This mini meatloaf recipe is the perfect dish for a delicious, unexpected dinner or a creative appetizer. A classic BBQ meatloaf mix is cooked in a mini loaf tin until perfectly done and so juicy. Then, I top the meatloaves with mashed potatoes, or serve the mashed potatoes alongside, for a delicious, bite-sized meal or a hearty, comfort food appetizer.
Meatloaf is a classic dinner, but if you ask anyone, they’ll tell you it’s been done to death. I guess that’s the danger of a classic. I love meatloaf, but I try to switch things up with my flavors to keep it from getting stale. And, I make all kinds of variations to keep one of my favorite dinners exciting, like BBQ meatloaf, meatloaf paninis, and spicy meatloaf.
Now, I’ve added another creative take on meatloaf to my rotation. My mini meatloaf recipe shrinks down an easy BBQ meatloaf mix into bite-sized loaves and then tops them with mashed potatoes. It’s comfort food in every bite, and it’s a great recipe for both a dinner or an appetizer.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This is a simple, rustic meatloaf recipe, and the ingredients are just as simple. You’ll find them in any grocery store.
- Easy: This recipe is as easy as mixing the ingredients and baking them.
- Classic Flavor: These mini meatloaves are dinner in every bite, with the classic flavors of meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
- Versatile: Serve these as a fun dinner or an appetizer filled with down-home flavor.
- Freezer-Friendly: This is a freezer-friendly recipe, so it’s great for meal prep.
Key Ingredients
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact measurements.
- Ground Beef and Turkey: A mix of ground beef and turkey makes meatloaves that are tender and juicy without being greasy.
- Eggs: Eggs and moisture and fat to help bind the meatloaf ingredients together.
- Stove Top Stuffing: Crushed Stove Top Stuffing mix is a more flavorful binder than breadcrumbs.
- Sauce: A mix of ketchup, BBQ sauce, and Worcestershire sauce adds moisture and flavor to the meatloaves.
- Seasonings: A blend of Cajun seasoning, garlic, onion powder, and smoked paprika adds a punch of bold flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds sweetness that works well with the sauce and seasonings in the meatloaf.
- Russet Potatoes: Russet potatoes give the mashed potatoes the perfect fluffy texture.
- Evaporated Milk: Evaporated milk add richness without thinning the potatoes.
- Cream Cheese and Butter: Cream cheese and butter add richness, tons of flavor, and a touch of tang to the potatoes.
Flavor Variations
- Ground Meat: You can use ground turkey or ground beef exclusively, a mix of ground beef and pork, ground buffalo, ground beefalo, or even ground chorizo.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite BBQ sauce. Each flavor adds a slightly different taste to the meatloaves.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne to the mixture or mix in diced jalapenos for a kick of heat.
How to Make Mini Meatloaves
1: Mix all the ingredients except the brown sugar. Then, shape the mixture into balls that will fit into a mini loaf pan.
2: Pack the brown sugar into the bottom of each open space in the pan. Then, place the meatloaves on top of the brown sugar.
3: Combine the topping ingredients in a small bowl. Then, spread the mixture over the mini meatloaves.
4: Bake the meatloaves at 375 for 25 to 30 minutes or until the meatloaves reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
5: Boil the potatoes in a medium saucepan until soft. Then, drain the potatoes and return them to the pan.
6: Add the remaining ingredients and mash the potatoes until they reach your desired creaminess. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy!
Hint
I like to use a mix of ground beef and turkey to limit the amount of grease since these loaves are baked in mini loaf pans.
Storage
Refrigerate leftover loaves for up to 3 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, chill the meatloaves and wrap them in plastic wrap. Then, freeze them for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
Pairing Suggestions
Serve these little meatloaves at parties alongside other savory appetizers like shrimp poppers, Texas Twinkies, or sausage stuffed mushrooms.
If you’re serving these for dinner, finish off the meal with a sweet, fruity dessert like lemon cheesecake bars, a strawberry cream cheese crescent ring, or apple pie cookie bites.
Tips
- It’s easiest to mix the meatloaf with your hands.
- Mix the meatloaf ingredients until just combined. Overworking the meat will make it dry.
- Bring your cream cheese to room temperature so it mixes easily and completely into the mashed potatoes.
- Boil the potatoes until fork-tender. Boiling them longer makes their texture mushy.
Frequently Asked Questions
These mini meatloaves are cooked in a mini loaf tin, so there’s nowhere for any grease to go. Using a blend of ground beef and ground turkey helps limit the grease.
You sure can. The only difference between these mini meatloaves and a regular meatloaf is the pan. You can use a traditional loaf pan to make a full-sized meatloaf.
Lumpy mashed potatoes are usually the result of not cooking the potatoes long enough. The less cooked parts of the potatoes won’t break down as the potatoes are beaten, creating lumpy mashed potatoes.
Try This Mini Meatloaf Recipe
This mini meatloaf recipe is as delicious and fun as it is easy. These little loaves are loaded with classic meatloaf flavor and topped with mashed potatoes, making them a fun twist on classic meatloaf dinner. They’re so small that they can also be served as an unexpected appetizer, as well. However you choose to serve them, the result is the same. Everyone absolutely loves them!
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Mini Meatloaf Recipe
Ingredients
Meatloaf
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup crushed stove top stuffing dry mix
- 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 3 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
Topping
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
Mashed Potatoes
- 6 potatoes peeled, cubed
- ¼ cup stick of butter
- ¾ cup evaporated milk
- 4 ounce cream cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Meatloaf
- In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except the brown sugar and the topping ingredients.
- Shape into a good size ball that will fit into a mini loaf pan.
- Pack brown sugar in the bottom of each open space in the pan.
- Place the meatloaf loaves on top of the brown sugar.
Topping
- In a small bowl, stir barbecue sauce and ketchup together. Spread over the top of the meatloaf.
- Cover and tent aluminum foil over the meatloaf.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until internal temperature is 165.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before drizzling with pan drippings for added flavor.
Mashed Potatoes
- In a medium saucepan, add potatoes, cover with water.
- Cook potatoes until soft.
- Drain water and put potatoes back in the pan.
- Add butter, evaporated milk, and cream cheese.
- Mash potatoes to desired creaminess.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Top each mini meatloaf with mashed potatoes or serve alongside.
Notes
Tips
- It’s easiest to mix the meatloaf with your hands.
- Mix the meatloaf ingredients until just combined. Overworking the meat will make it dry.
- Bring your cream cheese to room temperature so it mixes easily and completely into the mashed potatoes.
- Boil the potatoes until fork-tender. Boiling them longer makes their texture mushy.
Nutrition
This recipe turned out so delicious! It was easy to prepare and the family loved it…I can’t wait to make it again…YUM!!!
Fabulous individual servings! I love mini meatloaves…this is also great for meal prepping!
I tried these and love how juicy and flavorful they turn out in mini form. Topping them with mashed potatoes makes them feel like the ultimate comfort food in every bite.
I loved that these cooked so much faster than a full loaf. They stayed perfectly juicy, and the individual portions were a big hit with the kids.
Tasty. The meatloaf was awesome, but it was the potatoes that really got me. Wow.
That’s so much fun! I love the classic flavor, and I really love the idea of everyone getting their very own.