Southwestern Mini Meatloaf Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This fun southwestern mini meatloaf recipe will be a hit for adults and kids alike. Cute, tasty, and healthy — what more could you want in a little loaf of meat?
Can you believe it is May? I can’t. I swear, time goes faster every single year. I think it’s the kids. I blame everything on the kids.
Messy house? Kids.
Messy hair? Kids.
Running late? Kids.
Muffin top? Kids.
Stretch marks? Oh my gosh — kids.
Food on my shirt? Kids. I’m just happy I made it out of the house wearing a shirt.
I blame the good stuff on them too. A whole lot of smiles and more joy than I ever knew possible.
Also, these fun little meatloaf muffins. Kind of kid food because they are mini-sized and cute (as cute as meatloaf can be). Adult food too though — because of the great flavors of corn, black beans, green onions, barbecue sauce, and more.
A mini meatloaf is a cute little package that is perfect for kids, guests, or packing in lunches. Everyone will love them.
About this Mini Meatloaf Recipe
While this recipe isn’t meatless, it’s a good way to eat less meat. The ground chicken is mixed with black beans, corn, egg, and oats to increase the protein, fiber, and veggies. I also add lots of chopped parsley (so good for you!) and sliced green onions.
If you like, substitute ground turkey or lean ground beef. Either would work well so if you have a preference, or if something is on sale, or if it just happens to be what you have in your fridge, go for it.
It takes about 10 minutes to make the meatloaf mixture. Try not to overmix it — gentle is better with meatloaf. Use a cupcake or muffin tin to bake the meatloaf. This recipe makes 12 little meatloaves. Brush the tops with barbecue sauce or ketchup if you want.
Normally, classic meatloaf takes a good hour and a half to bake when you bake it in a loaf pan. The beauty of this mini meatloaf recipe is that these babies are ready in less than a half hour!
I serve these “meat muffins” with more barbecue sauce. They’d be great with salsa and sour cream for more of a taco take on things. In fact, they’d be good wrapped in a soft flour tortilla.
More fun food ideas
- Pizza Macaroni and Cheese Muffins
- Lamb Lettuce Wraps with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Sauce
- Parmesan Crusted Pizza Grilled Cheese
- Mini Turkey Meatloaf Sheet Pan Dinner
- Chicken Lettuce Wraps — a restaurant copycat!
- Egg White Muffins with Sausage and Broccoli
- Southwestern Mac & Cheese Muffins
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken (or lean ground turkey or beef)
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed (or canned corn)
- ¾ cup black beans, rinsed and drained
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce, divided (more, if desired for serving)
- ½ cup rolled oats (old-fashioned or quick oats)
- ¼ cup thinly sliced green onion (more, if desired for serving)
- ½ cup minced parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 egg white
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a muffin tin (12 wells) generously with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, corn, black beans, ½ cup barbecue sauce, oats, green onion, parsley, oregano, salt, egg and egg white. Mix until thoroughly combined but do not overmix.
- Divide mixture evenly between each of the 12 wells in the prepared muffin tin. Brush top of each mini meatloaf with remaining ¼ cup barbecue sauce.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove from the oven and let the meatloaves cool for 10 minutes. Use a fork or a small spatula to remove meatloaves from tins.
- Serve meatloaves with sliced green onions and/or barbecue sauce, if desired.
Notes
- Substitute ground turkey or lean ground beef, if desired.
- Ketchup can be substituted for the BBQ sauce.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen says
These look amazing! I love a southwestern take on just about anything, and the mini size might make these more appealing to my kids. My son is going through a picky eating phase, so I appreciate any ideas to make food more interesting to him. Thanks!
DessertForTwo says
I’m kinda sorta in love with chicken and turkey meatloaf. I’ve never met a version I didn’t love. I want yours!
liz kasik says
I have been making mini meat-loafs for quite a while. (I’m old) I put two or three croutons or a few squares of stuffing mix bread in the bottom of the muffin tins. It soaks up any grease and you just
scrape off the bread before serving.
Rachel Gurk says
That’s a fantastic idea! It isn’t needed with these because I used very lean ground chicken but I can see how that would be super helpful with beef. Thanks for sharing!
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
How you managed to make meatloaf look pretty and adorable at the same time is beyond me! These look and sound SO good, I don’t have any kids, but I’d gobble these up all myself — love the flavors!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
Such a fun way to change up meatloaf. Love the mini size.
Lisa says
What would you serve with these wonderful little southwestern mini meatloafs?
Rachel Gurk says
I think cilantro lime rice would be great or any roasted vegetable — maybe some butternut squash or sweet potatoes. And a salad would be great for some freshness! Hope you love them!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
I truly lol’d about blaming your kids…I don’t have any kids yet, but we blame stuff on our dog all the time. Cracks.Me.Up! This recipe sounds super yummy, love the pictures of these!
Rachel Gurk says
Ahh–thanks! Muffins made of meat are not easy to photograph!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
These mini meatloaves look fantastic! My kids will love them!
denise says
sounds yummy–I’d have to double the recipe for my boys, those teenagers never seem to be full.
sarah k @ the pajama chef says
these sound fabulous! i only like meatloaf in the mini form so these are perfect :)
USA Kiwi (Kylee) says
Yum!! Love the southwestern flavor profile.
These look great!
Cassie says
I can’t believe it’s May!! I have been craving meatloaf lately. I love what you did with these!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
Rachel, I love this recipe (and your commentary cracked me up too!) Ben has some kind of childhood meatloaf emotional scarring to where he says he’ll never eat it, but I’m positive he’d make an exception for these. I’ll call ’em “BBQ chicken bites” and it will be a winner.
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
These look great and perfect for our whole family.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
Love this spin on meatloaf muffins!!! And I totally hear you on just being glad you remembered a shirt before leaving the house. ;-)