Cheesy Meatloaf Muffins: A Comforting Mini Meatloaf Recipe with a Melty Cheese Center

Cheesy Meatloaf Muffins are a fun, flavorful twist on classic homemade meatloaf. Instead of baking one large loaf, the seasoned meat mixture is divided into a muffin tin and baked into individual portions. Each mini meatloaf cooks faster, has delicious browned edges, and can be filled or topped with cheese for a rich, comforting bite.

This recipe is perfect for family dinners, lunch boxes, meal prep, potlucks, or weeknight meals. The muffins are juicy on the inside, lightly crisp around the edges, and finished with melted cheese and a savory glaze. They look cute, taste hearty, and are much easier to serve than traditional meatloaf.

Why Cheesy Meatloaf Muffins Are So Good

Traditional meatloaf is comforting, but it can take a long time to bake. Meatloaf muffins solve that problem because smaller portions cook more quickly and evenly. They also give every serving more browned edges, which means more flavor.

The cheese makes them even better. You can mix shredded cheese into the meat, place a cube of cheese in the center, or sprinkle cheese on top near the end of baking. The result is a juicy mini meatloaf with a creamy, cheesy finish.

Ingredients

For the Meatloaf Muffins

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or dried parsley
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, optional

For the Cheese Center

• 6 to 8 small cubes of cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack cheese

For the Glaze

• ½ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon paprika

For Garnish

• Chopped parsley
• Extra shredded cheese
• Green onions, optional

Step 1: Prepare the Muffin Tin

Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C.

Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or oil. This helps the meatloaf muffins release easily after baking.

You can also use silicone muffin cups if you want easier cleanup. Avoid paper cupcake liners because the meat juices can make them soggy.

Step 2: Prepare the Breadcrumb Mixture

In a large mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk.

Let the mixture sit for about 3 to 5 minutes. This creates a soft binder that helps keep the meatloaf muffins moist.

This step is important because dry breadcrumbs alone can make the meatloaf firm. Soaking them first gives the muffins a softer, juicier texture.

Step 3: Add the Seasonings

To the soaked breadcrumb mixture, add the egg, chopped onion, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, mustard, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.

Mix everything together until well combined.

Combining the seasonings before adding the meat helps distribute the flavor evenly throughout the muffins.

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