Description
Savory, juicy mini meatloaves baked in a muffin tin with a gooey cheese center and topped with a tangy glaze—perfect as hearty appetizers or a comforting dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (80% lean)
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- ½ small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup ketchup, divided
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 12 cubes cheddar or mozzarella cheese (≈½‑inch cubes)
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
- Nonstick spray or oil (for greasing muffin tin)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Grease a 12‑cup mini muffin tin.
- In a bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, and mustard. Mix gently until just combined.
- Take about 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture, flatten it, place a cheese cube in center, and wrap meat around it, sealing completely into a ball.
- Place each stuffed meatball into a muffin cup.
- In a small bowl, mix the remaining ¼ cup ketchup (and extra mustard if desired) to make a glaze. Spoon a bit on top of each meatloaf bite.
- Bake 18–22 minutes, or until browned and internal temperature reaches 160 °F (71 °C).
- Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before removing. Garnish with parsley if using and serve warm.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
- Try different cheeses like pepper jack, Swiss, or gouda for variety.
- Add heat by mixing in red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
- Swap the ketchup glaze for BBQ sauce or chili sauce for a smoky twist.
- You can stir finely chopped spinach or bell pepper into the meat mixture for extra veggies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main / Appetizer
- Method: Baking (in muffin tin)
- Cuisine: American Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 260 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
