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
[…] recent and amazing, these mini bbq cheddar meatloaves from IowaGirlEats. So fantastic I actually have no words. Amazing fresh, delicious leftovers […]
This was unbelievable! Thanks so much!
Made these tonight. de.li.ci.os.o. You are so inspiring!
Made these tonight…YUM! I made 2 without onions since the boyfriend isn’t a huge fan of them. So delicious and I love any kind of roasted veggie. The house smelled amazing while it was baking. :) Thanks for a delicious, no fuss recipe.
[…] – these mini bbq cheddar meatloaves from Iowa Girl Eats are to DIE FOR. They were the perfect portion size for a person and the […]
I made both recipes on Friday…yum! Quick, easy and very good.
Made these tonight…so amazing!! Thanks for being such an inspiration!
[…] doesn’t have either of those accounts. For dinner tonight I’m borrowing a recipe from Iowagirleats and making Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaf. It looks delicious on her site! I’m going to try making […]
Made these for dinner tonight! SO delish and none leftover! So flavorful and nice change up from traditional style meatloaf!! Incredible!
Just made this meatloaf and it is AMAZING! I love it and my boyfriend will love it even more! Thank you for this wonderful recipe and the broccoli is great. :) I will make this again and again.
We made these last night as well – they were delicious! Both my hubby and I could not get enough. This recipe will definitely make it’s way into our dinner rotation :) Also, we’re making your crockpot egg casserole this weekend – my brother is getting married Saturday, so this easy breakfast can be cooking as we’re all running around and getting ready. Can’t wait to try it!
I made these last night and they were AMAZING! Followed your recipe to a “t” and they were perfect. I needed some comfort food and this did the trick. (And so easy too!) Adding to the rotation – thanks for another great one! (my husband always asks “where did you find this recipe” and i have to give props to IGE!)
[…] most creative meal happened last night, when I made Kristin’s Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves, aka the definition of delicious (I may have eaten like 1/2 pound of ground beef for dinner…I’m […]
Can’t wait to make these this weekend! My hiubby and 3 boys will devour! We love broccoli too, but we usually bbq or roast the broccoli with olive oil minced garlic, S & P and lots of Sirachi! it is amazing and so addicting! My little ones won’t do the spicy broccoli but I just roast without the sirachi for them. LOVE your blog and am slowly working off a very big list of MUST trys. Your green Monster Smoothie is an everyday treat for me and loved your post about your trip to Napa and your fun visit to Peju. I work there in the events dept. Loved reading about your trip. Was just in Napa with 9 girlfriends this past weekend. Cheers!
OK, who made these last night? This girl did! :)
From first glance at the pictures yesterday i wanted to make them immediately. They turned out amazing. My BF was super happy with them and demanded that the recipe get filed immediately for future use. Thanks so much for a quick and easy dinner idea :0
u make me hungry!
What did you make at your first ever cooking class? I was cheering when I saw that! What did you use to cook with? I saw the little burners – was that those special ones that only heat up against metal?
Cool Beans!
I made Butternut Squash Gnocchi with 2 difference sauces – probably should have stuck with one, as it was pretty stressful! It was a weird stove top – I did not love the layout of the burners!
I’m lovin’ that cheese just oozing out! I never minded meatloaf, but it never got me excited either! Yours would get a kid excited…
okay, i have to ask how you get your meatloaf to stay together so well?! every time i make mine, even in the pan, it falls apart until it’s been refrigerated for a night…it does not feel good to fail at meatloaf.
The combo of egg and bread crumbs in here holds it together really nicely. :)
I made these last night with venison!! Oh.my.word!! Thank you for an awesome recipe. I was a superstar last night!!!
My husband and I have a major meatloaf dilemma. He LOVES meatloaf, but my fondness is much less favorable. We have tried numerous recipes in an attempt to bring me over to Team Meatloaf—unfortunately all attempts have been unsuccessful thus far.
We tried these BBQ meatloaves for dinner this evening and I think we found a recipe that we can both enjoy. My husband really appreciates the thought of meatloaf making it into the dinner rotation. Thank you!!