Description
Hearty meatloaf cupcakes showcase comfort cuisine with creative individual servings. Creamy whipped potato peaks crown savory meat bases, delivering classic American dinner charm while delighting dinner companions with playful presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Mashed potatoes, for topping
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Warm the oven to 375°F (190°C) and ready a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or cupcake liners.
- Mix Meat Mixture: Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, blending until ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
- Form and Fill: Evenly distribute the meat mixture into muffin cavities, compressing gently to create uniform portions that will bake consistently.
- Bake to Perfection: Roast in the preheated oven for 22-27 minutes, ensuring the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) and develops a golden-brown crust.
- Craft Potato Topping: Simultaneously boil peeled potatoes until tender, then whip with butter, cream, salt, and pepper into a smooth, luxurious mashed potato mixture.
- Rest and Stabilize: Remove meat cupcakes from the oven and let them rest for 3-4 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute and settle.
- Decorate and Finish: Transfer mashed potatoes to a piping bag with a star tip, elegantly swirling the potato “frosting” atop each meat cupcake in a decorative pattern.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle finely chopped fresh parsley over the cupcakes for a burst of color and herbal freshness, then present immediately to eager diners.
Notes
- Meat Mixture Mastery: Gently mix ingredients to prevent tough, dense meatloaf; overmixing can lead to a compact, rubbery texture that lacks tenderness.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to confirm the 160°F internal temperature, ensuring food safety without overcooking and drying out the meat.
- Potato Piping Pro Tips: Ensure mashed potatoes are smooth and at the right temperature for easy, elegant piping; slightly warm potatoes create cleaner, more defined swirls.
- Resting Ritual: Allow meatloaf cupcakes to rest briefly after cooking, which helps redistribute juices and makes each bite more succulent and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg