Description
Hearty mini meatloaf combines ground beef, herbs, and savory seasonings for a comforting meal. Baked in individual portions, these flavorful loaves offer a delightful twist on classic comfort cooking you’ll surely enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground beef (or a mix of beef & pork/turkey)
- ½ cup (120 ml) breadcrumbs (or oat flour for gluten-free)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk (or non-dairy alternative)
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup finely diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp mustard (yellow or Dijon)
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, eggs, minced onions, and garlic, creating a harmonious blend with consistent texture.
- Seasoning Integration: Gently fold in Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, herbs, salt, and black pepper, ensuring even distribution without overworking the protein mixture.
- Portioning and Shaping: Divide the meat mixture into uniform portions using an ice cream scoop, delicately placing each into a prepared muffin tin and creating a subtle indentation on top to promote even cooking.
- Glazing and Baking: Brush the mini meatloaves with additional ketchup or glaze, then bake in a preheated oven at 375°F until the internal temperature reaches 160°F, approximately 20-25 minutes.
- Resting and Serving: Allow the mini meatloaves to rest for 5 minutes, enabling juice redistribution, then transfer to a serving platter and garnish with fresh herbs for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Prevent Tough Texture: Mix meat ingredients gently to avoid compacting, which can lead to dense, hard meatloaves.
- Customize Protein Options: Swap ground beef with turkey, chicken, or plant-based alternatives for dietary preferences or health considerations.
- Moisture Preservation Technique: Create a small indent on top of each mini meatloaf to prevent uneven rising and maintain consistent moisture during baking.
- Flavor Enhancement Hack: Experiment with additional herbs like thyme, rosemary, or parsley to elevate the overall taste profile and introduce subtle aromatic complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg