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    Home » Main Dish

    Jalapeno Cheddar Meatloaf

    Published: Oct 1, 2023 Last updated: Oct 1, 2023 by Shelby Law Ruttan · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Take your dinner to a new level with this spicy meatloaf recipe! Jalapeno and cheese lovers alike will love this Jalapeno Cheddar Meatloaf; a twist on a classic comfort dish that combines ground beef, cheddar cheese, and jalapenos, all glazed with a sweet and tangy sauce for a flavor explosion in every bite.
    Overhead image of jalapeno meatloaf cut into slices on a black tray.
    Pin image for jalapeno cheddar meatloaf.

    Jalapeno Cheddar Meatloaf Recipe is a twist on the classic meatloaf enhancing the flavor with fresh jalapeno and cheese and topped with a sweet and tangy glaze. This recipe is so easy and delicious it's sure to become one of your go to meatloaf recipes!

    Overhead image of Cheddar Jalapeno Meatloaf on a black serving tray with 3 slices cut from the loaf.

    ❤️ Why you'll love it

    Bold Flavor: if you love jalapeno poppers with their cheddar filling, you are in for a treat with this spicy meatloaf.

    Easy Meal Prep: this easy meatloaf recipe can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until it is time to cook, or cook ahead and reheat right before dinner time.

    Leftovers rule: this is the best meatloaf for making sandwiches with leftovers.

    Meatloaf ingredients mis en place.

    🥘 Ingredients for Jalapeno Cheddar Meatloaf

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Full recipe and ingredient amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Lean ground beef

    Large eggs 

    White onion: choose a medium onion and dice it fine. I like to use my hand chopper to do this quickly.

    Hearty bread: you will make your own fresh bread crumbs by tearing the bread into small pieces.

    Cheddar cheese: I always recommend buying the brick of cheese and shredding it yourself, however for convenience you can use pre-shredded cheese.

    Jalapeno : choose a firm medium sized pepper.

    Dried oregano

    Dried basil

    Salt

    Garlic powder

    Ketchup: I always use sugar free ketchup and recommend it as you are adding sugar to the sauce. You can also use plain tomato sauce instead of ketchup.

    Worcestershire sauce: adds an umani flavor

    Light brown sugar

    Yellow mustard

    Fresh Cilantro (optional for garnish)

    Olive oil cooking spray

    Jalapeno Cheddar Meatloaf ingredients in mixing bowl.

    🔪 Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside
    2. Add the ground beef, eggs, onion, cheddar, jalapeno, oregano, basil, garlic, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce and salt to a large bowl. Mix lightly with hands until combined. Don't over mix.
    3. Place meat mixture in prepared loaf pan, patting the meat down into the pan to pack it and spreading it out evenly. Set aside.
    4. In a small bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Using a spoon, spread sauce mixture over top of meatloaf.
    5. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
    6. Let baked meatloaf sit for 15 minutes. Drain fat from loaf and slice.
    7. Serve with chopped fresh cilantro if desired.

    🥄 Equipment

    Large bowl

    1-½ quart sized loaf pan

    Instant-read thermometer

    meatloaf mixture packed into meatloaf pan

    🥫Storage

    Refrigerate: store leftover meatloaf in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days.,

    Freeze: store in a freezer safe container up to 3 months.

    Reheat: warm thawed meatloaf in the microwave until warm or wrapped in aluminum foil in the oven at 350 degrees until heated.

    Spreading the topping on the cheddar loaf.

    📖 Variations

    Opt for the sauce: Use tomato sauce instead of ketchup for the topping if preferred.

    Barbecue style: Barbecue fans can spread the top of the meatloaf mixture with barbecue sauce instead of the ketchup topping.

    Spicy meatloaf or not: If you like a lot of heat, definitely add more than 1 jalapeno. If you just like a little flavor of the jalapeno, then don't go more than the one. You can also just substitute a green pepper for the jalapeno or leave the pepper out entirely.

    Unbaked meatloaf with ketchup topping.

    💭 Tips

    • Use a lean ground beef to reduce fat, a 90/10 is good.
    • If you don't like using raw onions in the meatloaf, saute onions in a little olive oil along with the jalapeno peppers before adding to the meatloaf mixture.
    • If you like a lot of heat, definitely add more than 1 jalapeno. If you just like a little flavor of the jalapeno, then don't go more than the one. You can also just substitute a green pepper for the jalapeno or leave the pepper out entirely.
    • Cracker crumbs or dried bread crumbs can be used in place of the fresh bread crumbs.
    Cooked spicy meatloaf on a black tray with cut slices.

