Ooo, Cheesy Stuffed Meatloaf Bites—savory, gooey, and perfect as an appetizer or snack! Here’s a full recipe:
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf:
- 1 lb ground beef (or mix of beef and pork)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp ketchup or tomato paste
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried Italian herbs (optional)
For the Cheese Filling:
- ½ cup shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or a mix
- Optional: ¼ cup cream cheese for extra gooeyness
For the Topping (Optional):
- 2 tbsp ketchup or BBQ sauce
- 1 tsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Prepare Meatloaf Mixture:
- In a large bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and herbs.
- Mix until just combined (don’t overwork).
- Shape and Stuff Bites:
- Take about 2 tbsp of meat mixture, flatten into a small patty in your hand.
- Place a small amount of cheese in the center, then fold meat around cheese and roll into a ball.
- Repeat until all meat mixture is used.
- Optional Topping:
- Mix ketchup and brown sugar, brush lightly over the top of meatballs for a glaze.
- Bake:
- Bake 20–25 minutes until meat is cooked through and cheese is melted.
- Optional: broil 1–2 minutes for a golden top.
- Serve:
- Serve warm with dipping sauces like marinara, ranch, or BBQ sauce.
💡 Tips:
- Freeze any uncooked bites on a tray, then store in a bag—ready to bake later.
- Make bite-size portions for appetizers, or slightly larger for main dish meatloaf balls.
- For extra flavor, mix in cooked bacon bits, chopped herbs, or finely diced bell peppers into the meat.
I can also give a slow-cooker version that keeps the bites super juicy and melts the cheese perfectly—great if you want hands-off cooking.
Do you want me to provide that version?
