Facebook has an annoying habit of suggesting that I may “Like” certain things based on what my friends like. To which I said “Dear Facebook, would you stop with the suggestions already? If I wanted to “Like” random crap, I would have done so already. Please and thank you.” Somehow, it hasn’t gotten the message because every time I visit Facebook, it has new suggestions for me. Now, if meat loaf had a Facebook page, I would “Like” it in a hearbeat.
There are Facebook pages for Meatloaf of Paradise By The Dashboard Lights infamy. But that’s not quite the same thing. And my appreciation of Meatloaf the artist isn’t unconditional like my appreciation of meat loaf the entrée. PBTDL got played at far too many socials and formals back in the day. Just hearing the title fifteen years after college graduation makes me think of cheap beer, grain alcohol punch, and fake id’s. Meat loaf the entrée, now that’s a whole different set of memories.
That makes me think of sitting at my Grandmother’s old enamel kitchen table. It makes me remember the brick red linoleum floor. And the back storm door with its jalousie louvers that let in the cool breezes but not the rain. It is the memory of her kitchen sink and draining board cast entirely in porcelain. It’s big Sunday dinner served in the dining room and Monday’s lunch sandwiched between two pieces of buttered bread.
Is there something like that on Facebook that I could “Like”? Actually, there is a page for mashed potatoes. But until the folks at FB can find a way to digitize my relationship with meat loaf, I’m sticking to “Liking” the real thing.
Meat Loaf Muffins
Adapted from Cooking Light
BAH Note: I was really impressed by the moistness of these morsels. I used a combination of ground bison and extra lean sirloin which could have been a recipe for a dry disaster of a meat loaf. But the ketchup, mustard, and sautéed vegetables kept that from happening. The original CL recipe called for 2 eggs to be used as a binder which I thought might be too much. So I wasn’t exactly surprised to see what looked like cooked egg whites around the outside of the meat loaves. I would suggest starting with one egg and having it be the last ingredient you add to the ground beef mixture. If it seems dry after you incorporate it, then add a second egg or maybe just a yolk. The very best thing about these muffins is that with only about 20 minutes of prep time and less than 30 minutes in the oven, you’ve got dinner ready and leftovers to use for another meal. Thanks Cooking Light.
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced carrot
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 1/2 pounds extra lean ground beef
- 1 cup bread or cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- kosher salt
- 1 large egg, beaten
Heat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 12 cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the diced vegetables, dried oregano, and a pinch of kosher salt. Saute for 3 to 5 minutes until the vegetables just start to soften a bit. Remove the skillet from the heat and cool the vegetables.
Once the vegetables have cooled, combine the ground beef, 1/2 cup of the ketchup, and all remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Use your hands to make sure all the ingredients are well combined.
Use a spoon or ice cream scoop to portion the ground beef mixture into the prepared muffin pan. Top the mini meat loaves with the remaining ketchup. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the center of a meatloaf registers 160 degrees. Let the meatloaves rest for 5 minutes before carefully removing them from the muffin tin and serving.
Bon Appetit Hon 
I made turkey meatloaf muffins about a month ago. I thought they were awesome [because I plopped in top of mashed taters and smothered it with gravy] but the hubs is far too picky. I’m thinking beef would be more moist – would need less gravy.
And I do like Paradise by the Dashboard Light. I remember being in high school, riding in the back seat of my brother’s car with his wife and them going at that song karaoke-style. They were spot on and ROCKED IT! Sadly, there were no meatloaf muffins in the back seat with me.
Brooke, I am not a ground turkey fan for just that reason. The bison/sirloin combo could have been uber dry but wasn’t. I need some easy dinners for when I get home from Arizona. This just went to the top of my list.
Wendi, I think you need to START the FB meatloaf group!
And my childhood memories of meatloaf are not as happy as yours…they’re more gagging at the dinner table than anything else!
Maybe the BAH marketing empire can be built upon a FB Fan page for meatloaf. Sorry you don’t have happy meatloaf memories Beth. Maybe you can make new memories with this recipe.
I agree, start you own fan page!
I used to love meatloaf, but haven’t had it in years. These are cuties though!
On another note, my husband asked his students the other day what song they are most embarassed to admit they like. It was an icebreaker. If I was there, my pick may have been By the Dashboard Light. 🙂
Jen, maybe you will rediscover meatloaf with cuties. What a great icebreaker idea. Might have to suggest it to my Phi Mu chapters. All credit will go your husband!
I think I just fell in love with you.
I am all about the love. And these morsels reaaly are all that.
serving size meatloaf! smart!
Elizabeth, if only I could control myself to a single portion. They are cute and taste.
These are great for portion control…and love meatloaf!!!
Ingrid, these are great for portion control. Except that I find that I want two or three because they are so good.
This needs a “OMGYESPLEASE” button.
Mike isn’t a huge fan of meatloaf (weirdo) but I’ll be making these for our next Fend For Yourself night.
Ali, if you can design that graphic, I’ll find a way to make it happen. I wouldn’t mind if The Mistah weren’t a meatloaf fan because that would mean that I didn’t have to share these with him. Maybe I’ll make these while he’s gone so I can have them all to myself.
We found this recipe while searching for muffin-sized meatloaf concoctions. We added zucchini, basil, and spinach to the veggie combo (we’re big on adding extra veggies to pretty much everything we make), and also a bit of red wine with the Worcestershire sauce. I’m waiting for them to finish cooking now, but I have my hopes up that they will turn out nicely 🙂
Posting an entry about it when it’s all said and done so that I can include pictures of the finished product.
Thank you so much for this recipe!!!
Cheers 🙂
Ashley, I think your additions are great. So glad you found these little morsels.
I have made these before and they are delicious! Wondering if they would freeze well? Baby coming in less then six weeks and trying to get Meals in the freezer. Thoughts?
These freeze beautifully. Perfect for stashing in the freezer.