a softer, more uniform crumb and ensure a nicely browned crust.

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Why cook ground beef in milk? ›

It's milk.

The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins. Whole milk (not reduced fat), buttermilk, and yogurt all get the job done – with a special nod to buttermilk and yogurt for their optimal tenderizing acidity levels.

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