Raise your hand if you were forced to eat meatloaf as a kid (my arm is stretched into the air, waving wildly right now)!
Meatloaf is one of my Dad’s favorite meals so my Mom made it for dinner quite often when I was growing up. Unfortunately I didn’t feel the same and spent many nights planted at the kitchen table long after my brother’s had cleaned their plates, washing down nibble after nibble of cold meatloaf with warm milk and a pinched nose.
You’ve been there.
Strangely, sometime over the past year I’ve developed somewhat of a craving for meatloaf and so when the idea for Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves caused me to nearly fly off the end of the treadmill I happened to be running on at the time (why am I always thinking about food on the treadmill?) I knew I had to turn vision into reality.
Watch How to Make Them
Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves are individually portioned meatloaves studded with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese cubes, and BBQ sauce, baked to sizzling, ooey-gooey cheesy perfection.
These are NOT your Mother’s meatloaves! (Sorry Mom.)
Kids and kids at heart will not be able to resist this seriously delicious flavor combo, and what food isn’t better made in miniature form? Kids feel special getting their own mini meal and I, especially, appreciate the built in portion control.
Whatever the reason, you will adore these mini meatloaves!
How to Make This Recipe
Start by caramelizing a large sweet onion. Oh yeah! Melt butter in a large pot or skillet over medium heat then add sliced or chopped sweet onions and season with a dash of salt. Saute for 20 minutes, or until the onions are soft, golden brown, and sweet. Set them aside to cool slightly – you can do this a couple of days ahead of time.
Next add ground beef and a whisked egg to a large mixing bowl. I like using lean ground beef so the meatloaves don’t end up greasy.
Add Worcestershire sauce and BBQ sauce, plus salt and pepper.
Lastly, add gluten free panko-style bread crumbs (or regular panko bread crumbs if you don’t need to eat gluten free,) plus the cooled caramelized onions and cheddar cheese cut into 1/4″ cubes, which will stud the inside of the meatloaves like melted buried treasure.
Mix the ingredients together with your hands then form into four mini loaves and place on a foil lined, nonstick sprayed baking sheet. Spread 1 Tablespoon BBQ sauce over each loaf to keep them nice and moist in the oven then bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees.
Wooo! Look at that meltage!
Pair the mini meatloaves with a side salad, or roasted broccoli like I did, then serve them on up. I hope you love this easy, decadent, totally tasty twist on classic meatloaf – enjoy!
More Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love:
- Beef and Veggie Enchilada Skillet
- How to Cook Burgers in the Oven
- Gluten Free Lasagna
- Mini Taco Meatloaf
- Cheeseburger Quesadillas
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves
Description
Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves are flavored with melty cheddar cheese and sweet BBQ sauce. This tasty twist on classic meatloaf is a hit with my family!
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet onion
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- salt
- 1lb lean ground beef
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce, divided
- 1/4 cup gluten free panko-style bread crumbs
- pepper
- 3oz cheddar cheese, cut into 1/4" cubes
Directions
- Cut onion in half then each half into thin slices OR, chop the onion. Melt butter in a large skillet or pot over medium heat then add onions and a dash of salt. Cook, stirring every couple of minutes, until onions are golden brown and caramelized, about 20 minutes. Turn heat down if onions start to burn. Set aside to cool slightly - can be made up to several days ahead of time.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl combine ground beef, egg, Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, cheese cubes, and caramelized onions, then mix until just combined. Divide mixture into 4 equal-sized portions then form into loaves and place on a foil-lined, non-stick-sprayed baking sheet. Spread 1 Tablespoon BBQ sauce over each loaf then bake for 20 minutes, or until no longer pink in the center, and then serve.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Video
We just had the roasted broccoli for supper. It was AMAZING! Addictive – kind of like guilt free chips or something. Thank you so much! We’ll be making that over & over again.
Still don’t know if I can get over the school lunch trauma of meatloaf enough to try the meatloaf. I still have bad memories of the school’s meatloaf (and lima beans – won’t eat them to this day!). Back in our day, there was only one choice for lunch so you either ate it or went hungry.
omg I won’t eat lima beans either – my Dad loved them, so my Mom made succotash all the time too. BLARG!
