Best Taco Meatloaf
We love meatloaf and tacos, so when a friend gave us this delicious Taco Meatloaf recipe we couldn’t wait to try it. This meatloaf is so easy and flavorful it’s a regular on our menu!
Easy Taco Meatloaf Recipe
The best cheesy flavors in this Mexican inspired dish are so unique, yet so common you can’t stop craving them. All of the taco ingredients mixed up in a meatloaf makes an easy recipe that is popular at the dinner table. Everyone always clears their plates!
This recipe for taco meatloaf or Mexican meatloaf is so easy to make. This is our favorite version, but it’s very easy to personalize by mixing in black beans or serve with sour cream and cilantro.
Just mix up ground pork, ground beef, a 10-ounce bag of Doritos, salsa, cheese, taco seasoning, and eggs.
We love that this recipe makes enough for us to have a couple more meals throughout the week! A couple more variations of individual meatloaves are the Best Pizza Meatloaf and Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf. They’re all SO delicious!
Mini Mexican Meatloaf
We like to form the meat mixture into serving sized mini meatloaves in our hands. Topping each mini meatloaf with more salsa and cheese helps keep them extra moist.
Bake at 350ºF for about 30 minutes, but be sure to use a meat thermometer.
Since meatloaves can vary in size using a meat thermometer to determine doneness is very important! We don’t guess or look at color with ground meat, we always use a digital meat thermometer that reads 160ºF for an internal temperature.
This meal tastes great served with Black Beans and Yellow Rice and a simple green salad.
Our family’s traditional meatloaf is Farmhouse Meatloaf, sometimes it’s easier to use a slow cooker so we make our super moist Slow Cooker Applesauce Meatloaf or Crock Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf. They are all very good meatloaf recipes!
Should I Buy Meat at the Grocery Store?
As I’ve shared we are farmers. We raise pigs and cows and my in-laws raise pig and turkeys. We always have plenty of our own beef in the freezer so that’s where we got the ground beef for this recipe. While we raise pigs we usually buy our pork at the grocery store because there’s only a set amount of bacon, ham and pork chops on each pig. Sometimes we want more or less of a certain cut of pork and with limited freezer space, it usually makes sense for us to pick up the pork we want when it’s on sale. So we bought the ground pork at Kroger.
I know that pigs from both sides of our families are sold to packing plants that eventually sell their meat to Kroger. So we do support our own family and families all across the United States just like ours when we buy meat at the grocery store.
How to Make Taco Meatloaf
- Preheat oven to 350ºF
- Mix meatloaf ingredients well and shape into mini loaves with your hands
- Top with salsa and cheese
- Bake for about 30 – 40 minutes or until internal temperature is 160ºF
Ingredients Needed
- Lean Ground Pork is a very affordable meat that adds depth of flavor to the beef
- Lean ground beef is a classic flavor people crave, but it tastes better in taco type meals when mixed with pork
- Taco seasoning has all the salt and spices that add flavor this meatloaf! You can use a purchased packet of seasoning or a homemade recipe.
- Doritos adds a cheddar cheesy unique type of crunch and texture. Helps thicken the mixture and bing the meat together.
- Eggs are another binding agent that mixes together and helps keep the meat from falling apart.
- Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese because the flavor or cheese makes everything better. Since we eat with our eyes melting cheese on top makes this recipe irresistible.
- Salsa we typically use mild salsa to add some tomato and veggies flavorings. Keeps the meatloaf moist as it bakes. For more heat feel free to use a spicy salsa.
Tips for Making Mini Taco Meatloaf
- Crush Doritos into fairly small pieces to make mixing easier
- Shape meatloaves equal sizes so they cook evenly
- Use a digital meat thermometer inserted in the center of meatloaves to ensure internal temperature reads 160ºF
- Meatloaves can be topped with salsa and cheese at the beginning of baking time OR part way through baking time to prevent cheese from burning
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave, cover with a lid to cut down on splatter and keep the appliance clean
- Meatloaves freeze well in an airtight container or freezer bag
Making a Single Meatloaf
Spread meat mixture in a square 8×8″or 9×9″ pan and press evenly. Spread salsa and sprinkle cheese on top.
Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Cook until a digital thermometer reads 160ºF.
Leftovers
Leftover meatloaf should be stored in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 5 days. They can also be wrapped and stored in a self sealing bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Slice up leftover taco meatloaf with Doritos and reheat to eat plain or serve in tacos with lettuce, sour cream, diced onion and cilantro.
More Delicious Meal Ideas
- Applesauce Meatballs
- Easy Ground Pork Tacos
- Easy Crock Pot Mac & Cheese
- Pizza Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Big Mac Tacos
Easy Desserts to Serve with Meatloaf
- 5 Ingredient Chocolate & Peanut Butter Bars
- Best Rich & Moist Chocolate Cake
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake
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Best Taco Meatloaf
Ingredients
Mini Meatloaves
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound lean ground pork
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 12 ounce bag crushed Doritos
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 16 ounces salsa
Meatloaf Topping
- 8 ounces salsa
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Cover baking sheet with foil.
- Mix meatloaf ingredients well. Shape into loaves the desired size with your hands.
- Top with salsa and remaining cheese.
- Bake for 30 – 45 minutes until internal temperature is 160°F.
Video
Notes
- Crush Doritos into fairly small pieces to make mixing easier
- Shape meatloaves equal sizes so they cook evenly
- Use a digital meat thermometer inserted in the center of meatloaves to ensure internal temperature reads 160ºF
- Meatloaves can be topped with salsa and cheese at the beginning of baking time OR part way through baking time to prevent cheese from burning
- Meatloaves freeze well in an airtight container or freezer bag
- We made 7 mini meat loaves and they reached 160 degrees internal temp in 30 minutes.
