Meatloaf Cupcakes

Anyone hungry?

Me too! I'm always hungry! But in my house, it's difficult to come up with something everyone will eat. Big A is meat and potatoes all the way. I like most anything, but generally a seafood person. The two teenagers eat most everything, but they eat A LOT. And the little five year old is picky with a capital P, and suspicious of everything I cook. It's a challenge. 

BUT, these Meatloaf cupcakes are a huge hit with my family. Everyone likes them, and they're filling. (And, I have seafood on nights out!) 

The're the perfect family dinner. (Admittedly, this recipe may not be featured on the menu at The Ritz, and I'm pretty sure it's not in any of Gordon Ramsey's cookbooks. However, it will make your family very, very happy.) 

Now, they're a cute shape, and you "frost" them with mashed potatoes - adorable. But the real treat is that they're delicious! 

You can use your favorite meatloaf and mashed potato recipes, OR, try my recipes. (Pretty please with a cherry on top! They are so good!) 

Either way, make up a batch of mashed potatoes. Make some meatloaf mix. And put together a really fun and easy dinner! 

Here are my recipes: 

The Best Meatloaf 

2 slices white bread

1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 lb ground pork
3/4 lb 85% lean ground beef
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated or 1/4 cup Romano cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Tear up the bread and add the buttermilk and beaten egg. Let the bread soak up the egg and milk for a few minutes.. 

Add all other ingredients and mix well.

Take handfuls and make meatballs that will fit in the muffin tin. Press one large meatball in each hole. (Never roll meatballs too much. You want them kind of "lose"). 

NOW, Pipe your mashed potatoes on each cupcake.  (Scroll down for the best mashed potato recipe!) 

Bake at 350f for 1 hour. 

Super Good Mashed Potatoes

 8 medium potatoes

1 cup sour cream

8 ounces cream cheese, room temp

4 tablespoons butter, room temp

1/4 cup chives

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons onion flakes

1/2-1 cup thinly sliced green onion

bacon bits or 2 slices cooked crumpled bacon

milk (add just enough to make them the right consistency)

Peel and cut up the potatoes. I make them all the same size, usually in fourths. You don't have to be too accurate, just eye-ball it! 

Put them in cold water and bring to a boil. Boil for about 30 minutes. I take a fork and stab a potato at this point, if it slides off the fork, it's done. If not, give it a few more minutes. 

When you have sliding potatoes (!), they're done, so drain 'em. Pop them back in the pan and mash with a potato masher (not a mixer). Add all other ingredients and stir.

If using as meatloaf cupcake frosting, put the potatoes in a pastry bag or, in my case, a gallon Ziploc. Cut the corner and "Pipe" the potatoes on top of each cupcake.

Again, bake at 350f for 1 hour. 

These are pretty messy, so it's a good idea to put a large cookie sheet in the bottom of your oven if the meat juices bubble over. 

The mashed potato recipe makes a LOT! Save the leftovers for another day! I freeze mine, and they're just fine to use after a few weeks. 

Let me know if you try them. I'd love hearing from you! I'd also love for you to follow along on FB, Pinterest, OR 

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