Description
Craving comfort food in a fun, bite-sized form? These Cheesy Stuffed Meatloaf Bites are everything you love about classic meatloaf — tender, juicy, cheesy, and glazed — all packed into a muffin tin. Perfect as a quick dinner, a kid-friendly lunchbox treat, or an easy appetizer, they’re ready in under an hour and loaded with flavor. Whether you're after easy dinner ideas, meal prep inspiration, or just fun food ideas that are simple and satisfying, these little meatloaf cups are a must-try.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs ground beef
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
0.5 cup milk
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
0.5 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped parsley or chives for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
2. In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and paprika until just combined.
3. Divide the mixture into 12 portions and press each into a muffin cup.
4. Create a small well in each and insert a cheese cube. Seal the top with more meat mixture.
5. Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl to make the glaze.
6. Spoon glaze over the top of each meatloaf bite and spread evenly.
7. Bake for 22–25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
8. Top with shredded cheddar and broil for 1–2 minutes until bubbly.
9. Let rest for 5 minutes, then remove from tin.
10. Garnish with parsley or chives and serve warm.
Notes
Use block cheese instead of pre-shredded for a smoother, gooier melt inside.
Let the bites rest for 5 minutes before removing to keep the cheese from spilling out.
This recipe freezes well — store cooked bites in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 meatloaf bite
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: easy dinner, cheesy meatloaf, stuffed meatloaf, muffin tin meatloaf, quick dinner, family recipe, comfort food