Did you make this recipe?
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Rate This Recipe Pin This RecipeOriginally published on November 6, 2018 and updated on December 5, 2022.
Do you think I could half this recipe if I don’t have one or the other meat? It looks yummy!
Absolutely! The flavor would change slightly, but I think it will still be delicious! And yes, this is a big recipe. I hope you enjoy 🙂
Spanish Rice and any vegetable would be great!
Can you use just hamburger and no pork?
Sure! The flavor will likely change a little bit, but I’m sure it will still taste good 🙂
Is it ok for the chips to be in raw egg and meat?
Since it is ground meat be sure to use a meat thermometer and follow all food safety guidelines. We cook ground beef and ground pork to 160 degrees F, internal temperature.
The mixture will be thoroughly cooked so it won’t matter. You put bread crumbs, cracker crumbs or oatmeal in regular meatloaf.
What would be a good side?
We love to use a frozen bag of steamable vegetables. Italian style green beans are our favorite, but sometimes we just use what we have on hand 🙂
One word…..yum!!! Thanks for sharing your meatloaf with all of us at Weekend Potluck, Jennifer! Hope to see you tomorrow, sharing more of your delicious recipes!
Thank you so much! Yeah!!! We love this recipe and hope others will too!
Thanks for this recipe. My family loved it and you made me look good! THANK YOU.
Is there something else I can use instead of chips or will it work without them? Gotta stay away from carbs
Great question! I haven’t tested other options, but if you do please let me know how it turns out!
After I have tried a new recipe, I ask my husband if it is a “keeper.” Today I tried this delicious recipe and he said it is definitely a keeper. Thanks for sharing it with us
We are doing low xarb,and this recipe sounds delicious! I am wondering how many ounces/cup would the crushed Dorito equal, as I would like to replace those with crushed pork rinds to make this a low carb meal? I can’t wait to try it!!!
Update. This was ABSOLUTELY delicious!!! I made 2 changes, since hubby & I are doing low carb eating I substituted pork rind planko (2 cups) for the Doritos, and rather than small “loaves” I used my muffin tins. The recipe made 26 Taco Meatloaf Muffins. Will definitely make again, so good!
I was wondering if these could be froze?
We have cooked these and frozen extras to be reheated later. This works well for us. Always be sure to follow safe food handling procedures!
Do I put 16 Oz of salsa in the meat loaf mix and 8 Oz of cheese in the meat loaf mix? Then do I put 8 ounces of salsa and 8 ounces of cheese on top? It’s probably me, but I don’t quite understand the directions. Got all the ingredients and am excited to make this. Can’t wait to make it! Thank you.
Yes! You got it exactly right! The meatloaf ingredients are listed first, mix all of them together and shape as desired. Then top with the salsa and wait until almost done baking to add cheese to prevent burning. I hope you enjoy!
This recipe sounds pretty easy and looks really good!! I like the small, almost meatball looking meatloaves. Can I use pepperjack cheese instead of cheddar or fiesta cheese? I didn’t know if it melts differently than other cheese. Thank you in advance.
Yes! Feel free to try different cheeses. We’ve found that lighter colored cheeses burn more easily and it’s better to put them on for the last ten minutes of baking to allow just enough time for them to melt.
It was me!!!! Brain fog!!! You were very explicit re directions. Thanks so much for replying so soon!! My granddaughter is going to love this recipe!!
This recipe is great! I don’t bake with the salsa and cheese on top and put the burger in a tortilla with refried beans and salsa and cheese and wrap the tortilla around them and grill them. My family loves them! Especially with tater tots and salad!
So glad you love the recipe! Thanks for sharing how you’ve personalized it!
There are so many types of salsa . . do you use chunky or restaurant style?
Great question! Our family likes a smoother salsa, so I do not use chunky, but I think using whatever your family likes or whatever you have on hand would be fine!
This taco meatloaf was amazing! My husband isn’t much of a meatloaf guy, says he eats it cuz that’s what I make. However, he had his plate completely clean by the time I asked him how he liked it and wanted another serving. Now that’s totally unheard of when it comes from him. Ya’ll need to try this recipe as follows! So delicious!
So glad to hear this! Thanks so much for trying the recipe and sharing this review!
How does this work as a regular loaf vs. mini loaves?
Great question! We haven’t tested this exact recipe in a regular-sized loaf, but I think the only major change would be the cooking time. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the meatloaf is fully cooked. Please let me know if you give it a try. Thanks!
Delicious!
Wondering about grilling these like burgers and topping with pepper jack cheese. With the guys in the field, it would be easier for them to eat.
Hey There! Love this idea! We did something similar a few years ago with this burger: https://plowingthroughlife.com/loaded-taco-burger-2/
I think the meatloaf might be best baked, but we definitely grill the burgers 🙂
Hope you enjoy the recipes as much as we do!
Just found this recipe, have made it twice, and it’s certainly a new family favorite. The 2nd time I made it I added enchilada sauce to the topping and that took it up another notch. Also the 2nd time I a bit less Doritos than in the recipe as it was a little dry the first time I tried it.
This looks so good! I want to make this. Plus it’s only 10g of carbs which isn’t bad for keto people like me. Have or can you top this with sour cream?
Hey There! I haven’t tested these with sour cream, but that sounds delicious! I did want to make sure you saw this comment on lowering carbs from Robin – “Update. This was ABSOLUTELY delicious!!! I made 2 changes, since hubby & I are doing low carb eating I substituted pork rind panko (2 cups) for the Doritos, and rather than small “loaves” I used my muffin tins. The recipe made 26 Taco Meatloaf Muffins. Will definitely make again, so good!”
Atkins has Keto Doritos now! Making these tonight!
Nice post