This Mexican Meatloaf is a delicious and unique twist on your classic meatloaf and is perfect to try on a taco Tuesday when you really want to experiment. Perfectly seasoned, meaty, and cheesy- this recipe actually comes together quite effortlessly and is a great family-friendly meal that you can prep ahead of time too.
My household is a big fan of everything Tex-Mex. My chicken tortilla casserole and crunchy Mexican chicken are always on repeat, but this time, I wanted to try something more substantial.
And then I thought- why not put a Mexican spin on the classic meatloaf? And here we are!
Why You’ll Love This Mexican Meatloaf Recipe
- Fun twist: Savory, moist, and with lots of fun flavors, this take on the meatloaf is one you’ll find yourself making again and again.
- Family-friendly: This version of the meatloaf is sure to be a total hit in your household, just like it is in mine.
- Customizable: You can also customize the meat and sauces to your liking. And of course, the toppings too!
- Quick to prep: This taco meatloaf recipe barely takes 10 minutes to prep, which makes it a great low-effort recipe to try.
Ingredients
- Ground meat: Use ground beef, chicken, or even turkey, whatever you prefer. If you’re using ground beef, choose 85% lean ground beef for best results. You can even use a combination fo ground meats if you prefer.
- Salsa: Choose a good quality tomato-based salsa. Homemade salsa is a great option too - just make sure it isn’t too runny.
- Onion: Chopped onions add a beautiful sweetness to the dish.
- Eggs: These are crucial. Eggs add moisture, richness, and flavor to the dish, and most importantly, hold the ingredients together.
- Chips: Use Doritos or corn tortilla chips to add flavor and bind things together.
- Cheese: Choose mild, sharp, or medium! Pre-shredded cheese makes things quicker.
- Seasonings: To season, I used some packaged taco seasoning, garlic powder, cumin and some taco sauce.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Add some heat: To lend the taco meatloaf a nice bit of spiciness, add chopped jalapenos or any spicy chilies of your choice. If you don’t have those, just choose a spicy salsa instead of your regular salsa.
- Protein-packed: To make this Mexican-style meatloaf more protein-rich, add some canned (and drained) black beans into the mix.
- Top it right: Try different variations by topping the meatloaf with different kinds of toppings. Pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, chopped green onions, crushed tortilla chips, and chopped avocado are all great choices.
How to Make Mexican Meatloaf
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and lightly coating your pan with cooking spray.
Step 1: Prepare meatloaf mixture. Combine ground meat, salsa, eggs, seasonings, and crushed Doritos in a large bowl.
Step 2: Mix it up. Use your hands to mix all the ingredients with the ground meat.
Step 3: Layer mixture into pan. Transfer half the mixture to the greased pan.
Step 4: Add cheese. Layer some shredded cheese on top and then add the second half of meat on top.
PRO TIP: You can skip dividing the meat in half and adding cheese to the center and simply place all the beef in the pan in a single layer.
Step 5: Top with toppings. Brush some salsa over the ‘loaf,’ pop it in the oven, and bake for 60 minutes.
Step 6: Bake and enjoy. Get the loaf out, brush on some more salsa, and top with cheese. Bake again for 5 minutes, and serve with your favorite toppings.
⭐️ Hint: Let the meatloaf rest for 10-15 minutes after you get it out of the oven. Trying to slice it when it is too hot will cause it to fall apart.
If you love taco-inspired recipes like this one, you may also enjoy my Smash Burger Tacos!
Storage
- Storing: Got some leftover meatloaf? Move it to an airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 days.
- Reheating: Use a microwave to reheat the meatloaf for best results. Remember to pause between 30-second increments.
- Freezing: If you have a lot of leftovers, or you’re just planning to make this Mexican meatloaf in a big batch, you can freeze it too. Wrap individual slices in cling wrap or transfer them to freezer-safe bags. For bigger portions use a freezer-safe container. Make sure you let the meatloaf thaw overnight in the refrigerator before you reheat it
Serving Suggestions
This savory and delicious Mexican taco meatloaf is a hearty and filling meal on its own. If you really want to, you can team it up with a simple salad or some grilled or sauteed veggies.
I personally love pairing it with my broiled asparagus, slow cooker Brussels sprouts, or just some classic corn on the cob.
Sometimes, I also like to serve it with a nice dip like salsa pesto or cream cheese salsa dip.
Recipe Tips
- Make cleanup easy: To minimize the mess and make cleanup a breeze, line the baking tin with foil instead of greasing it.
- Cube the cheese: Instead of shredding the cheese, you could chop it up into small cubes and use them instead. These will melt and create nice pockets of cheesiness throughout the meatloaf.
- Use your hands: Use your hands as opposed to a spoon to combine the meatloaf mixture. It’s the best way to get it done. Wear gloves if you feel like you need to.
Recipe FAQ
Yes, you can! Simply place some tinfoil lengthwise, across your slow cooker, until it hangs over the sides, and do the same the other way. Grease it, add the meatloaf mixture, and cook it on low for 6 hours.
Tortilla chips or nachos act as the binding agent here. If you don’t have either of them, just use some breadcrumbs instead.
The easiest way to know if your meatloaf is cooked is to check its internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
More Delicious Mexican Recipes
I had to make a video for this Cheesy Taco Meatloaf. This recipe belongs in your arsenal! I hope you have a moment to take a look!
How to Make It Video
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Mexican Taco Meatloaf
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground chicken, ground turkey, ground beef, ground pork, or ground sausage
- ¾ cup salsa
- 1 ½ cups Doritos, nachos or another flavor, finely-crushed and divided
- 3 tablespoons homemade Taco seasoning or 1 package
- 1 cup onions, finely diced or shredded Use 1 tablespoon of onion powder or 3 tablespoons of dried onion flakes as a substitute.
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1-2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ½ cup Taco sauce
- 2 ½ cups cheese, shredded, more or less as you desire
Options
- sour cream, for serving, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat loaf pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, ¾ cup salsa, 1 ½ cups crushed Doritos, taco seasoning, cumin, 1 cup shredded cheese, onions, garlic powder and eggs.
- Using your hands, mix ingredients until combined.
OPTION 1
- Press ½ of the meatloaf mixture into prepared pan. Be sure to reach the edges of the pan. Gently place and press enough shredded cheese to cover the meatloaf into the middle of the meat mixture, leaving a 1 inch border around the edges. Top with the remaining meatloaf mixture. Press to seal edges.
OPTION 2
- Press meatloaf mixture into prepared pan. Make sure it reaches the edges of the pan.
FINISHING IT OFF
- Brush Taco sauce or salsa all over the top of the loaf.
- Place in the oven and bake for 60 minutes.
- Remove loaf from oven and brush more Taco sauce or salsa on top of the loaf.
- Add shredded cheese, as much or as little as you like.
- Return meatloaf to oven and bake for another 5 minutes. Using a meat thermometer, confirm that it's cooked and has reached a temperature of 160 degrees.
- Allow meatloaf to rest for about 10 minutes; if not a little longer. Place on a serving platter.
- Cut into slices and serve with a dollop of sour cream, if desired. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in June 2019. It has been updated with new content and images.
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