Our kid-friendly meatloaf is stuffed with mashed potatoes and baked. These meatloaf cupcakes are baked in a muffin tin for individual servings that kids love. Gluten-free.
Our version uses mashed potato flakes to make both center of the meatloaf and in place of bread crumbs making it a gluten-free meatloaf recipe.
For other delicious gluten-free dishes, check out our recipes for Gluten-Free Baked Ziti with Sausage, Homemade Low-Sodium Ramen Noodles, Flourless Chocolate Cake W/ Fudge Icing, Tater Tot Casserole For Kids and Baked Chicken and Brown Rice Casserole.
Not only is this meatloaf without breadcrumbs recipe popular with kids, parents love that it can be prepped and baked in just 30 minutes. Makes for a delicious dinner meal any night of the week!
Equipment
- 12 piece muffin tin
- large mixing bowl
- measuring cups and spoons
- small ice cream scoop or spoon
- pastry brush
- baking sheet
- thermometer
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup mashed potato flakes
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, plus extra for brushing on top
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon sage
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups instant mashed potatoes, prepared per package instructions 4 servings per box instructions
How To
Gather the equipment and ingredients then start by preheating the oven to 425°F.
Combine the ingredients
Next, add the ground beef, Italian sausage, milk, potato flakes, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, minced onion flakes, sage, and salt to the large mixing bowl. Combine using clean hands until well blended.
Ingredient swap: the combination of ground beef and Italian sausage creates a delicious flavor – you can easily swap the 1 pound of lean ground beef with 1 pound of lean ground turkey if desired.
Form the bottom of the meatloaf cupcake
Add about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture to the bottom of each opening of the muffin tin. Using your hands, push the meat into place forming an opening in the center. Reserve the rest of the meat for the topping.
Add the potatoes to the meat
Using an ice cream scoop or spoon, divide the mashed potatoes between the 12 meatloaf muffins. You can stick with a classic mashed potato recipe, try our Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or do what I did here and use the boxed variety.
Using your hands, form a thin patty with the leftover meat mixture and place on top of each muffin. Use your hands to lightly seal the sides. Repeat until all the meatloaf cupcakes are formed. Brush the tops with additional BBQ sauce or ketchup if desired.
Bake the meatloaf
Bake the meatloaf cupcakes for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat is 165°F. Serve hot.
Pro Tip: Place a baking sheet under the muffin tin to catch any grease that may spill over.
FAQ
Potato flakes are dehydrated mashed potatoes that make a great gluten-free alternative to breadcrumbs.
Any vegetable dish pairs well with this meatloaf recipe, making it a complete meal. From Baked Brussels sprouts to Baked Zucchini Squash Rounds, Green Beans to Steamed Carrots, there are so many tasty options the whole family will enjoy. Check out more Sides for Meatloaf.
Leftover meatloaf can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. For easy meal prep, bake a batch of these meatloaf muffins to freeze and reheat on busy nights. For reheating, bake at 350°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°F or pop in the microwave for a speedy reheat.
Other Kid-Friendly Dinner Ideas
- Chicken Skewers
- Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Ground Turkey (Air Fryer)
- Mini Corn Dogs
- Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Shredded Chicken Quesadilla
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Kid-Friendly Meatloaf
Equipment
- 12 piece muffin tin
- large mixing bowl
- small ice cream scoop or spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey ✅
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage ✅
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup mashed potato flakes ✅
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, plus extra for brushing on top ✅ Sweet Baby Ray's is gluten-free
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce ✅
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion flakes ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon sage ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups instant mashed potatoes, prepared per package instructions ✅
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Combine the ingredients. Add the ground beef, Italian sausage, milk, potato flakes, bbq sauce, Worcestershire sauce, minced onion flakes, sage, and salt to the large mixing bowl. Combine using clean hands until well blended.
- Form the bottom of the meatloaf cupcake. Add about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture to the bottom of each opening. Using your hands, push the meat into place forming an opening in the center. Reserve the rest of the meat for the topping.
- Add the potatoes to the meat. Using an ice cream scoop or spoon, divide the mashed potatoes between the 12 meatloaf muffins. Using your hands, form a thin patty with the leftover meat mixture and place ontop of each muffin using your hands to lightly seal the sides. Repeat until all the meatloaf cupcakes are formed. Brush with additional BBQ sauce if desired.
- ⭐️Bake the meatloaf. Bake the meatloaf cupcakes for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat is 165°F. Place a baking sheet under the muffin tin to catch any grease that may spill over. Serve hot.
Notes
Storage Instructions
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.Tips
- For easy meal prep, bake a batch of these meatloaf muffins to freeze and reheat on busy nights. For reheating, bake at 350°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°F or pop in the microwave for a speedy reheat.
- Swap the lean ground beef with lean ground turkey if desired.
- Make a classic mashed potatoes recipe or try Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
Nutrition
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