Italian Meatloaf Muffins
Italian Meatloaf Muffins are mini versions of a classic meatloaf recipe, in fun individual portions. You’ll love the gooey mozzarella cheese centers! Not to mention how easy it is to make meatloaf in a muffin tin!
My Family Loves These Italian Meatloaf Muffins!
Every now and then, I have the most unbelievable craving for meatloaf. Please tell me that you do, too!
These Italian Meatloaf Muffins with cheese are definitely crave-worthy. My family can attest to that. Maybe it’s the Italian flavor riff, or quite possibly it’s about the gooey mozzarella centers. Whatever their reason, this meal always disappears in a flash.
Muffin Tin Meatloaves Are Perfect For Valentine’s Day
If you’re looking for a great Valentine’s Day meal to serve your family, your honey, or a special friend, this meatloaf muffin recipe would be perfect. I also highly recommend my Lasagna Soup – everybody loves it! And then cap off the meal with a fun dessert – might I suggest Heart Shaped Brownies with Fresh Raspberry Buttercream? Or perhaps Gooey Chocolate Mug Cake (super quick and easy!) or Nutella Cheesecake Brownie Bites?
How To Make Meatloaf Muffins
I have a few pieces of criteria that are important to me when it comes to meatloaf:
- I want plenty of meat texture. No mushy, unstable, wobbly meatloaf allowed on my table!
- I like the fresh onion to be sauteed prior to adding it to the rest of the meatloaf ingredients, so it “melts” into the finished meatloaf. No crunchy, under-cooked pieces of onion for me, thankyouverymuch.
- And finally, I need flavor. I do not like a bland meatloaf that requires me to get out a bottle of ketchup.
With this recipe, I start out with a base of ground beef and mild Italian sausage, which gives great texture and flavor. Then I add sauteed onion and garlic, assuring mellowed-out flavors and no crunchy onion pieces.
I include just the right amount of Italian seasoned bread crumbs to soften the texture just a bit, without making it mushy.
And I finish off the muffin tin meatloaf with an egg (to bind everything together), marinara sauce, grated Parmesan, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, fresh Italian parsley, salt, and pepper.
What Is The Best Way To Mix Meatloaf?
Many people don’t like to touch raw ground meat, I am well aware. But I still think the best way to incorporate all the meatloaf ingredients is to use your hands.
How To Make Meatloaf In A Muffin Tin
Then comes the fun part: Creating individual servings of meatloaf in a muffin tin.
Press half the meatloaf mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup. Then top each portion with a cube of mozzarella. When that cheese gets baked inside, it gets all soft and gooey and crazy fun!
Top each portion with the remaining meatloaf mixture, followed by a spoonful of marinara.
I like to use an extra flavorful marinara – the spicy Arrabiata Sauce from Trader Joe’s is a favorite.
The Cheesy Insides Are My Favorite Part Of These Mini Meatloaves
I love it when the cheese oozes out from the centers partway through the baking time. It just can’t contain itself!
This was not my original intention for this recipe, to have the cheese bust out from the belly of the meatloaf muffins. And at first I was disappointed, feeling that my plan had failed.
But then, as they baked longer and I watched the mozzarella bubble and turn golden at the edges of the pan, I knew that this was a fortuitous event.
These easy meatloaf muffins with a cheesy Italian twist work great for a weeknight meal, and are wonderful enough for a special occasion.
What Sides Go With This Meatloaf Recipe?
I like to serve the Italian meatloaf muffins with buttery mashed potatoes (ALL meatloaf recipes deserve mashed potatoes. It’s a rule!) and a fresh green salad. Our family especially likes this Italian Chopped Salad with its super zippy Italian Vinaigrette.
If you enjoy this meatloaf recipe you should also try my Meatloaf With Chili Sauce recipe!
Italian Meatloaf Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 T. olive oil
- ½ c. finely chopped yellow onion
- 3 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 c. your favorite marinara sauce divided (I like to use a spicy marinara)
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- ½ c. seasoned Italian bread crumbs
- 2 T. grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ c. finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 1 T. Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 8 oz. mild Italian sausage or use hot Italian sausage to kick up the flavor
- a 4 oz. block of mozzarella cheese cut into 12 cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F. Very lightly spray a regular-sized muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Heat a medium skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add oil. Once oil is hot, stir in onion. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, until onion is softened, stirring occasionally. Then add garlic and sauté for 3 minutes more. Remove pan from heat. Transfer onion and garlic mixture to a large bowl. Let cool for a few minutes.
- To the onion and garlic mixture, stir in 1/2 cup of the marinara, and then the egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan, parsley, mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Add ground beef and Italian sausage, and combine thoroughly with your hands.
- Lightly press about half of the meatloaf mixture into each of 12 muffin cups. Press a cube of mozzarella gently into the center of each muffin cup. Top each cube of cheese with more meatloaf mixture, evenly dividing up the remaining mixture.
- Top meatloaf muffins with remaining 1/2 cup of marinara, dividing evenly amongst the 12 portions. Place muffin pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, or until internal temperature registers 165° F and the muffins are hot and bubbling. Remove pan from oven and let stand for a few minutes. Using a slotted spoon, carefully transfer meatloaf muffins to a serving platter. Sprinkle with additional chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
This post was previously published in 2015. Photographs and some of the text were updated in 2020.
We love these! I’m back to make them again, and wondering if I’d be able to prep these a few hours ahead of time? Cover and stick in the fridge, and then top with sauce just before sticking them in the oven. Would that be a bad idea? I’m assuming they’d take a little longer to cook through.
So glad to hear this, Lindsey! This would definitely work to prep ahead, as you suggested. I would take them out of the fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking, while the oven preheats. And yes, it might take a little longer to cook.
I love that these have all the fun of meatballs, minus the fuss of rolling!
These would be a huge hit with my boys! Love this recipe Brenda!!
Oh yes, these would be quite the hit at our house. Love the Italian twist, and the gooey cheesy middle. Looks delicious Brenda!
Love these! Pinned! Thanks for sharing!
Love this! Such a fun way to serve meatloaf!
Love that they look just like little stuffed meatballs! I never liked regular meatloaf as a kid and it was due to the texture more than anything. EVer since trying mini versions though I love it!
I bet all kids must love these! Great idea!
This sounds exactly like my kind of meatloaf – I’ve had the same problem with mediocre recipes so I’m excited to give this a try!
Love the little individual portions. And all that melty cheese – swoon! I’m a meatloaf lover too, can’t wait to try this recipe!
These are adorable! My birthday dinner has always been meatloaf ever since I was a little girl! Meatloaf with spicy ketchup, to be exact! I love this twist with individual portions…and that cheese! Awesome, Brenda.
Such a great idea, especially for my kids!
I love the idea of individual meatloaves. Now that it is only my husband and I at home, I can freeze the rest for later. I think we’re craving meatloaf because its just too cold!!!
These would be excellent for freezing. I love recipes that I can tuck away a meal or two for an easy dinner in the future. Great thinking, Wendy!
This is a genius idea for making meatloaf! Great recipe!