Mini Lunchbox Meatloaves

My 14-year-old daughter, who told me at one point this summer that she wanted to be a pescatarian, asked me the other day to make meatloaf for dinner. 🤔 I love how our kiddos keep us on our toes, LOL. And the funny thing is, I am not sure I’ve ever made meatloaf for dinner before!

I have made it for school lunches though, inspired by one of Real Lunches, Real Easy school lunch plans (that are available for only 2 weeks a year—including right now!). So I got out the recipe and not only made another batch for the freezer (for the lunchboxes) but also made an extra batch that I baked in a loaf pan for our dinner. It was well-received by all! And now I love how stocked my freezer is feeling for school lunches. :)

Here’s how I packed a couple of them in the lunchbox this week—my kids eat them cold and love them! It’s an excellent option for bigger appetites or any kids heading to sports after school. If your kid doesn’t eat as much, just send one instead of two. I love how our lunch plans (developed by Kiran on our team) introduced us to something new that my girls are excited to have at school. Sometimes it feels like half the battle is just keeping things interesting! Hope your little ones enjoy this as much as mine do.

I shared this and some other “freezable” lunch ideas on the Charlotte Today show yesterday. Here’s the clip if you want to see it!

Mini Lunchbox Meatloaves

5 from 5 votes

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Keyword: freezer-friendly meatloaf, school lunch meatloaves

Category: Freezer Friendly

Active Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings (Adjust to suit): 6 (serving size = 2 mini loaves)

Calories: 180 kcal

Author: Lisa Leake

Mini Meatloaves, inspired by a recipe in our "Real Lunches, Real Easy" meal plans, are perfect for school lunches and bigger appetites.

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Ingredients

For the meatloaves (adapted from "Real Lunches, Real Easy" School Lunch Meal Plans)

• olive oil, for greasing the pan
• 2 pounds ground beef, can sub other ground meats
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 carrots, shredded, about 1 cup
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (see recipe below), plus more for tops
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme

For the BBQ sauce (from "100 Days of Real Food" Cookbook)

• 3/4 cup plain tomato sauce , (canned)
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Instructions

For the meatloaves

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a muffin pan with olive oil and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, mix together all the rest of the ingredients until well combined. I think it's easiest to use my hands for this job!

3. Spoon out between 1/3 and 1/2 cup of the meatloaf mixture into each muffin cup. Top each with a spoonful of the remaining BBQ sauce.

4. Bake until cooked all the way through (165 degrees F), about 20 to 25 minutes.

For the BBQ sauce

1. Combine all ingredients in a small pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Use immediately or store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

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Recipe Notes

Adapted from "Real Lunches, Real Easy" School Lunch Meal Plans.

We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts

Mini Lunchbox Meatloaves

Amount Per Serving

Calories 180 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 74mg25%

Sodium 370mg16%

Potassium 436mg12%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 19g38%

Vitamin A 3527IU71%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 38mg4%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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