Ok so technically, meatloaf cupcakes probably aren’t real cupcakes, but the idea is a cute one and it’s such a quick and adaptable base recipe. Just mix up mince/ground beef with whatever you have at hand, add your favourite flavours to make these easy meatloaf cupcakes.
Meatloaf Cupcakes
Anything smothered with cheese, is always an instant hit with my children. And if you have been following my recipes for a while, you know I love adding hidden veggies wherever I can, and these are no exception. You can even hide organ meat in here (just don’t tell my kids).
Look what I found - meatloaf cupcakes. Perfect little bundles for a snack or for school lunch boxes.Click To TweetHow about topping with mashed cauliflower to ‘ice’ the meatloaf cupcakes? Everything really does taste better in miniature.
Have 2 or 3 for dinner, or they are a brilliant idea for breakfast or lunch the next day. They are sturdy and portable, high in protein and extremely low in carbs.
The best thing is, unlike a regular full sized meatloaf, the meatloaf cupcakes are so quick to cook. I’m always going on about “leftovers are king” but these really are. Make a huge batch, vary the flavours and freeze them. You will always have a snack, lunch or breakfast ready.
Serve with homemade ketchup, mashed cauliflower and plenty of leafy greens.
Meatloaf Cupcakes
Versatile and easy meatloaf cupcakes are great for dinner, lunch or the school lunch box. Make extra as they freeze really well in an airtight container. They can even be used when you need a protein hit.
Ingredients
Base Recipe
- 1 onion diced finely
- 700 g ground/mince beef
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- salt and pepper to taste
- 100 g shredded/grated cheese
Examples Of Flavourings
- 2 slices bacon diced
- handful fresh basil
- handful fresh parsley
- 4 tbsp sundried tomatoes diced
- 2 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
Base Recipe
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Mix the diced onion, meat, eggs and salt and pepper together.
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Add your choice of seasonings and flavourings. I have given one example, but take a look below for a huge range of ideas.
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Mix all the ingredients together with your hands and place a small handful of the meatloaf mixture into muffin trays. Press gently, not too hard, otherwise they will turn into meatballs.
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Cover with the grated cheese, and sprinkle with grated parmesan if desired.
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Cook at 180C/350F
Recipe Notes
- Mince/ground meat can be beef, pork, turkey or meat of your choice.
- Nutrition values will vary according to which meat you choose and how lean it is.
Meatloaf Cupcake Variations ::
- Italian – add garlic, oregano, Italian seasoning, rosemary, basil,
- Mexican – add coriander (cilantro), cumin, chills, capsicums, peppers, serve with avocado and salsa
- Cheeseburger meatloaf – add mustard, hide cheese inside which will melt when cooked, serve with homemade ketchup
- Toppings – grated cheese, bacon pieces or slices, parmesan, mozzarella, sliced tomato covered in cheese
- Hide these inside – organ meat, grated carrot, finely diced mushrooms, celery, grated zucchini, chopped spinach,
Leave a comment below on what flavour you would make –
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Domenica Geraghty says
Hello i just made these and there was alot of liquid in each tin! Is it supposed to be this way?
KalynsKitchen says
What a fun idea, love it!
Mandy Heinz says
Do you cook the bacon first or put the bacon in the recipe uncooked? Also, what type of cheese do you recommend?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I add the bacon raw and it cooks inside with the mince/ground beef. Any cheese will work, I personally use Edam, Colby or Mild. Everyone will have their favourite. Even parmesan sprinkled on the top would be lovely.
Mandy Heinz says
Thanks! Also, is this recipe for 12 cupcakes?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Yes this makes 12.
Nicole says
So good I had to stop myself from eating a bunch right then and there, since I’m planning to freeze them for easy snacks with my son. Definitely a winner!
tiptyjo says
Hi Libby have been making lots of your recipes and love your website. It’s my favourite and look forward to your posts on FB. I made the meatloaf cupcakes last night and added bacon and cheese for the kids, and they came out partly pink partly cooked, so I put them in for a bit longer and they were still that way. Does bacon change the colour of the meat around it? Scared to taste them in case they’re not cooked properly. I cooked them at the recommended setting for 30 mins then upped it a bit for another 10. Cheers Tiff
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
They should cook all the way through. I would look at your bacon in case there is colouring in it. Some manufacturers add a special salt to stop the meat from browning as it is stored so maybe that’s it? If the meatloaf was firm and piping hot throughout, it should be cooked. Do you have a meat thermometer, just to be sure?
tiptyjo says
Thank you! No I don’t have a thermometer but I think I’ll grab one today. Just shared your Salmon Cream Cheese Bites recipe with my sister. That’s next on the list. 🙂
Mary says
Thank you so much for adding metric in your recipe. Makes life so much easier for us Australians 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Yay, a metric supporter!!! I am a kiwi so work in grams and weights. I am on a mission to show everyone how easy and accurate cooking by weight is. Place your mixing bowl on the scale add and ingredient, zero, then add the next, zero…… Sooooo so easy 🙂 I add lb and oz for my American followers, and are now converting many to cups also so eventually I will show all 3.
