These juicy Gluten Free Taco Meatloaf Burgers are flavor-packed moist burgers that will make any burger lover happy!! Crushed tortilla chips make the perfect meatloaf patties!

A taco meatloaf burger on a cutting board with a knife stabbing into it.

I am so excited to share my newest recipe with you. You will never say meatloaf is boring again!! This homemade taco meatloaf recipe is delicious. It is naturally gluten free, and there are dairy-free options!

I added taco seasonings and crispy tortilla chips to the meatloaf and topped it with cheese, peppers, and fresh cilantro to add flavor. Whatever you dish it up, this meatloaf with salsa is a family favorite!!

If you love easy dinner recipes, don’t forget to check out all the delicious gluten free dinner recipes on my site. You may also enjoy this Gluten Free Meatloaf with Oats recipe!

Why This Recipe Is Great:

  1. I love this new idea for burgers because you don’t need any expensive fancy gluten free panko or bread crumbs. All you need is corn chips…and they can even be stale!
  2. You can enjoy this taco meatloaf as a whole or serve it cut on a bun as a burger!
  3. These taco meatloaf burgers are gluten free with a dairy-free option!
  4. This recipe is easy to make ahead of time and easy to freeze!

Ingredient Notes:

Photos of the taco meatloaf burgers ingredients.
  • Ground Beef – You can use ground turkey, chicken, lamb, pork, or bison. I also have used Impossible vegan meat in this recipe.
  • Tortilla Chips – Please check the ingredients to ensure your chips are gluten free. A few companies add flour, so always reading the labels is a good habit.
  • Egg – Use size large.
  • Taco Seasoning – I used Penzey’s brand taco seasoning. Always check the label to ensure the seasoning you use is gluten free.
  • Salsa – Use mild or spicy. Buy the brand you like best because most are gluten free.
  • Cheddar Cheese – Either sharp or mild shredded cheese tastes delicious in this recipe.
  • Onions – (not pictured above) Use yellow onions. You can also use leeks.
  • Pasilla Peppers – These peppers are pretty mild.
  • Cilantro – Fresh is best.
  • Gluten free Hamburger Buns – Use my recipe or store-bought gluten free buns.

Substitutions:

  • Make it dairy-free by using vegan cheese. My favorite brand is VioLife at Whole Foods and Sprout Market.
  • Substitute green bell peppers for the pasilla peppers.
  • If you are corn-free, substitute the tortilla chips for crushed gluten free pretzels or potato chips.

Serve these burgers as a fun twist for Cinco de Mayo.

Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

Corn chips, leeks, cheese and green pepper in a bowl.

Step 1: Add crushed corn tortilla chips, sliced leeks (or onions), spices, shredded cheese, egg, and chopped pasilla peppers in a mixing bowl. Mix well.

Ground beef added to meatloaf ingredients.

Step 2: Add the ground beef and mix well. I find the seasonings blend best when you use your hands to mix them.

Meatloaf in a pan ready to bake.

Step 3: Add the meatloaf mixture to a 9×13 casserole dish and mash it down with a fork. Top with salsa and shredded cheese. Bake at 375º F for 30-40 minutes until the meatloaf is done.

The actual bake time will vary depending on the size dish you bake the meatloaf in. Glass dishes need more baking time than metal baking dishes.

Step 4: Slice up your taco meatloaf and add it to a gluten free bun. Top with fresh cilantro, more cheese, and more sliced pasilla peppers. Serve hot.

Topping ideas:

  • Tomatoes
  • Lettuce
  • Tortilla chips (fun, right?)
  • A slice of cheddar cheese
  • Guacamole

If you love meatloaf, you will want to try this Gluten Free Turkey Meatloaf or this BBQ Ground Turkey Quaker Oats Meatloaf (they finally make certified gluten free oats!)

You can make sliders with this taco meatloaf using this Gluten Free Honey Rolls recipe or burgers with my Gluten Free Hamburger Buns. If you like creative burgers, you will also want to try this Brisket Burger recipe.

A slice of taco meatloaf on a plate.

Recipe FAQ:

How do you know when the meatloaf is done baking?

Your meatloaf is done baking when it has an internal temperature of 165º F. Use a digital meat thermometer to measure this temperature.

How do you freeze the extra taco meatloaf?

To freeze the extra meatloaf, cut the cooled meatloaf into burger-sized squares. Place into a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze.

How long will these keep fresh?

These burgers will keep fresh for up to 4 days in an air-tight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.

More Gluten Free Dinner Recipes:

a meatloaf burger on a cutting board with a knife stabbing into it

Southwestern Meatloaf Burger

Sandi Gaertner
An easy Mexican Meatloaf recipe that can be used to make Southwestern Meatloaf Burgers.
5 from 14 votes
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Gluten Free Dinner Recipes, Meal Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 322 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground beef * see note
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup pasilla peppers chopped
  • 1 cup tortilla chips crushed
  • ½ cup salsa
  • â…“ cup leek or onion
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1-2 tablespoons taco seasoning see note.

Burger Toppings

  • 2 tablespoons cilantro
  • ¼ cup pasilla pepper slices

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350º F.
  • In a large bowl, add all ingredients (the first 9 ingredients).
  • Mix well. Add to a 9×13 baking pan.
  • Top with more shredded cheese and bake for 35 minutes or until done. Depending on the size of your dish it may cook slower or faster.
  • Assemble as a burger with fresh cilantro and pasilla pepper slices. You can add more salsa on top if you like.

Notes

  1. Use ground beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or turkey in this meatloaf burger recipe.
  2. Be sure to check the label of your taco seasoning to ensure it is gluten free.
  3. I like to use gluten free ciabatta buns by Schar. Any gluten free hamburger bun will also work well. You can also make my homemade Gluten Free Hamburger Buns recipe.
  4. Pasilla peppers, aka padrone peppers, are very mild. You can also use green bell peppers.
  5. These burgers will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 322kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 19gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 359mgPotassium: 330mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 211IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

This post was updated from an old May 2018 post with more recipe details.

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Recipe Rating




14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this and we really enjoyed it! Not too spicy but great flavor! Will definitely make this again.

  2. Are the Padilla or padrone peppers the same as poblano? When I try to search that’s what comes up. I can’t find Padilla or padrone.

  3. I’m sure these were delicious. Many of the same ingredients as mine, except I made patties and grilled them. Happy #BurgerMonth.

  4. 5 stars
    Omg, this sounds heavenly! And it would be perfect to serve a hungry crowd for a party, too!! Just wonderful!!