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

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
2. Mix meatloaf ingredients well and shape into mini loaves with your hands
3. Top with salsa and cheese
4. 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!
• 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

Originally published on November 6, 2018 and updated on December 5, 2022.