15 Mini Meatloaf Cupcakes

These are so much fun!   I finally got on the mini-main-dish train, and I just loved this.  My guy looked at me with the lovey eyes as he ate these, so they are 100% man approved.  We tried topping half with ketchup and half with BBQ sauce, the BBQ sauce won hands down.  But give each a try and see for yourself.  Bonus is (if you're like me) you get all the yummy, crunchy, edge bits in every bite.

My secret weapon was this,

Homemade Bread Crumbs.

The doughy-yeast smell of toast times ten, our house smelled so cozy after baking these.  And honestly, I don't think I'll be going back to store-bought bread crumbs.  I feel like the freshness factor just added to the flavor of the meatloaf and they held together perfectly.



Mini Meatloaf Cupcakes
(Adapted from Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy)
Makes 9 Mini Meatloafs

Ingredients:

1 pound Organic Ground Beef, thawed
1 cup Homemade Bread Crumbs (or store bought)
1/4 cup White Onion, finely diced
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon Garlic
3-4 shakes of Worcestershire Sauce
2 Teaspoons Steak Seasoning Blend (I used Weber's Chicago Blend)
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Pepper
BBQ Sauce
Ketchup

Directions:

1.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large bowl add the thawed ground beef.

2.  Finely dice your onion and garlic if needed.  Crack the two eggs into a separate bowl and whisk together.

3.  Now everything into the pot!  Add the eggs, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, Worcestershire Sauce, and seasoning, including Salt & Pepper to the meat.  Mix well, yes I used my hands and squished it all around. Yes, it was fun.

4.  Grease a muffin pan with cooking spray, and add your meat loaf mixture to the top of each cup, flattening out the tops.  We tried both Ketchup and BBQ Sauce and liked the BBQ better, but it's up to you.  Top each meat muffin with a drizzle of either and spread evenly over the top like "icing".

5.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, I went 35 minutes.  Run a knife around each cupcake to loosen it from the pan and enjoy!!


Homemade Bread Crumbs
(From Bon Appetit)


Ingredients:

2 slices of Wheat Bread

Directions:


1.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Toast 2 slices of bread in toaster or toaster oven until a nice golden brown.  (If you're like me...tesist eating said toast)


2.  Blend in a food processor until reduced to crumbs.  My food processor is one of the mini ones, so I did a slice at a time.


3.  Sprinkle to crumbs onto a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 3-4 minutes.  Stir the crumbs occasionally so that they are browned evenly.  And remove from oven when they are dry and crunchy. Your house will smell all yummy like a bakery.  That's it!