Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Looking to spice up dinner with something bold, flavorful, and wildly comforting? Ellen’s Buffalo Meatloaf is your new weeknight hero. It’s everything you love about classic meatloaf with a fiery twist. Made with lean buffalo meat, tangy hot sauce, creamy blue cheese, and a perfect breadcrumb blend, this dish is rich in flavor, satisfying in texture, and anything but ordinary.
Pure Comfort
This dish delivers soul-warming comfort with every bite. Whether you’re chasing that nostalgic meatloaf feel or simply want something hearty after a long day, this version checks all the boxes. The bold kick of buffalo-style hot sauce combined with melty blue cheese crumbles takes you straight into comfort food heaven with a gourmet edge.
Ingredients for Buffalo meatloaf
Here’s everything you’ll need to make Ellen’s Buffalo Meatloaf at home:
- 1 lb ground buffalo meat
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (panko or traditional)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup buffalo hot sauce (plus more for topping)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
- Optional garnish: parsley or chopped green onion
What You Need
Before you get started, gather these tools:
- Large mixing bowl
- Loaf pan (8×4 or similar)
- Baking sheet (for spillover)
- Aluminum foil
- Meat thermometer (optional but helpful)
Time to Cook Buffalo meatloaf
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 50–60 minutes
- Rest time: 5 minutes
- Total time: ~1 hour 10 minutes
Steps to Make Buffalo meatloaf
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease your loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
- Sauté onions (optional for sweetness here’s why you might want to).
- In a large bowl, combine buffalo meat, breadcrumbs, onion, eggs, ketchup, hot sauce, garlic, salt, pepper, and half of the blue cheese.
- Mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Don’t overmix it can make the meatloaf dense.
- Transfer mixture to your loaf pan. Smooth the top and drizzle more hot sauce over it.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until internal temp reaches 160°F (71°C).
- In the final 10 minutes, sprinkle remaining blue cheese crumbles on top and return to oven.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Make Buffalo meatloaf Perfect
For ultra-moist meatloaf, use a gentle touch when combining ingredients. Overworking the mix can result in a dense, dry loaf. And if you’re out of milk or trying dairy-free, check out these great milk substitutes for meatloaf.
Mix Buffalo meatloaf Up
Want to tweak the flavor profile? Try mixing in:
- Diced celery for crunch
- Shredded carrots for sweetness
- Or make it a fusion with Lipton onion soup mix meatloaf inspiration!
Perfect Partners
Serve Ellen’s Buffalo Meatloaf with:
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Celery sticks + ranch dressing (a nod to buffalo wings)
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Blue cheese wedge salad
Busy Day Hero
Short on time? Prep the meat mixture the night before. Store covered in the fridge, then pop it in the oven the next evening.
Work Ahead
You can also shape the loaf, wrap it tightly in plastic and foil, and freeze it uncooked for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before baking.
Save Some For Later
Leftovers are gold. Reheat slices in the microwave or oven. Or crumble into wraps, salads, or buffalo meatloaf sliders. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Everyone’s Happy
This dish is a family-pleaser even picky eaters dig the cheesy, spicy combo. Customize the heat level with more or less hot sauce depending on who’s at the table.
Good For You Too
Buffalo meat is leaner than beef and rich in iron and protein. Paired with blue cheese (rich in calcium) and baked not fried this dish can fit into a balanced diet.
Easy Clean Up
Line your loaf pan with parchment or foil for stress-free cleanup. One mixing bowl, one pan it’s almost a one-dish wonder.
Switch Buffalo meatloaf Up
Looking to explore other meatloaf variations? You might love:
- Stove Top Stuffing Meatloaf – packed with flavor and texture
- Jalapeño Popper Meatloaf – spicy, creamy, and irresistible
- Easy Glazed Meatloaf – if you’re after that classic brown-sugar ketchup topping
Simply Perfect
Ellen’s Buffalo Meatloaf nails that tricky balance of spicy and savory, rich and hearty, simple and satisfying. It’s the kind of dish that becomes a go-to once you try it and the leftovers might be even better.
FAQs for Buffalo meatloaf
1. Can I use ground beef instead of buffalo?
Yes, but note that buffalo is leaner. If subbing beef, use 85/15 to maintain that juicy texture.
2. Is this too spicy for kids?
You can dial down the buffalo sauce to 1–2 tablespoons and skip the drizzle topping if needed.
3. What breadcrumbs are best?
Plain or Italian-style work great. Panko gives it a light, crisp texture.
4. Can I make this gluten-free?
Absolutely. Use certified gluten-free breadcrumbs and double-check your hot sauce label.
5. How do I know it’s fully cooked?
Use a thermometer: look for 160°F in the center. Or slice it to ensure no pink remains.
6. Does it reheat well?
Like a dream! Cover with foil and warm in a 300°F oven for 15 minutes or microwave individual slices.
Conclusion for Buffalo meatloaf
Ellen’s Buffalo Meatloaf brings bold flavor to the classic comfort food table. It’s spicy, creamy, hearty, and totally satisfying just what you need for an easy, unforgettable dinner. With make-ahead flexibility, family appeal, and rich flavors, this dish is sure to join your regular rotation.
So go ahead, preheat that oven and make something simply perfect tonight.
Happy cooking with Rita chef ❤️!
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Ellen’s Buffalo Meatloaf
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
This bold and comforting Buffalo meatloaf combines lean ground buffalo with spicy hot sauce and creamy blue cheese. It’s a flavor-packed twist on the classic family favorite, perfect for spice lovers and anyone looking to elevate their dinner game.
Ingredients
Ground buffalo meat
Breadcrumbs
Finely chopped onion
Eggs
Ketchup
Buffalo-style hot sauce
Minced garlic
Salt
Black pepper
Blue cheese crumbles
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a loaf pan or line with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the ground buffalo, breadcrumbs, onion, eggs, ketchup, hot sauce, garlic, salt, pepper, and half of the blue cheese. Mix gently until combined, being careful not to overwork the meat. Transfer the mixture into the loaf pan and smooth the top. Drizzle additional hot sauce over the top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. In the last 10 minutes of baking, sprinkle the remaining blue cheese on top. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
To reduce the heat, adjust the amount of buffalo sauce or use a milder version. You can prepare the mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it until ready to bake. For a softer texture, sauté the onions before mixing them in.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: Buffalo meatloaf, spicy meatloaf, blue cheese meatloaf, hot sauce meatloaf