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!
“This has been a family favorite FOREVER and when I make it for others, they always ask for the recipe!”
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, as an adult I’ve developed somewhat of a craving for meatloaf, especially when it’s studded with cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce, and caramelized onions, like Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves!
Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves are individually portioned meatloaves studded with the aforementioned craveable ingredients, baked to sizzling, ooey-gooey cheesy perfection.
These are NOT your Mother’s meatloaves! (Sorry Mom.)
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItKids 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!
Watch How to Make Them
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
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Beef and Veggie Enchilada Skillet
- How to Cook Burgers in the Oven
- Gluten Free Lasagna
- Mini Taco Meatloaf
- Cheeseburger Quesadillas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet onion
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- salt
- 1 lb 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
- 3 oz 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.
Notes
- Serve with mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
These make incredible burgers! Just shred the cheddar instead of cube it, and top with caramelized onions on a whole wheat bun! Super yummy!! Whenever I serve these, they get rave reviews!!
I am eager to try this recipe. I like the idea of making mini meat loaf especially now that I’m cooking for two and not four people for dinnertime. I’ve never had broccoli cooked this way before and I can’t wait to try it. I really like your blog!!
Oh, those look good and so cute! I love minis! I’ll definitely try the roasted broccoli; I have a meatloaf recipe that I use already but I love the idea of the minis. The cheese looks awfully good though:) Congrats on the demo!
I was already planning to make meatloaf for dinner tonight when I saw your post! I made your recipe instead of my standard (some might say boring) one, and it was delicious. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed! :)
Kristin, I’ve been silently stalking your blog. But I saw this post and I had to tell you how beautiful your pictures are… I mean, I wish I could grab one of those mini meatloafs and eat it right now. Great post!!
Thanks, Meghan! :)
Oh man!! I am a lifelong meatloaf hater….I even tried those meatloaf cupcakes from Pinterest…thinking the cuteness would confuse me…no luck. Cheddar studded meatloaf could be the ticket.
Also, props on roasting veggies…it’s the only way to get them down sometimes!
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!