Air Fryer Meatloaf (BBQ Cheddar Mini Meatloaves)
These juicy mini meatloaves cook up perfectly in the air fryer (or oven). It's a quick, family-friendly dinner with a cheesy twist on classic comfort food!
Servings: 4
Calories: 272kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 93% lean ground beef
- ¼ medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 large egg
- 6 tablespoons barbecue sauce, divided use *see note
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup (about 2 oz) cheddar or cheddar jack cheese, diced into small cubes
Instructions
- Place the ground beef, onion, egg, 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper and cheese together in a large bowl and mix until combined.
- Divide the mixture into four equal portions and form them into loaves.
To cook meatloaves in the air fryer:
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F. Place the meatloaves in the air fryer basket (you can use an air fryer liner for easy clean up). Brush the top of each meatloaf with 1 tablespoon of barbecue sauce.
- Cook for 12-15 minutes until cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F, as checked with a meat thermometer. Cool slightly before serving.
To cook meatloaves in the oven:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Place the meatloaves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Brush the top of each meatloaf with 1 tablespoon of barbecue sauce.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes until cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F, as checked with a meat thermometer. Cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Many store-bought brands of barbecue sauce are loaded with sugar (sometimes high fructose corn syrup is the first ingredient) and a hefty amount of sodium. For a healthier choice, look for sauces with less than 10g sugar per 2-tablespoon serving. Some of my go-to brands are:
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- If you're looking for a homemade BBQ sauce recipe, you can make my homemade BBQ sauce.
- Don’t overmix the meat: This can make the loaves tough. Mix just until combined.
- Check for Doneness: Always use a meat thermometer—165°F is the magic number.
- Serving Idea: Pair this air fryer meatloaf with my crispy air fryer diced potatoes or frozen sweet potato fries and a salad for a full air fryer dinner.
Nutrition
Serving: 1mini meatloaf | Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 131mg | Sodium: 691mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 3mg