Mac and Cheese Meatloaf Muffins (Printable)
Muffin-sized meatloaves with creamy cheese macaroni centers offer a playful, comforting main for meals or parties.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meatloaf Mixture
01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1/2 pound ground pork
03 - 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
04 - 1/4 cup whole milk
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 1/2 small onion, finely diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
09 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
→ Mac and Cheese Filling
13 - 1 cup elbow macaroni
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
15 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
16 - 3/4 cup whole milk
17 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
18 - 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
19 - Salt, to taste
20 - Black pepper, to taste
→ Topping
21 - 1/3 cup cheddar cheese, grated
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
02 - Boil macaroni in salted water until just al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, then slowly whisk in milk. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 2–3 minutes.
04 - Remove sauce from heat. Mix in grated cheddar and mustard powder until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add macaroni and stir to coat. Allow mixture to cool slightly.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and thyme. Mix until just combined.
06 - Press about 2 tablespoons of meat mixture into the bottom and up the sides of each muffin cup, forming a well in the center.
07 - Spoon a heaping tablespoon of mac and cheese into each meatloaf well.
08 - Cover the macaroni centers with a thin layer of remaining meat mixture, sealing the tops. Sprinkle each muffin with extra cheddar cheese.
09 - Bake for 25–30 minutes, until meat is fully cooked and tops are golden.
10 - Allow muffins to cool for 5 minutes before carefully removing from tin. Serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Family friendly makes dinner a little more exciting
- Ready in under an hour
- Uses affordable everyday ingredients
- Easy to prep ahead and freeze for busy nights
02 -
- Each muffin is a full meal in a few bites
- High in protein and perfect for lunchboxes or meal prep
- Easy to customize with different meats cheeses or veggie add-ins
- Sharp cheddar is always my personal favorite in the filling It melts perfectly and brings just enough tang to stand out against the savory meatloaf
03 -
- Mix the meat gently to keep muffins tender compacting too much can make them dense
- Always let the mac and cheese cool a bit before filling the meat It s less messy and keeps the layers separate