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.
Made these tonight…so amazing!! Thanks for being such an inspiration!
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!)
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!!
These look great, Kristin! I never had meatloaf as a kid because it was one of the first dishes my Mom made my Dad after they were first married, and it turned out like a brick. I think that scared her away! Anyway, your version looks great!
Congrats on the cooking demo—I know you were a pro. I’ll be there with bells on (as they say) at your next one! :)