Print This Post
Say what? Meat loaf cupcakes?
Not to worry; we aren’t spreading frosting on meat. We’re simply using a cupcake baking pan to create the perfectly sized individual meat loaves. Eat one, eat two – whatever your appetite requires.
These are chock full of vegetables, and flavored with a brilliant condiment called Not Ketchup. We first met Not Ketchup, a fruit-based condiment (with no tomatoes, hence, “Not Ketchup”) last January, and have been using it on burgers, as a dipper for oven-fries, spread on bread for sandwiches, and to grill chicken.
Sometimes when I am standing at the sink eating a hard cooked egg, I pour a little Not Ketchup on it to jazz it up. (Please reassure me I am not the only person who stands at the sink eating a hard cooked egg!)
Not Ketchup comes in four flavors (featuring blueberry, cherry, date, fig). I used the Cherry Chipotle, my absolute favorite, for this recipe. You won’t go back to your regular ketchup or barbecue sauce, I promise.
Savory individual meat loaves chock full of vegetables are baked in a cupcake tin to make perfect portions.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2-3 carrots, peeled, trimmed, finely chopped
- 1-2 celery stalks, trimmed, finely chopped
- 1 (5-ounce) package sliced shiitake mushrooms
- 3 mini sweet bell peppers, stemmed, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- A few grinds black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Gourmet Garden Chunky Garlic Paste (or 3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced)
- 1 pound organic ground grass-fed beef
- 2/3-3/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup Cherry Chipotle Not Ketchup
- 1/2-2/3 cup minced Italian parsley
Directions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Make vegetable mixture: Heat oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, mushrooms, peppers, oregano, thyme, basil, salt and pepper and sauté until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté another minute or so. Turn heat off and remove pan from burner; set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Make meat loaf cupcakes: In a large mixing bowl, combine vegetable mixture, beef, bread crumbs, Dijon, egg, Not Ketchup, and parsley. Use hands to stir, or a wooden spoon, or do as I do and mix using a KitchenAid Mixer on low speed for 15-30 seconds.
- Lightly oil 12 muffin tins. Divide meat loaf mixture among 12 muffin cups. Bake for 25 minutes or until cooked through. Remove pan from oven and cool for a couple of minutes.
- Serve extra Not Ketchup at the table if you like, so people can put another dollop on top if they want.
- Makes 12. Serve 1 or 2 meat loaf cupcakes per person, depending on appetites.
Notes
Vegetable note: You know those cut-up vegetable appetizer trays from the grocery store that have baby carrots, celery sticks, mini peppers, etc.? This is a great recipe to use up the leftovers after a party.
Recipe source: Adapted from Jeanette’s Healthy Living, who adapted it from Cooking Light
Welcome to my kitchen!
At ShockD, you’ll find scrumptious, tried & true, "scary good" recipes, tips and coaching to make YOU a fabulous home cook! Don't blame me if you need a 12-step program to wean yourself away!
E-mail me: Dorothy.Reinhold@gmail.com
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Good golly I love this recipe! I love the vegetable mixture and adding Not Ketchup is brilliant. I love the Cherry Chipotle and I know this must’ve made a fabulous meat loaf. And I do love the mini servings!
Good golly Miss Jamie! Thank you!
I love the idea of using a left over veggie platter in your meatloaf, not to mention making them in a cupcake pan. And with Cherry Chipotle Not Ketchup in them how could one go wrong? 🙂
Cathy,
Truly, one cannot go wrong in using Cherry Chipotle Not Ketchup. It is the cat’s meow!
I have shockingly never made meatloaf before.. you definitely have inspired me to recreate your cute little meatloaf cupcakes. They look delicious.
Thalia,
That IS shocking! You must remedy. It is easy, and when you make them little they are cute, and you’ll find it easy to make meals around them.
Love cherry chipotle Not Ketchup and love this new idea of what to do with it!
Thanks Kelly!