This mini meatloaf bakes in a muffin pan for an easy dinner recipe that’s ready in 30 mins. We make this ahead and freeze them in packs of 4. I will share my RV reheating instructions. The Birds Eye broccoli steamer and sweet potato both be made in the microwave.
Healthy Mini Meatloaf
This healthy mini meatloaf bakes in a muffin pan for an easy dinner. Ginny and I like to make this recipe ahead at home and seal-a-meal 4 muffins in a package. We freeze them and stock the freezer prior to leaving. Check the notes for reheat instructions.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. extra lean ground beef I used 96 % lean
- 1 small zucchini finely grated (about ¾ cup grated)
- ½ cup finely chopped onion I used frozen chopped onion for a short cut
- 1 egg
- ½ cup whole wheat panko breadcrumbs you can substitute with regular panko breadcrumbs if you can’t find whole wheat
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- 6 Tbls. ketchup divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a standard 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Place Meat in a large bowl
- Add zucchini, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the ketchup.
- Use your hands to gently combine. You don’t want to over-mix because the meat will become dry and tough.
- Press the ingredients into the prepared muffin cups. I like to use an ice cream scoop to portion the meat into each cup. Top each mini meatloaf with a dollop of the remaining ketchup.
- Place the muffin pan on a foil-lined baking sheet (to catch any drips).
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until meatloaves are cooked through and a thermometer registers 160F.
To Freeze
- Cool the loaves to room temperature. Wrap them individually in plastic and freeze them in a resealable plastic bag. We like to place two in a bag or a serving.
To Reheat
- Simply remove the plastic and bake them on a foil-lined baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. You can bake them directly from the freezer (still frozen). It should take about 20 mins in a 350 oven for the mini's to warm through.
- Or defrost, heat the grill up to 350 or medium, place the defrosted mini's on a lodge cast iron platter with some beef broth and seal with foil. They will come to temp in about 20 mins or less.
Notes
Side Dish: McCain's Sweet Potato Crinkle Fries, Steamed Broccoli, or baked sweet potato.