    📚 More Meatloaf Recipes

    Dill Pickle Meatloaf - the classic take on a burger but in meatloaf form with incredible flavor from dill pickles.

    Easy Barbecue Cheddar Meatloaves - super cheesy and tangy individually sized loaves!

    Vegetarian Meatloaf - vegetarians and meat eaters alike love this veggie loaf.

    Sweet and Sour Meatloaf with Ground Veal - a delicious low carb take on a sweet and sour nmeatloaf.

    Heart Shaped Veal Meatloaf - perfect for those special occasions like Valentines da, anniversaries, or anytime you want to say I love you!

    Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf Muffins - a tasty take on the bacon cheeseburger in a muffin tin.

    🍽 Serve with..

    Serve jalapeno cheddar meatloaf with a side of creamy mashed potatoes or garlic mashed cauliiflower with a side of air fryer green beans.

    📖 Recipe

    Overhead image of jalapeno meatloaf cut into slices on a black tray.

    Jalapeno Cheddar Meatloaf

    Shelby Law Ruttan
    Take your dinner to a new level with this spicy meatloaf recipe! Jalapeno and cheese lovers alike will love this Jalapeno Cheddar Meatloaf; a twist on a classic comfort dish that combines ground beef, cheddar cheese, and jalapenos, all glazed with a sweet and tangy sauce for a flavor explosion in every bite.
    4.21 from 34 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 205 kcal

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients
      

    For the Meatloaf Mixture

    • 1½ pounds lean ground beef
    • 2 large eggs ,beaten
    • ¼ cup finely chopped onion
    • 2 slices hearty bread , torn into small pieces
    • 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese , grated
    • 1 medium jalapeno diced (about 2 tbsp)
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

    For the topping

    • ¼ cup ketchup
    • 2 tablespoon light brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon yellow mustard
    • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside
    • Add the ground beef, eggs, onion, cheddar, jalapeno, oregano, basil, garlic, Worcestershire sauce breadcrumbs, and salt to a large bowl. Mix lightly with hands until combined. Don't over mix.
    • Place meat mixture in prepared loaf pan, patting the meat down into the pan to pack it and spreading it out evenly. Set aside.
    • In a small bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Using a spoon, spread sauce mixture over top of meatloaf.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
    • Let baked meatloaf sit for 15 minutes. Drain fat from loaf and slice.
    • Serve with chopped fresh cilantro if desired.

    Notes

    Nutrition information calculated using myfitnesspal is provided as a courtesy, but will vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients you use. Please consult with your doctor regarding specific health needs.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 22gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 517mgPotassium: 370mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 3mgNet Carbohydrates: 9g
    Keyword Jalapeno Cheddar Meatloaf, Spicy Meatloaf
    Tried this recipe?Mention @grumpyshoneybunch or tag #grumpyshoneybunch!

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    About Shelby Law Ruttan

    Shelby is the author/owner of Grumpy's Honeybunch. Established in 2007, she shares and preserves family recipes as well as recipes for cooking light and keto. She has authored the One-Pot Paleo Cookbook and The Pescatarian Keto Cookbook. She is an experienced, self-taught home cook who loves to share recipes with others. She also authors the websites Honeybunch Hunts and The Best Vegetarian Recipes. You can see her work on websites such as Veal Made Easy, Parade, Community Table, SoFab Food, Yummly, and FoodGawker.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leslie

      March 05, 2023 at 5:54 pm

      This was the BEST meatloaf I have ever had! Thank you!!!!

      Reply
    2. Dave

      April 21, 2021 at 7:35 pm

      Found recipe easy to follow and my wife usually not a fan of meatloaf liked the flavours. Next time more jalapeños

      Reply
      • Shelby Law Ruttan

        April 22, 2021 at 9:14 am

        Hi Dave, so glad you and your wife enjoyed this meatloaf recipe. Thank you so much for stopping by to share your experience! Shelby

        Reply
    3. Regina

      November 19, 2018 at 7:19 pm

      There’s no breadcrumbs in the recipe. I’ve already made it without them, I hope it turns out ok

      Reply
      • Shelby

        November 19, 2018 at 7:23 pm

        Hi Regina, it will probably be fine. I don't always use breadcrumbs when making meatloaf, just to keep carbs down. However, thank you for alerting me that I had forgotten to add it to my recipe card. I have updated it.

        Reply

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    Welcome! I'm Shelby Law Ruttan, I'm a mom, grandmother, and cookbook author for HoneyB's Kitchen who started blogging family recipes in 2007 for.... 

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