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Individual serving Mini BBQ Bacon-Cheddar Meatloaf Recipe – smoky barbecue glazed meatloaves packed full of cheesy bacon deliciousness. Made in half the time and perfect for a meal any day of the week.
Weeknight meals can often be a challenge. Trying to keep things fresh and new, while keeping them quick, easy, and most of all really delicious can be difficult to pull off week after week.
Meatloaves are easy to put together but may take too much time after a long day. But it doesn’t have to take an hour to cook if you make them individual-sized or “mini”.
These bite-sized BBQ Bacon Cheddar Meatloaves are really packed with flavor and are a nice change up from the typical ketchup-based version. Making for a Sunday-style dinner any night of the week!
However, if you’re looking for a typical style meatloaf, this Instant Pot Meatloaf and Potatoes can be made in a cinch too!
What typically goes in a meatloaf?
A traditional meatloaf recipe has ground beef, some kind of filler like bread crumbs or crackers, some spices, egg, and a meatloaf sauce or topping. The ingredients can vary, but the base is usually the same, a mixture of meat and seasonings, shaped into a loaf. In this case, the loaves are just miniature!
What INGREDIENTS make the Mini BBQ Bacon Cheddar Meatloaf so Tasty?
- Using Chili Sauce instead of ketchup gives them a little extra zing.
- Just the right amount of seasoning and a touch of Worcestershire and Yellow Mustard make this delish.
- Panko bread crumbs add an extra crunch factor.
- Using your favorite BBQ lends to just the right taste for you and your family! This is our favorite store-bought BBQ Sauce!
- And must we not forget the Bacon and Cheddar! I think they speak for themselves, but life is just better with both of these! (in my humble opinion)
- Creating a mini version allows you to cook in half the time!
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How do you Keep a meatloaf moist?
Don’t over-mix: The trick to moist meatloaf is not over-mixing it when you are making it. You want to just combine the ingredients, if you work it too much it will become tough.
Don’t overcook: Overcooking can make the meatloaf dry out and taste like you are chewing on cardboard.
Don’t overfill: Too much breadcrumb filling can make the center too doughy and dry.
Pro Tip: If you add too many breadcrumbs and started mixing just add in a little buttermilk or milk to help add moisture back in.
What are the perfect Sides to go with Meatloaf
- Southern Style Baby Lima Beans
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Creamy Mac and Cheese or Baked Mac and Cheese
- Southern Style Green Beans
- Black Eyed Peas
- Columbia’s 1905 Salad
Although you can never go wrong feeding your family what they love, here are a few great sides your family is sure to love with this Mini BBQ Bacon Cheddar Meatloaf!
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Mini BBQ Bacon Cheddar Meatloaf
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 6 ounces chili sauce
- 4 slices thick bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar or cheddar blend cheese
- ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ cup prepared BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Cook and crumble bacon.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together all meatloaf ingredients except the BBQ sauce.
- Divide the mixture into 8 round loaves. Press a small depression into the middle of the meatloaves.
- Brush BBQ sauce on top of the meatloaves.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Turn on broiler and brown the BBQ sauce for 2 to 5 minutes.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
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Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
©️Soulfully Made
Mandy in the Making showed how to make this on her YouTube channel so I tried it. They are very tasty! I love how they have great flavor but not the chunky onion bits that make me not like meatloaf. I will make this again! (I did cut the recipe in half but still made 8 mini loaves and they were perfect portions for lunch!)
Thank you so much, Denita! I so appreciate your kind words and for stopping by to give us a 5 star rating! I hope you try some of my other recipes!
So good
Thank you, Tom! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed it.
If I am doing just half recipe (1lb ground beef) should I make only 4 patties instead? Thanks!
Yes.
I would love chili sauce but I’m Slightly worried about the spice level for my friend (they can’t handle mild salsa). Any suggestions for a substitute?
I use the Heinz chili sauce you get on the condiment aisle, near the ketchup. It isn’t spicy at all. Just extra flavor that really makes a difference. If you don’t want to use that you can use ketchup, but I promise it isn’t spicy.
Love these to make and freeze leftovers for a quick lunch or dinner. I’ve made them both with bacon and without and love them either way. Great with sweet potato fries. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you, Connie! I appreciate you stopping by to let us know you love this recipe!
Everyone in my family loved this recipe! I used 93/7 ground beef and they still came out moist. I also didn’t have chili sauce so I found a simple recipe for it online and made it from scratch. I agree, it is such a game changer from using ketchup.
Thank you, Cayla! It does make them taste so delicious! I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Delicious! I made it with 1/2 ground bison and 1/2 ground pork. Very moist and flavorful. Chili sauce is a must.
That is a delicious combination. I agree the chili sauce makes a difference. Thanks for stopping but to let us know you loved it!