Mini Meatloaf Bites (Printable)

Savory mini meatloaves baked with a sweet maple-mustard glaze, ideal for family dinners or meal prep.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meat Mixture

01 - 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean
02 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1/4 cup milk
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 1/3 cup finely diced onion
06 - 1/4 cup finely diced celery
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme

→ Maple-Mustard Glaze

13 - 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
14 - 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
15 - 1 tbsp ketchup

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
02 - In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk; let stand 3 minutes to soften.
03 - Add ground beef, egg, onion, celery, garlic, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and thyme to the softened breadcrumbs. Mix gently until just combined.
04 - Divide mixture evenly among muffin cups, pressing lightly to fill each.
05 - Whisk together maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and ketchup in a small bowl.
06 - Brush or spoon half of the glaze evenly over the tops of the meatloaf bites.
07 - Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.
08 - Remove pan from oven, brush remaining glaze over tops, then bake an additional 5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
09 - Allow meatloaf bites to rest for 5 minutes. Run a knife around each to loosen, then remove from tin.

# Tips from the Pros:

01 -
  • They bake in under 30 minutes, so you can go from hungry to serving in less time than it takes to order takeout.
  • The maple-mustard glaze is the kind of flavor combination people taste and immediately ask you what you did differently.
  • Portion control happens naturally—no fighting over who gets the last slice—and leftovers freeze beautifully for lazy weeknight dinners.
02 -
  • Do not skip the milk-soaking step for breadcrumbs—it's the difference between meatloaf bites that hold together and ones that crumble when you pick them up.
  • Two glaze applications beat one every time because the first coat caramelizes and seals in moisture while the second coat adds fresh shine and flavor.
03 -
  • Use a cookie scoop to divide the meat mixture evenly—it takes the guesswork out and ensures everything cooks at the same speed.
  • If your muffin tin seems to be sticking even with grease, line the cups with small muffin liners first; they won't affect the cooking and make cleanup instant.
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