Mini Meatloaf Recipe From Scratch

Name: Mini Meatloaves
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1/2 lb ground hamburger; 1/2 of a yellow onion diced finely; 1 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp ground black pepper; 1/2 cup breadcrumbs ((or all-purpose flour)); 1 Tbsp raw honey; 1 egg; 1/4 cup milk; 1/4 cup tomato paste; 1/4 cup tomato paste; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar; 2 tsp raw honey

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This mini meatloaf recipe is a wholesome take on old-fashioned meatloaf made with breadcrumbs and homemade ketchup. It’s the perfect recipe if you’re craving meatloaf on a busy weeknight!

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I don’t think there’s any meal that makes you feel more at home than meatloaf. Growing up, it was, and still is, one of my favorite comfort foods. I would even ask my mom to make it for my birthday along with mashed potatoes!

I remember many times when the time was running low, my mom would whip up mini meatloaves instead of a big one. I always loved the crunchy edges, which makes sense because the end pieces were always my favorite haha!

So that’s where I got my inspiration from, my mom! I wanted my meatloaf recipe to taste like hers, but I wanted to use my sourdough bread crumbs and homemade ketchup. It’s the perfect way to use up those bread crumbs in the freezer!

Why You’ll Love This Mini Meatloaf Recipe

Simple and easy: This recipe is simply mixing the ingredients together, forming them into little loaves, and adding on the homemade ketchup. It’s so easy!
Quick to make: Because this meatloaf is shaped into smaller loaves, it doesn’t take long to bake.
Tastes like home: Every bite will make you feel at home. It’s such a good comfort food.
Great way to use up bread crumbs: It’s an amazing way to use up leftover bread crumbs from old sourdough bread or loaves that didn’t turn out.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Meatloaf

ground hamburger: any kind of ground hamburger work, our favorite is locally sourced.
a yellow onion
sea salt
ground black pepper
breadcrumbs (or flour): homemade bread crumbs are the best.
raw honey: adds a little sweetness without being too much.
a large egg: the egg holds everything together for the meatloaf while baking.
milk: regular whole milk is the best but you can substitute for any you have on hand.
tomato paste

Sauce

tomato paste: the richness makes the perfect homemade ketchup.
sea salt
apple cider vinegar: adds a sweet acidity that you find in regular ketchup.
raw honey: naturally adds the sweetness you find in ketchup.

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

Step-By-Step How to Make Mini Meatloaves

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a meatloaf pan, or pan with a grid, with avocado oil (or olive oil or butter).

mixing mini meatloaf ingredients in a bowl

In a large mixing bowl, add all the meatloaf ingredients and mix until completely combined.

shaping mini meatloaf mixture onto a pan

Divide the mixture into three even parts and shape each one into a mini loaf with your hands or a fork on the greased pan. Set aside.

In a smaller mixing bowl, mix all sauce ingredients until evenly combined.

spreading homemade ketchup sauce on top of mini meatloaves before baking

Divide the sauce into three parts and spread it on the tops of the mini loaves.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until completely cooked.

Substitutions & Variations

Don’t want to use ground beef? You can substitute it for ground chicken or turkey if you’d prefer.

Want to use regular ketchup? No problem, just use that and skip the homemade ketchup.

Don’t have breadcrumbs? No worries; use crushed-up crackers or even flour instead.

Want 1 large meatloaf instead of minis?You can just shape this recipe into one full, large loaf.

Want multiple smaller meatloaves? Use a cupcake pan and place little balls of meatloaf into each area for small portions.

What to Serve with this Mini Meatloaf Recipe

Mashed potatoes: These are my all-time favorite side for meatloaf. They’re creamy and, oh, so comforting! I love topping them with brown gravy.
Hashbrown Casserole: This is my husband’s favorite meatloaf side. He loves how creamy and comforting the potatoes are in this recipe.
Corn Casserole: There’s something about corn casserole and meatloaf that makes you think of the holiday season.
Baked Mac and Cheese: A classic meatloaf side dish is baked mac and cheese. You really can’t go wrong with this simple-to-make side.
Dinner Rolls: I love making sourdough dinner rolls or sourdough honey dinner rolls to go with meatloaf.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits: PBH readers love making these biscuits to go along with almost anything!
Roasted Vegetables: If you want a simple side that’s wholesome and light, you could serve meatloaf with roasted veggies of your choice.

Storing Leftovers

Store cooled-down leftovers in a glass airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend eating leftover meat within 2 days for the best flavor.

Freezing Meatloaf

You can also freeze meatloaf instead of refrigerating it. This is how we store our leftovers to make sure they have the best flavor. To do this, place cooled-down meatloaf in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months.

If you’d like to shape the meatloaves then freeze them uncooked they’ll last 3-4 months in the freezer.

Reheating Instructions

To reheat, place refrigerated or frozen meatloaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet and warm in the oven at 375 degrees.

This will take about 10 minutes if refrigerated or 15-20 minutes if frozen. Heat until a desired temperature.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these mini meatloaves ahead of time?

You can make them and bake them, then store them in the freezer for up to 1 month. Or you can simply whip up this recipe the night before and refrigerate the loaves until you’re ready to cook them. This can be done up to 24 hours before cooking.

How long does meatloaf last in the fridge?

It’s best if eaten within 2-3 days.

Can I freeze meatloaf?

Yes, you can! Cooked meatloaf will last 2-3 months in the freezer.

What’s the best way to reheat meatloaf?

The best way is in the oven at 375 degrees until warm.

Can I use regular ketchup instead of the homemade kind on the recipe?

Definitely. Just use regular ketchup as the instructions say for homemade, minus making the homemade ketchup.

Can I use a different type of meat?

Yes, you can. You can use ground chicken or even ground turkey instead of ground beef.

How do I know when meatloaf is done?

Meat is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check this with a meat thermometer.

If you don’t have one of those, you can either cut one of the loaves in half and check to ensure there’s no pink meat or just observe the outsides of the meatloaves. They should be darker brown with a slightly crunchy crust.

What can I use if I don’t have bread crumbs?

If you don’t have bread crumbs, you can use crushed-up crackers or even all-purpose flour.

My Best Meatloaf Making Tips

Use Your Hands: The best way to shape meatloaf is to use your hands but if you prefer not to do this, you can use a fork to help.
Mix Completely: Ensure the ingredients are completely mixed into the ground beef. You don’t want globs of beef without any of the other ingredients.
Don’t Skimp on the Ketchup: When placing the homemade ketchup on top of the loaves, don’t skimp on it. That’s what makes it so yummy!
Use homemade bread crumbs: For the best flavor, use homemade bread crumbs instead of store-bought. You can make these with any kind of bread.

More Ground Beef Recipes To Try

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