Muffin Pan Meatloaf
An easy meal prep recipe, these Muffin Pan Mini Meatloaves are perfect for prepping in advance and popping into your lunch box for a healthy protein option that is filling and comforting.
Mini Meatloaf Recipe
I need protein at lunch time or else I hit an afternoon slump so bad, even a double shot of espresso can’t seem to wake my brain up.
However, I often work through lunch so I don’t want something that I need a knife and fork to dig into, and I also need something that I look forward to enough that I remember to eat. Fork-tender comfort food is key.
At first, I came up with the idea for these mini-meatloaves for a quick lunch box idea for my daughter – and then I realized, it was perfect for me, too! While I prep the ones for my daughter in a small, 12-cavity muffin pan, I tend to make mine in my giant muffin pan (that only has 6 spots). Using a smaller muffin pan does allow them to cook a bit faster, though (and you could always just put two mini meatloaves in your lunch box instead of one of the larger meatloaf muffins.)
This cheesy, comforting version of meatloaf is super kid-friendly and tastes indulgent without bordering on unhealthy. It really hits the spot on cold winter days when we could all use a bit of comfort food, especially if paired with some blanched green beans and a side of buttery mashed potatoes. Yum!
These are also great for a quick and easy prep-ahead supper when you have a bit less time, as these muffin pan meatloaves only take 35 minutes to fully cook while a traditional loaf-style meatloaf can take over an hour! (And bonus, it’s already portioned out for you!)
Ingredients for Muffin Pan Meatloaves
-
2 eggs
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1 ½ cup milk
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2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
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1 cup bread crumbs*
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2 tsp. POD & BEAN™ Burger Seasoning
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2 lb. ground beef or meatloaf mix
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½ cup onion, finely diced
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½ cup POD & BEAN™ Steak Sauce
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½ cup ketchup
Tip: you can replace the bread crumbs with quick oats.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Muffin pan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Pastry/BBQ brush
- Meat thermometer
How to Make Muffin Pan Meatloaves
Preheat oven to 350° F.
In a large bowl, combine the egg, milk, cheese, oats and POD & BEAN™ Burger Seasoning.
Add the ground beef and onions and mix well.
Evenly portion the meatloaf mixture into a lightly greased cupcake tin or small loaf pan.
In a separate small bowl, combine the POD & BEAN™ Steak Sauce and ketchup. Stir thoroughly and spread over each meatloaf.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° F until internal temperature reaches 160° F, about 30-40 minutes.
This recipe was shared with me from THE COCOA EXHANGE™ POD & BEAN™. (Not a sponsored post)
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Muffin Pan Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cup milk
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup quick oats or bread crumbs
- 2 tsp. POD & BEAN™ Burger Seasoning
- 2 lb. ground beef or meatloaf mix
- ½ cup onion, finely diced
- ½ cup POD & BEAN™ Steak Sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In a large bowl, combine the egg, milk, cheese, oats and POD & BEAN™ Burger Seasoning.
- Add the ground beef and onions and mix well.
- Evenly portion the meatloaf mixture into a lightly greased cupcake tin or small loaf pan.
- In a separate small bowl, combine the POD & BEAN™ Steak Sauce and ketchup. Stir thoroughly and spread over each meatloaf.
- Bake, uncovered, at 350° F until internal temperature reaches 160° F.
This meal prep version of cheesy, saucy meatloaf is perfect for kids’ lunches and adult lunches alike. Perfect for days when you could use a bit of comfort food without the guilt.
For more delicious lunch box ideas, check out our Mexican Rice Stuffed Peppers recipe or our Astronaut Trail Mix recipe.
