Best Meatloaf Recipe Ever (Mini Meatloaf Recipe)

The Best Meatloaf Recipe – A zippy simple mini meatloaf recipe that I consider the best meatloaf recipe ever! It’s a true family favorite that makes a great freezer meal for nights when you’re too busy to cook.

The Best Meatloaf Recipe

This is actually one of the very first recipes I ever posted. It’s such a marvelous simple meatloaf recipe, and was buried so deep in my archives, I thought it deserved a facelift. So I’m republishing my best meatloaf recipe today, on behalf of all you meatloaf-lovers out there.

I used to not like meatloaf, but my husband and kids love it. So I came up with this simple meatloaf recipe, using half ground turkey (instead of pork or veal) and tons of pureed veggies.

It really lightens the meatloaf and suits my taste buds much more than heavy traditional meatloaf. I decided to make individually sized meatloaves because they cook much faster than a large loaf.

And they’re cute.

Meatloaf is a marvelous make ahead meal. I’m a big proponent of doubling or tripling recipes when you cook, and freezing the extras for later meals.

We all have those days when we either run out of time to cook, or just don’t have the energy at the end of the day.

Can You Freeze Meatloaf?

As mentioned above, yes! Meatloaf keeps its sumptuous texture after freezing and thawing so it is perfect for make-ahead meal prep.

Plus, storing meals allows you to have a homemade meal with essentially no work, on the day you need it.

It is also a money-saver, because you can buy meat and other ingredients in the economy size. You spend a little more up front, but save in the long run.

Sometimes when you wrap food to put it in the freezer, the aesthetic value is lost.

Food often doesn’t come out of the freezer looking like it did the day you put it in. Freezer bags get mashed up in the freezer and the items inside don’t come apart without looking horrid!

I discovered that if I flash freeze the items FIRST, then wrap them; they look a lot better the day I want to thaw and cook them.

Flash freezing works great for individually portioned meats like mini meatloaves, garlic-cheese breads, cookies and cupcakes, homemade pizza, and appetizers.

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What Ingredients You Will Need

For The Best Meatloaf Recipe Ever:

• Seasoned Bread Crumbs
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cayenne
• Caraway Seeds
• Dried Thyme – or fresh would work as well
• Onion
• Carrot
• Celery Stalk 
• Red Bell Pepper 
• Garlic Cloves
• Ground Turkey
• Ground Beef Chuck
• Egg
• Milk
• Worcestershire Sauce

For The Glaze:

• Chili Sauce (Not the Asian variety, but the kind that is like spicy ketchup.)
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Honey
• Cumin

How To Make These Mini Meatloaf Recipes

1. Preheat the oven to 360 degrees F. Place all the veggies and garlic in the food processor and pulse until it’s the consistency of applesauce.
2. Place the veggie pulp in the bowl with the bread crumbs, herbs and spices, ground meats, egg, milk and Worcestershire.
3. Toss together, then mix thoroughly by hand, but don’t squeeze the mixture too much!
4. Separate the mixture into 8 equal portions—I like to do this by cutting the mixture in the bowl. This ensures consistency in size. Shape each portion into a loaf, and place them on a rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Mix all the ingredients for the glaze in a small bowl.
6. Brush the loaves with glaze, leaving extra on the top. Place in the oven and bake until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F—approximately 30 minutes.
7. Tint with foil and let rest 5 minutes out of the oven before serving. *For one large classic meatloaf, shape all the mixture into a loaf measuring 10x5x4 inches. Bake approximately 1 1/2 hours to 160 degrees F.

Get the Complete (Printable) Best Meatloaf  Recipe Ever (Mini Meatloaf Recipe) Below. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions 

How Long Do Leftovers Last?

You can store these cooked leftovers in an airtight container for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge. 

How Do I Prepare The Frozen Loaves I Made?

You can bake these mini meatloaves from frozen, or once thawed, raw, or precooked. If you bake them frozen, they’ll take 45 to 60 minutes to cook in the oven. If they are raw and thawed, cook as directed in the recipe. If reheating cooked thawed meatloaves, place them in the oven for about 10-15 minutes.

Can I Make This Recipe Dairy Free/Grain Free?

To make this healthy meatloaf recipe dairy-free or grain-free, simply remove the breadcrumbs and milk. Use gluten free and/or dairy free replacements.

Other Great Home Cooking Meals

• Balsamic Oven Baked Steak Recipe (Sheet Pan Dinner)
• Baked Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Chicken Recipe
• Smoked Pork Loin (+ Tenderloin) Recipe
• Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers without Rice Recipe (Keto and Low Carb) 
• Malfatti (Gnudi) Ricotta Dumplings Recipe
• Steak Diane (Cheesecake Factory Copycat) Recipe
• Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto Recipe 
• Jamaican Oxtail Stew Recipe
• Roman Chicken with Peppers and Onions Recipe
• Best Strawberry Pretzel Salad (Jello Dessert Recipe)

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