Instant Pot Boarding House Meatloaf Bites

Instant Pot Boarding House Meatloaf Bites—a perfect bite of southern meatloaf with a tangy sauce. An easy and tasty recipe to make with a pound of ground beef! Variations include a whole meatloaf, a slow cooker version and in muffin tins in the oven.

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Note: the SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe card below

Instant Pot Boarding House Meatloaf Bites

This mini meatloaf bites recipe is adapted from a cookbook called Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House Cookbook. The original recipe was made as a full meatloaf in the oven. My version is meatloaf bites (using your egg bite mold) in the Instant Pot (although I’ve included instructions on how to make in the oven or slow cooker as well). This meatloaf is warm, delicious and so flavorful. It has a short amount of prep time. And one of the best parts of the meatloaf bites is the homemade sauce that gets brushed on top. It’s a tangy sauce that brings everything together. My family took these bites down in no time! I hope you like them as much as we did!

Ingredients

For the meatloaf:

• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper and chopped onion–fresh veg add flavor and texture
• 1 pound lean ground beef— I used (85/15) so it had enough flavor but it wasn’t swimming in grease
• 1 egg–to hold it together
• 1/3 cup quick oatmeal–acts as a binder, a twist on bread crumbs which are normally used
• 2 Tbsp ketchup–provides additional flavoring
• 3/4 tsp kosher salt–to season the beef

For the meatloaf sauce:

• 2 Tbsp butter–to saute the veggies in
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper and 1/4 cup chopped onion–fresh veg add flavor and texture
• 3/4 cup ketchup–for the base of the glaze
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar–you need this added acidity. I prefer apple cider vinegar, but feel free to experiment with your favorite vinegar.

How to Make These Meatloaf Bites

Instant Pot Instructions:

1. Soften vegetables in microwave: Add ½ cup green pepper and onions to a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. This will soften up the veg so they are not crunchy in your meatloaf.
2. Mix meatloaf ingredients: Combine the green pepper, onion, ground beef, egg, oatmeal, ketchup and salt and mix with clean or gloved hands. I buy disposable kitchen gloves* for jobs like this. 
3. Add to egg bite molds: Spray 2 silicone egg bite molds* with non-stick spray. Then fill each mold about ⅔ full. Cover each mold with foil. If you don’t have the egg bite molds you can make this as one big meatloaf (find instructions in the recipe card).
4. Prepare pot: Pour 1 ½ cups water into bottom of Instant Pot. Place a trivet* in the bottom of the pot. Place the egg bite molds on top of the trivet stacked on top of each other. 
5. Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 25 minutes on high pressure. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid. (You can also let these sit in the warm pot until you are ready to eat).
6. Dry pot: Remove the molds and the trivet. Set aside. Discard the water and dry out the Instant Pot liner. 
7. Make sauce: Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. Add in the butter and let it melt. Then add in the onion and green pepper and saute until vegetables are tender. Stir in the ketchup and vinegar and simmer until sauce thickens. Turn off Instant Pot.
8. Serve: Remove the foil from the molds and spoon some of the sauce over each of the meatloaf bites. Carefully scoop out with a spoon and serve.

Can I make this in the slow cooker?

To make in the slow cooker make this as one big meatloaf. On the top of a piece of non-stick foil form the meat mixture into a oblong loaf that will fit inside your slow cooker. Carefully transfer the foil and the meatloaf into a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until a meat thermometer registers 165 degrees F. 

Can I make these in the the oven?

Yes! You can fill muffin tins with the meatloaf mixture and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Add the glaze and bake for 10 more minutes. This is good method to use if you want to double the recipe. (Fill the muffin cups about 2/3 full.)

Tips

• Pack the meat into the egg bite molds with the back of a spoon. They will stay together better.
• If you have silicone lids for your egg bite molds you can use them in the place of foil. Just make sure they aren’t plastic or they will melt.
• I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can also make this in an 8 quart pot with no changes.
• You can also make this as one big meatloaf. On the top of a piece of non-stick foil form the meat mixture into a oblong shape that will fit inside your Instant Pot. Carefully transfer the foil and the meatloaf on top of the trivet. Pressure cook for 25 minutes. 
• To make gluten free use certified gluten free oatmeal. Also make sure ketchup is gluten-free.
• To lower the carb count on this recipe use low carb BBQ sauce in the place of ketchup.

Variations

• Use ground turkey or ground pork instead of ground beef. You can also use a combination of different types of ground meat.
• Try another color of bell peppers instead of green
• Try using BBQ sauce in the place of ketchup
• Use breadcrumbs in the place of the oatmeal
• If you don’t want a chunky glaze then you can puree it with a blender or just use the ketchup and vinegar instead of the onions and bell peppers

How to Freeze and Reheat Meatloaf Bites

• Place the mini meatloaves on a baking sheet and move them to the freezer. When they are frozen solid, transfer them to freezer bags or an airtight container. Freeze for up to three months.
• To reheat meatloaf bites place them on a pan and bake at 350° F for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until they register 165° F.

What to serve with the Meatloaf Bites

Mashed potatoes or baked potatoes and a green vegetable (like green beans) pair well with meatloaf.

More Instant Pot Meatloaf Recipes You’ll Love…

Instant Pot Tennessee Meatloaf

Mac And Cheese Meatloaf Casserole

Instant Pot Southern Meatloaf Casserole

Instant Pot Meatloaf Melts

Instant Pot Meatloaf And Baked Potatoes

Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc. Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.

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*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.