Description
These Meatloaf Muffins are a fun, individual-sized twist on classic meatloaf, packed with fresh veggies and seasoned ground beef, topped with a tangy and sweet glaze. Perfect for quick dinners or meal prep, they combine the comforting flavors of traditional meatloaf with easy-to-serve portability.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatloaf
- Nonstick cooking spray or softened butter (for greasing)
- 1/2 white onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
- 1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Glaze
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce or ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Place the onion, carrot, celery, parsley, and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. This mixes the veggies thoroughly for flavor and texture in the meatloaf.
- Mix Meatloaf Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped vegetables, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands or a spoon until just combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the meatloaf tender.
- Preheat and Prepare Muffin Tin: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray or softened butter to prevent sticking.
- Form Meatloaf Muffins: Divide the meat mixture evenly among the muffin cups, pressing down lightly to shape each muffin and fill the cups completely.
- Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce or ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and ground cumin until smooth.
- Apply the Glaze: Spoon a generous amount of glaze over each meatloaf muffin to obtain a flavorful, caramelized topping during baking.
- Bake the Muffins: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the meatloaf muffins are cooked through and the glaze is set and slightly caramelized on top.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the muffins from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes before carefully removing from the tin. Serve warm as a convenient individual portion.
Notes
- You can substitute the 90% lean ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Breadcrumbs can be replaced with gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this dish gluten-free.
- The glaze can be adjusted for sweetness or spiciness by adding hot sauce or honey.
- These muffins freeze well; cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Use a food processor to chop vegetables finely to ensure even flavor and texture throughout the meatloaf.
Keywords: meatloaf, meatloaf muffins, individual meatloaf, ground beef recipes, easy dinner, mini meatloaf