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Mini Meatloaf

Mini meatloaf, you offer so many solutions in one little loaf. Fast cooking time, a perfect portion, and easy to make ahead to store in the freezer. We might never make a regular meatloaf again!

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homemade mini meatloafs on a serving platter being brushed with a brown sugar sauce
Photography by Gayle McLeod

A Mini Meatloaf Recipe, For You and Yours

We’re excited about this mini meatloaf recipe because it answers many of our dinnertime needs in one easy preparation. You can make this for a dinner party, a family night in, or if you’re cooking for one person you can freeze mini meatloaf leftovers (meatloaf sandwich anyone?). Mini meatloaf cooks faster, and holds moisture better than regular meatloaf. What we’re saying is that mini meatloaf is perfect in every way. If you’re looking to make a ground turkey meatloaf, we suggest you check out our Turkey Meatloaf, or this nuanced Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf. Want to mix up the flavor profile? Our Mini Italian-Style Meatloaf Sheet Pan meal is everything you want in one place!

ground beef and pork, beaten egg, breadcrumbs, milk, ketchup, brown sugar, worcestershire & spices in bowls for mini meatloaf

Meatloaf 101: Moisture, Structure, and Texture

You have all of your ingredients, and you’re ready to make these succulent mini meatloaves. But first, let’s answer some important meatloaf questions. What is the secret to moist meatloaf, and what ingredients keep meatloaf from falling apart? It’s eggs! Egg yolks add moisture and egg whites are a good binder for meatloaf and help hold everything together. They’re the magic ingredient, along with whole milk, that add moisture to meatloaf and help keep their shape. For texture we add breadcrumbs. And the overall structure of the meatloaf depends on all of these ingredients, plus the mixture of meat. We call for a blend of lean ground beef and ground pork, with a higher proportion of beef for flavor and fat, and pork adding a nice texture.

ground beef, ground pork, and breadcrumbs combined in a large mixing bowl to make mini meatloaf
eggs, milk, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder being combined in a bowl for mini meatloaf
ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, ketchup egg, milk and spices in a large mixing bowl to make mini meatloaf
ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, ketchup egg, milk and spices combined in a  mixing bowl to make mini meatloaf

How To Make Mini Meatloaf

  1. Prepare your baking surface. Grease a large rimmed baking sheet (cooking spray works, or you can use parchment paper for super easy clean up).

  2. Make the meatloaf. This part is the same as making a regular meatloaf! In a large bowl mix together the ground beef, pork and breadcrumbs.

  3. An egg mixture is used as a binder for mini meatloaves. Eggs help hold the meat together, and also keep it from drying out. To make the egg mixture, whisk the eggs together with the milk, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

  4. Add the egg mixture, and ketchup (or tomato paste works too, it just won’t be as flavorful as ketchup) to the meat and breadcrumb mixture until fully combined. Use a stand mixer for this step if you have one, or you can do like grandma did and use your hands!

  5. In a small bowl mix together the remaining 1 tablespoon ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and 1 teaspoon water until fully combined. (If freezing, go ahead and form the mini meatloaves wrap them in plastic wrap, and store in the freezer at this step.)

  6. Divide the meat into 6 pieces and create an oval about 4” by 3”. Place them on the baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush the brown sugar sauce over the tops of the meatloaves.

  7. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the internal temperature of the meatloaf registers 160°F with a meat thermometer.

ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and water in a small bowl to make brown sugar sauce for mini meatloaf
6 mini meatloaves on a baking sheet being brushed with a brown sugar sauce on top before baking
6 mini meatloaves on a baking sheet just out of the oven made with ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs and spices
a plate with mini meatloaf served with mashed potatoes and broccolini  surrounded by serving bowls of potatoes and meatloaf

What To Serve With Mini Meatloaf

The answer is potatoes, of course! Mashed potatoes rank first in our potato preferences, so we’d go for ​​Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes or Crispy Shallot Mashed Potatoes. Don’t forget to eat your veggies! It’s always a good idea to add a little vegetable to a plate of meatloaf and potatoes. Creamed Spinach is a classically good side dish for meat, or a crispy Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Orange Vinaigrette would be a fresh addition.

Tools You’ll Need

Did You Eat This Mini Meatloaf Faster Than You Thought?

We’ve got more great meaty meals, and a few potato recipes too, to make the most of your next meat and potatoes dinner. Check them out here:

a plate with mini meatloaf with brown sugar sauce served with mashed potatoes and broccolini

I Would Do Anything For Love, Including Eat This Meatloaf

Meatloaf is one of our love languages, and we’d love to see some snaps of these mini meatloaves, and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you feed them to. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!

Mini Meatloaf

  • Serves: 6
  • Prep Time:  25 min
  • Cook Time:  35 min
  • Calories: 383

Ingredients

  • 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
  • ½ pound ground pork
  • ¾ cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • ¾ cup whole milk
  • 1¼ teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, for serving
  • Broccolini, for serving

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center position. Grease a large rimmed sheet pan.

  2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ground pork, and breadcrumbs using your hands.

  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

  4. Pour the egg mixture and 3 tablespoons of ketchup into the meat mixture. Mix with hands until fully combined.

  5. In a small bowl, mix together the remaining 1 tablespoon ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and 1 teaspoon water until fully combined.

  6. Using your hands, form the meat mixture into ovals about 3 inches wide and 4 inches long and place them on the prepared sheet. You should have 6 mini loaves. Brush the brown sugar sauce over the tops of the meatloaves.

  7. Bake for 30 minutes, or the internal temperature reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer.

  8. Divide meatloaves between plates and serve with mashed potatoes and broccolini.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories383
  • Protein23 g
  • Carbohydrates13 g
  • Total Fat26 g
  • Dietary Fiber0 g
  • Cholesterol146 mg
  • sodium701 mg
  • Total Sugars8 g

Mini Meatloaf

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

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  • Ana

    Would it be better to freeze the mini loaves before or after baking? Thank you!

    Probably after. Hope you enjoy Ana!

  • Colleen Flanigan

    Can you prep these a day ahead of time, refrigerate and bake the next day?

    Sure! Hope you enjoy Colleen!

  • Cookingcutie

    These was really tasty and really easy. I skipped adding milk and only used one egg and grated half an onion for moisture, and cut the amount of breadcrumbs in half. The glaze on top was delicious and I’d make these again.

    Thanks, so glad you loved it!

  • Natasha

    These tasted amazing! Everyone (babies to adults) loved the flavour. I knocked off one star just because I followed the instructions exactly and mine came out looking vastly different than the photos. The sauce kind of melted into the loaves and did not stay red and shiny. The loaves also didn't hold their shapes very well.

    I appreciate that people love the pretty, staged pictures on food blogs, but I also think it's important to show the "real" results too.

    Glad you enjoyed these Natasha!

  • jenn

    If you're wondering if you should make this, YES! So good, the sauce really sealed the deal and my kids LOVED that they were mini! So Fun!

    Thanks Jenn, so glad you and the family enjoyed!