Mini Meatloaf Recipe
This mini meatloaf recipe is made with ground beef, seasoned breadcrumbs, peppers, onions, and plenty of savory seasoning. They bake in a mini loaf pan, so each one comes out as its own four-ounce serving with plenty of browned edges.
John and I could have made one regular meatloaf, but the smaller loaves are a little more fun and much easier to serve. There’s no cutting uneven slices or watching the first piece fall apart as it comes out of the pan.
We use ground sirloin for a firm, hearty texture and brush the tops with ketchup. That part is technically optional, but John grew up eating meatloaf covered in ketchup, so leaving it off never feels quite right around our house.
John’s Tip for the Best Mini Meatloaf Recipe
We baked these in an 8-cavity mini loaf pan, although this recipe only fills four of the openings. Divide the meat mixture into four portions that are as even as possible so the loaves cook at about the same rate.
Join Our Community
Join the Berly’s Kitchen Community to ask questions, share what you’re making, and trade practical tips with other home cooks. It’s completely free to you!
We usually make them with 90/10 ground sirloin. It gives the mini meatloaves a firm, hearty texture and helps them hold their shape when they come out of the pan. You can use ground beef if that’s preferred.
Divide the mixture into four portions that are as even as possible. That helps the meatloaves finish baking at about the same time instead of leaving you with one dry loaf and another that needs several more minutes.
Don’t miss our homemade meatloaf seasoning if you’d rather mix your own instead of buying a packet from the store. We like to serve these with garlic mashed potatoes or the oven roasted potatoes shown in the photos.
How to Make Mini Meatloaves in a Mini Loaf Pan
Prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F, and spray four cavities of an 8-cavity mini loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Mix the meatloaf: Add the ground sirloin, seasoned breadcrumbs, diced green pepper, onion, beaten egg, and meatloaf seasoning to a large bowl. Mix until everything is evenly combined.
Shape the loaves: Divide the mixture into four equal portions. Shape each portion into a small loaf, and place one in each prepared cavity.
Bake and add the ketchup: Bake the mini meatloaves for 30 minutes. Spread ketchup over the tops, then bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the centers reach 160°F.
Rest and serve: Let the meatloaves sit for a few minutes before lifting them from the pan and serving.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground sirloin, or ground beef (We used 90/10.)
- ½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup green bell pepper, finely diced
- ¼ cup white onion, diced
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 ½ ounces meatloaf seasoning
- ½ cup ketchup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray the cavities you’ll be using in a mini loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground sirloin, seasoned breadcrumbs, green bell pepper, onion, beaten egg, and meatloaf seasoning.1 pound ground sirloin½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs¼ cup green bell pepper¼ cup white onion1 large egg1 ½ ounces meatloaf seasoning
- Divide the mixture into four equal portions. Shape each portion into a small loaf, and place the loaves in the prepared pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, and spread the ketchup evenly over the meatloaves.½ cup ketchup
- Return the pan to the oven, and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the centers reach 160°F.
- Let the mini meatloaves rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Ketchup is optional, but it adds the classic tangy topping shown in the photos.
- You can use ground beef or ground chuck in place of ground sirloin.
- Store leftover mini meatloaves in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Seasoned breadcrumbs are breadcrumbs mixed with herbs and spices, usually Italian-style seasoning.
- If your meatloaves reach 165°F before the 30 minute mark, go ahead and add ketchup, cook for another 10 minutes or so, then remove them from the oven.
- The nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients used.
the ingredient, ” Meatloaf seasoning” is comprised of what imgediebts?, (or is it something purchased already prepared,?)
Good morning Judy, thank you for your question. The meatloaf seasoning referenced the recipe is a purchased prepared product. However, if you don’t have a packet on hand, you can make your own. For 1lb. of ground beef I use: 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp of iodized or sea salt, 1/4 tsp seasoned salt, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp paprika, and 1 tsp dried oregano. I mix the spices in small bowl to create the meatloaf seasoning. I also taste test the spice by tasting a small pinch of them. Just to be sure the mixture isn’t too bland or salty. I hope this information helps, have a lovely day 🙂