Donna says
Thank you for adding oz & lb for us Americans! I so enjoy your website and make a lot of your recipes. I also appreciate the education you have provided on LCHF. It’s very helpful.
Farha says
So yummy and a perfect little lunch. Loving your recipes. They have been a lifesaver!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you Farha, Libby.
CJ says
How long do you bake them?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Recipe states 30 minutes, but this will depend on your oven and how large you make them 🙂
Sandy Hazlewood says
Wanda, hang in there! I never really ate much dairy because of the fat until I started eating more keto. I was using a whey protein after my workouts, and some slices of cheese before dinner. I gained weight as well, (8 lbs) and I wasn’t overweight to begin with! It was extremely frustrating because I couldn’t do anything to get it off!I went to my doctor and she had me tested for food allergies. Turns out I was a 3 (the highest) on many dairy products, even those that I hadn’t eaten in years. Never gave me digestive issues as it typically does, it just makes me blow up like a balloon. I just just coconut milk in smoothies, and a plant based protein powder now, and I’m good. And I can now tolerate a little dairy, or a whey protein bar as long as it’s not every day, say maybe twice a week or so. Not sure if that’s what is going on for you or not, but it’s worth a shot! Best of luck~
thehomeschoolingdoctor says
I love these! All those flavors sound great, but we like Italian. I make them without eggs and they hold together fine, although using egg sure would be nice. We never have any for leftovers because I eat them all for breakfast! LOL! (I’d love Jessica to come proofread my posts!) It’s the weekend, almost! Have a good one! ~~Terri
moonicamusing says
These look yummy, I’m sure my 3-year old will approve too! One question though, don’t they turn out a bit dense without a substitute for the breadcrumbs or oats that usually go in meatloaf? I made meatballs with no … filler? … a few days ago and was disappointed with the dense texture. Any recommendations on that front?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Yes they are a bit heavy compared to a regular meatloaf, but bump them up with more veggies, grated carrots, spring onions, bacon pieces, cheese etc and it make them a bit lighter and even more packed with nutrition.
Wanda says
I love your recipes. I just started on Keto about 12 weeks ago, and I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I followed the low carb eating exactly, and some weeks I lose weight and some I don’t. Sadly, I gained… I believe this is a great way to eat to prevent diabetes or to better manage it, so I want to stay the course.
But, it’s so disheartening to gain 4.8 lbs in one week. I just added blended tea with butter (2 tbsp), heavy whipping cream (2 tbsp), liquid stevia (3 drops) & cinnamon. It was delicious and filling. I didn’t eat until that evening.
Oh, I went to the farmer’s market after your suggestion about cracklings, which I love. They not only had the pork skins; they also had the meat attached to the rind. It was so delicious, and eating it cut my appetite completely. But, when I weighed on Sunday, instead of losing, I had gained. OMG!!! So I wonder, “Can you have too much fat on Keto?” Or, I may be sensitive to dairy. I have been eating more cheese, whipping cream, cream cheese, and butter (within the recommended amounts). I never ate them until now. Now, I’m not so sure of what to do. Any suggestions??? I really want to stay Keto, but I also want to lose over 150 lbs and prevent diabetes (which runs in my family).I usually eat less than 20 grams of carbs. I record my food daily, but I don’t calculate the macronutrients. I focus on the carb count. I try to get most of my carbs from the vegetables. I eat a lot of broccoli. Just started kettlebell lifting. Love it!
Thanks again for your great recipes. They are easy which I love since I’m not a cook. 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Hi Wanda, first of all don’t give up. Even if the scales aren’t moving in the right direction for now, your health will be. That is the greatest thing with low carb, once you discover how damaging sugar, carbs and seed oils are, there’s no going back. You will not go back to your old ways, you won’t want to. Have you measured yourself? If you have started kettle bell lifting, could you have been putting on muscle last week? Some say that low carb is muscle sparing and even helps promote muscle growth, especially if you have increased your protein intake. Yes dairy can stall some peoples weight loss. Maybe cut back on that for a while. I know if I have too many milky lattes, it isn’t good, so I go back to my creamy coffees (less carbs in a small amount of cream). Keep going and just change one thing at a time to see what works for you. It may be cutting back on fat (so your body utilises your fat not dietary fat), cut back on dairy and measure yourself. I use MyFitnessPal to track my macros at the beginning, which may be helpful to see if there are any hidden carbs you’re unaware of. And Wanda, I’m so glad you found my website and like my recipes xxx
Wanda says
You are the best! Thanks for the encouragement! I love what you suggest about changing one thing at a time. I will and persevere…and not give up.
Jessica Lynn says
What a great idea! One spot of proofreading…”They are study and portable, ” I think you meant “sturdy”?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Ha ha, lucky I have eagle eyed readers like to you. Thanks Jessica, I can read my recipes time and time again and still miss something. 🙂