Mini Meatloaf
I love GOOD meatloaf. The challenge is that most meatloaves I’ve had or attempted to make ended up slightly burned on the edges and dry in the center. But I kept hunting for and trying different recipes. In 2017, I found several really tasty and easy recipes from People Magazine. When I saw a meatloaf recipe from Miranda Lambert’s mom, Bev, I was excited to try it. The only change I made was making individual mini meatloaves. THIS was the recipe I was searching for, and it has been a family favorite since. I found Bev’s Meatloaf recipe published again on the People website on May 23, 2023.
Recipe Steps
The original recipe calls for two pounds of ground beef. I usually purchase organic grass-fed beef in one-pound packages, so I don’t always have two pounds on hand. Instead, I make the mini meatloaf recipe with equal parts lean ground beef and ground pork. I also include all of the green pepper and onion.
Saltine crackers are something that always seem to be in our cupboard, so it’s easy to make this recipe. What makes this dish so delicious is the brown sugar and ketchup sauce brushed on towards the end of cooking, which then caramelizes. It adds a hint of sweetness and tang to the dish.
Individual Mini Meatloaves
Ingredients
Meatloaf Ingredients
- 1 lb. Lean Ground Beef The original recipe called for 2 lbs. but I often don't have that much on hand.
- 1 lb. Ground Pork
- 2 Large Eggs lightly beaten
- 18 Saltine Crackers, crushed 1 sleeve
- ½ Green Pepper finely diced
- ½ Yellow Onion finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp. Yellow Mustard
- ¼ C Brown Sugar firmly packed
Sauce
- ¼ C Brown Sugar firmly packed
- ½ C Ketchup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Clean and chop the green pepper and onion.
- Use a small food processor (or your hands) to crush the saltine crackers into a fine crumb.
- Combine the ingredients for the meatloaf in a medium bowl until just blended.
- Divide the meat mixture into 7 or 8 balls and shape into small oval footballs. Put on a wire rack placed in a baking pan, with sides to catch the drippings, or place them directly on the baking pan.
- While the meatloaves are cooking, mix the brown sugar and ketchup to make the sauce and set aside.
- Bake the mini meatloaves for 40 minutes then pull out of the oven and brush the sauc meatloaves with the sauce and place back in the oven.
- Continue baking another 5-8 minutes or until the meatloaves reach 165℉ internal temperature. They are best served with mashed potatoes and a vegetable or salad.
Nutrition
Victoria Cook
Victoria is a passionate home cook who became the host and chef of over 100 episodes of a private cooking show tailored for wellness practitioners and their patients. With a love for ethnic cuisines, she enjoys using a variety of spices and fresh ingredients to create flavorful, healthy meals for her husband and son. Always up for a culinary challenge, Victoria finds joy in experimenting with new recipes—and if she can whip them up in an electric pressure cooker, she’s even happier.