Five-Way Mini Meatloaves

Even though these Ground Beef meatloaves might be mini, they are chock-full of flavor and nutrients. Try a classic mini meatloaf, or one of four new varieties.

Cook Mode

Ingredients:

Base Meatloaf Recipe:
  • 1-1/2 pounds Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner)
  • 1/3 cup saltine, butter cracker crumbs or Panko bread crumbs
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1/3 cup reduced-fat 2% milk
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Toppings:
  • Ketchup or barbecue sauce and shredded Cheddar cheese

Cooking:

  1. Heat oven to 350°F. Combine all ingredients in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
  2. Cook's Tip: To make cracker crumbs, place crackers in food-safe plastic bag; close bag securely, squeezing out air. Crush crackers with rolling pin to form fine crumbs.
  3. Shape beef mixture into 12 equal portions. Place into 12-cup standard muffin pan, lightly patting beef mixture to level top. Bake in 350°F oven 19 to 20 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
  4. Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.
  5. Remove from oven. Garnish with Toppings, as desired. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. 

    Recipe Variations:

    Italian Mini Meatloaves: Add 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms, 1/2 cup pasta sauce and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil to base meatloaf ingredients. Bake 22 to 24 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F. Evenly top with shredded Parmesan cheese. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serve with additional pasta sauce and garnish with additional chopped basil, as desired.

    Greek Mini Meatloaves: Add 3 tablespoons chopped Kalamata olives and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano to base meatloaf ingredients. Bake 22 to 24 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F. Evenly top with crumbled feta cheese. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serve with prepared tzatiki sauce. Garnish with sliced cucumber, as desired.

    Asian Mini Meatloaves: Add 1/4 cup chopped green onions and 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger to base meatloaf ingredients. Bake 22 to 24 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F. Evenly top with hoisin sauce or teriyaki glaze. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped peanuts, sliced green onions or chopped cilantro, as desired.

    Spanish Mini Meatloaves: Add 1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper, 1/4 cup chopped Spanish olives and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika to base meatloaf ingredients. Bake 22 to 24 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F. Evenly top with shredded manchego cheese. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with sliced Spanish olives, as desired.

Nutrition Information

The Essential Ingredients

Safe Handling Tips

FAQs

Beef Checkoff

Bourbon Blueberry & Brie Bacon Cheeseburger

Brian Capps of Louisville, KY, has been crowned the 2021 Derby Burger Champion in the 10th Annual Derby Burger Challenge. Capps’ burger, made with 100% Kentucky Cattlemen’s ground beef is packed with flavor. The patty is topped with brie, thick-cut bacon, a blueberry bourbon sauce and arugula - all on a brioche bun.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef
  • 4 Slices Bacon, thick sliced
  • 1/4 inch Sliced Brie Cheese, rind removed
  • 1 pint Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 Lemon, halved
  • 1/8 cup White Sugar
  • 2 tsp. Cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Bourbon
  • 2 Brioche Buns
  • 2 Tbsp. Salted Butter
  • Arugula 
  • ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
  • ¼ tsp. Black Pepper

Recipe

1. Form Two Patties and Set Aside.

2. Preheat your skillet over medium high heat. Add butter, and sliced buns. Cook until golden brown, set aside.

3. Salt and pepper both sides of the burger patty, cook over medium high heat. Cook until internal temperature of 160°F (USDA recommended), add cheese before taking off heat until melted.

4. Add blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice into a small pot. Cook on medium to low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Slowly add your slurry mixture to thicken blueberry sauce. Remove mixture from heat and stir in your bourbon.

5. Build your burger. Place your burger patty with melted cheese, cooked bacon, blueberry sauce on the bottom bun. Top the burger with arugula and add the top bun.

6. Enjoy!

Find more delicious recipes and other ways to be involved in the Derby Burger Challenge HERE!