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Easy Mini Meatloaves with Cheese and BBQ Sauce – made with ground beef and cheddar, then topped with BBQ sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes!
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Pin It NowMini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves – A Quick and Easy Dinner Idea!
Looking for a quick and easy dinner idea that’s ready in under 30 minutes? This recipe for Mini Meatloaves fits the bill! While our Easy Meatloaf has been a reader favorite for years, it takes about 60 minutes to cook in the oven and sometimes it is helpful to have a recipe that cooks quicker yet offers similar flavors. That’s where this recipe for Mini Meatloaf comes in. By forming the meat into smaller, individual meatloaves, the baking time is significantly reduced and you’re able to have dinner on the table much quicker.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Fast and easy – ready in about 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Kid friendly – cheddar cheese and BBQ sauce — need I say more?
- Portion controlled – mini meatloaves make serving so simple.
- Customizable – use your favorite BBQ rub and sauce or whatever cheese you have on hand.
Life is short. Eat good food!
❤️ Ashley
ingredients you’ll need
- Ground Beef – for this recipe, you will need about 16 ounces of ground beef. Alternatively, you could also use ground turkey.
- Panko Breadcrumbs – this recipe calls for panko bread crumbs, but if you have traditional bread crumbs on hand, those will work as well. If you haven’t cooked with panko bread crumbs before, they are a Japanese-style lighter and crispier bread crumb.
- Shredded Cheddar – We like to shred our own cheddar cheese – it melts better and tastes better, but feel free to use pre-shredded cheese from the grocery store. You can use whatever cheese you enjoy. Sharp cheddar works well in this recipe.
- Milk – 1% or 2% is what we have used. We have not tested this recipe with almond milk or oat milk
- BBQ Rub of Choice – have you tried our Dry Rub For Ribs Chicken and More?
- BBQ Sauce of Choice – whatever store brand you enjoy or our Homemade Barbecue Sauce
mini meatloaf step-by-step instructions
Making mini meatloaf in the oven is quick and easy. Here’s how:
- Mix the meat mixture – combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, cheddar cheese and BBQ rub
- Shape into loaves – divide meat mixture evenly into three, then shape into loaves
- Bake – these bake quickly compared to traditional meatloaf!
- Glaze with BBQ sauce – or ketchup if that’s your thing!
- Rest and serve – the internal temperature should be about 160 degrees F.
serving easy mini meatloaves
These mini meatloaves pair perfectly with:
- Mashed Potatoes (or cheesy mashed potatoes)
- Baked Potatoes
- Roasted Broccoli or Asparagus
- Mac and Cheese
- Garden salad
- Green Beans
Storage and reheating tips
- Refrigerator: store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating in the oven or microwave.
Yes, assemble the mini meatloaves, cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake them. Add a few extra minutes of bake time if baking them straight from the fridge.
Yes, ground turkey works great. Just be sure that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
I hope that you enjoy this recipe for Easy Mini Meatloaves with cheese and BBQ sauce as much as we do! It’s a quick and easy recipe that works for any night of the week. Enjoy!
Easy Mini Meatloaves
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ground beef or ground turkey
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 ounces milk
- 2 tablespoons BBQ rub your favorite blend
- BBQ sauce of choice for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 16 ounces ground beef (or turkey), 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 4 ounces milk, and 2 tablespoons BBQ rub. Mix gently until just combined.
- Divide the mixture into three equal portions and shape each into a loaf.
- Place loaves on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20–22 minutes.
- Remove from oven and brush each loaf generously with BBQ sauce. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 4–5 minutes.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Internal temperature should reach 160°F for beef or 165°F for turkey.
