Cheesy Taco Meatloaf

This Cheesy Taco Meatloaf recipe is handy to have around because the dish is hugely popular and is so easy to make. No matter which ground meat you use, the meatloaf tastes fantastic! A definite family favorite and always a crowd pleaser!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword dinner idea, easy dinner, easy recipe, meatloaf, mexican, taco

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings

Equipment

bread or loaf pan

Ingredients

2 pounds ground chicken, ground turkey, ground beef, ground pork, or ground sausage
¾ cup salsa
3 cups Doritos, nachos or another flavor, finely-crushed and divided
3 tblsp homemade Taco seasoning or 1 package
1 cup onions, diced
1 tblsp cumin, ground
1 tblsp garlic powder
2 large eggs, beaten
½ cup Taco sauce
2 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, 2 cups crushed Doritos, taco seasoning, onions, cumin, 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 45 minutes.
Remove loaf from oven and brush more Taco sauce or salsa on top of the loaf.
Sprinkle remaining crushed Doritos on top. Add shredded cheese, as much or as little as you like.
Return meatloaf to oven and bake for another 20 or 25 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!

Notes

*You can easily prepare this meatloaf on a baking sheet lightly coated in cooking spray. Form your meatloaf into the shape you desire and bake. For me, I set the oven to 350 and I bake for about 45 minutes, top with taco sauce or salsa and then cheese. Return to oven for about another 15 minutes. Always check ground meat with a thermometer to make sure it is cooked.

*If you want to cook this meatloaf in your crock pot or slow cooker, here is what I do. Place tinfoil lengthwise, across my slow cooker, until it hangs over the sides. Then I do the same the other way. I spray the tinfoil with cooking spray and cook it on low for 6 hours. Then I remove the meatloaf from the slow cooker using the tinfoil as handles if you will. I place the cooked meatloaf, without the tinfoil, on a baking sheet and turn the oven to broil. While the oven is heating I cover the meatloaf with salsa or taco sauce and then cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and starting to brown. Serve and enjoy!