These German-style air fryer mini meatloaves are seasoned with mustard and garlic rather than topped with a sweet ketchup-based glaze.
They’re so easy to make and have become a go-to dinner option because they pair nicely with lots of different sides like potatoes, green vegetables, and more.
We say “German-style” because Lisa is from Germany, and using mustard to flavor ground meat is a common practice there. We also like that they keep well and reheat nicely, so you can make them ahead for dinner or even freeze them for later!
Ingredients
- Ground meat – We use a mix of ground beef and ground pork. Try to go for lean ground beef; we avoid extra lean since the fat adds extra flavor, but medium sometimes has too much fat for the air fryer.
- Onion – A medium white or yellow onion; finely chopped.
- Breadcrumbs – Regular unseasoned breadcrumbs.
- Dijon mustard – If you don’t have Dijon mustard, you can also use regular yellow mustard, but we prefer Dijon or German-style mustard.
- Egg – Acts as a binder, so don’t skip it.
- Paprika – Sweet, mild paprika for some extra flavor and color. You could use smoked paprika, but it’ll change the flavor of the meatloaves.
- Garlic powder – For some extra flavor.
- Salt – Enhances the overall flavor; adjust to taste.
- Black pepper – For some extra flavor; adjust to taste.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure you form the meatloaves tightly. Squeeze them into a ball before shaping. This helps them keep their shape and stay together during cooking.
- You can put down a liner, but we don’t usually. The air fryer basket cleans up fine with water and soap.
- This is a German-style meatloaf with mustard, different than the one you might be used to with ketchup and a glaze on top.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. The mini meatloaves shouldn’t touch each other, so they have room to cook and brown evenly.
- The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer and the size of the meatloaves. The internal temperature should reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).
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Step-by-Step Instructions
Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl.
Mix until well combined, then divide the mixture into three equal portions.
Shape each into a mini meatloaf.
Since there’s no loaf pan to hold the shape, press each one firmly so it holds together during cooking.
Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Once the air fryer is hot, place the mini meatloaves into the air fryer basket with space between.
Air fry for about 18-22 minutes total, or until they are fully cooked and browned. Flip them halfway through the cooking time.
The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer and the size of the meatloaves. They should reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).
When they’re done, remove the mini meatloaves from the air fryer. Loosely cover them with aluminum foil, and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Then serve them with boiled or mashed potatoes and vegetables of your choice. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
You can store leftover mini meatloaves in a sealed container or wrapped in foil in the fridge.
You can reheat them in the air fryer on a lower temperature, such as 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius). We usually cut them in half to speed up this process. You can also microwave them until hot in the center.
We’ve also cut them into slices and pan-fried them to reheat… it was really good since it gave the slices an additional crisp.
The meatloaves should be consumed within 3-4 days and only reheated once.
If you want them for dinner prep, you can make them, let them cool completely, wrap them tightly in foil and a plastic bag and freeze them. They’ll last for 2-3 months.
Related Recipes
If you enjoyed these mini meatloaves, check out these other beef and pork recipes that make a nice dinner option:
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Air Fryer Mini Meatloaves
Ingredients
- ½ pound ground pork
- ½ pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 large egg
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine ½ pound ground pork, ½ pound ground beef, 1 medium onion (finely chopped), 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 large egg, ¾ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Mix with clean hands until well combined.
- Divide the mixture into 3 equal portions (about 7-8 ounces / 200-220 grams each) and shape each into a small loaf by hand. Since there's no loaf pan to hold the shape, pack each one firmly so it holds together during cooking.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).
- Once the air fryer is hot, place the mini meatloaves into the air fryer basket with space between.
- Air fry at 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) for about 18-22 minutes total, or until they are fully cooked and browned. Flip the meatloaves halfway through the cooking time (about 10 minutes).
- Remove the mini meatloaves from the air fryer, loosely cover them with aluminum foil, and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. Serve them with boiled or mashed potatoes and vegetables of your choice.
Notes
- Make sure you form the meatloaves tightly. Squeeze them into a ball before shaping. This helps them keep their shape and stay together during cooking.
- You can put down a liner, but we don’t usually. The air fryer basket cleans up fine with water and soap.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. The mini meatloaves shouldn’t touch each other, so they have room to cook and brown evenly.
- The exact cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer and the size of the meatloaves. The internal temperature should reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