Any tips for making them gluten free? I have heard using ground nuts instead of bread crumbs. Way to go on your cooking demo I lived in Des Moines a long time ago wish i still did to come watch all your amazing appearances.
You could probably use any unsweetened gluten free cereal-corn chex maybe? You are just needing something to hold it together. Just crush some of it up and use it, it should do the same thing as the panko crumbs. I use a cereal in mine, but it’s not gluten free, I use grape nuts cereal! Good luck!! :)
I was actually thinking about adding cooked quinoa into the loves. It would help hold them together, and give the loaves more protein! Not that they necessarily need it, but it’s on option!
What kind of BBQ sauce did you use for this recipe?
That was Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, which is made locally here where I live!
Sweet! I’m from Iowa (NW Iowa, that is) but get to Des Moines often. Thanks :)
Whoops! I have been corrected by the husband – it’s actually Big Daddy’s BBQ sauce that I used (I always get it mixed up with SBR, which is actually made in Chicago!)
Roasted broccoli is my fav way to eat that veggie! Tried it last year for the first time and love when it arrives in our CSA box!
Me: We are so making these soon.
Tim: (reads recipe) YES!!
Tim: But do we have to make them mini?
:)
Hahaha, well, tell him if you make them mini he can have two instead of one! :)
Ok now I have a predicament! I was making the orchard and apple turkey burgers tonight but now I feel like I MUST make these!!! I’ll just use the ground turkey I was going to use for the burgers for this!
You’re recipes are battling each other for a spot at my dinner table!
Ahh! Which one did you end up making?
The mini meatloafs! Ahh my boyfriend LOVED them, he ate two!
I make meatloaf in cupcake tins and tricked my kids into eating meat cupcakes! Will try this recipe soon!
The meatloaf looks delicious and you are hilarious!
I follow your blog everyday from Boulder, CO. I have totally renovated my “same-ol’ same-ol'” recipe routines (hubby thanks you!) and really enjoyed the food and your commentary.
Thanks IGE!
Thanks, Brandy! Glad you guys are enjoying! :)
I have never been a fan of meatloaf but you make it look so so good! And congrats on the demo! I knew you would kill it. You’re such a natural. :)
I think you read my mind – I was just searching for new, interesting and tasty recipes for ground beef and this looks awesome. Thank you!!
I also am not a meatloaf eater, thankfully my mom allowed the pickiness. However, should i go to the dark side your recipe is the first i will try!
I’m the anti-meatloaf one in our household. But, I’m willing to give this a try. The meatloaf I remember as a kid was super oat-filled and I do believe was my family’s recipe from the Depression days.
Plus…the name…kinda like kidney beans or wax beans or ladyfinger potatoes :)
Where did you get that very adorable top?
Gap! It’s super flowy and comfy. :)
I used to be the exact same way with meatloaf! I would pretend I was sick and would hide in the bathroom until dinner was over hahah now I love it!
Congrats on the demo!!!!
That meatloaf looks excellent…i bet it is super hardy too!
So I was reading the title on the picture and I thought it said something about “microwave meatloaf” and I was thinking – oh my heart, he’s microwaving beef! I may have to stop reading her blog! LOL I’m so glad that they are mini and not nuked… PHEW. I didn’t think I could really give your blog up but it sure scared me.
*she’s LOL, I know you aren’t a man
These look fantastic!! Pinned!
BTW, have you ever tossed your roasted broccoli with a little bit of sugar along with the oil, salt, and pepper? It helps it get a little more caramelized while it roasts. One of the few episodes of Americas Test Kitchen that I’ve managed to watch… :)
This meatloaf has all my favorite things! They look so good. I know my husband would not approve though — he is very anti-meatloaf, but I have a feeling it’s just a lingering childhood bias. Maybe I’ll make these in the shape of a patty and tell him they’re bun-less cheeseburgers?
Love it – go for it! ;)
My husband is the same way but it makes no sense. He loves any kind of meat, including burgers! It’s not *that* different! My theory is the same as yours. Silly husbands!
Yum, I am so excited to make these! They look fantastic! :)