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.
I made this last night and it was SO good. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi There–
Just wondering if you or if anyone has tried making these with ground turkey or chicken. Making these for a few new mama meals this week and want to keep things a little on the lighter side : )
Thanks!
I have a Mini Mediterranean Turkey Meatloaf recipe that is great (https://iowagirleats.com/2013/01/08/mini-mediterranean-turkey-meatloaves/) so I’m sure it’d be fine in these too!
I just wanted to say thank you so much for this recipe! It has become one of my husband’s and my favorite meals! We could eat it weekly! I was never a hug fan of meatloaf either until I found this! Thank you!
best meatloaf I ever tasted!! I tell everyone :) thank you!!
This recipe was fabulous and easy, I doubled the recipe and used one pound beef and one pound ground Buffalo. Everyone, even my super picky 6 year old, loved it!
These were amazing! Made them on Friday evening and my husband devoured it!
I FINALLY tried your recipe last night. I have had them bookmarked forever. The BBQ meatloaves turned out fantastic. Great flavor combination! My family really enjoyed them. We will be making these again. Thanks for a great recipe!
Thanks for reminding me of these!! Made them a lot last winter, one of my sons favorites. On the grocery list ;)
Can you make just one regular size meatloaf with this recipe? Would it change the cooking time?
Sure! I’d bake at 375 for maybe 30-45 minutes. I’m not sure exactly how long as I’ve never tried!
made these last night. I also put 1/2 pepperjack in them as well as some crumbled bacon. My picky eaters ate EVERY bite from their plates. Thank you for the deliciousness.
Omg… I just made this and it was so good!!! Oh by the way, I’ve never left a comment before on any recipe I’ve ever made via Pinterest finds. My four year old gobbled up a whole mini loaf and asked for more (which I refused because seriously her eyes were bigger than her stomach in this situation, lol). I’ve never been a fan of meat loaf but this recipe has won me over. I used shredded cheese rather than cubed (goof on my part when making my grocery list) but other than that, I followed the recipe to a “T”. The onions and BBQ sauce (I used Kroger brand honey BBQ) are what take these loaves over the edge… Awesome recipe, thanks!!!
I forgot to baste the loaves with barbecue sauce, and they were still absolutely freakin’ amazing. This is a keeper for sure.
Yum! So, so good!!! We made this with thyme mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. My husband commented that it was better than what you’d get in a restaurant. This is definitely going into our family favorites! Thanks for all the great recipes and beautiful photos. And congrats on the new little one. :)