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!
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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 we love using leftover meatloaf to make burgers:
- I love this new burger idea because you don’t need expensive fancy, gluten-free panko or bread crumbs. All you need is corn chips…and they can even be stale!
- You can enjoy this taco meatloaf as a whole or serve it cut on a bun as a burger!
- These taco meatloaf burgers are gluten free with a dairy-free option!
- This recipe is easy to make ahead of time and easy to freeze!
I made this and we really enjoyed it! Not too spicy but great flavor! Will definitely make this again.”
teresa, blog comment
Allergen Information:
This taco meatloaf burger recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, oat-free, and soy-free. It is easy to make dairy-free using plant-based vegan cheese.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- 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.
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
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Step 1: Add crushed corn tortilla chips, sliced leeks (or onions), spices, shredded cheese, egg, and chopped pasilla peppers in a
Step 2: Add the ground beef and mix well. I find the seasonings blend best when you use your hands to mix them.
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 of the 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.
You can make sliders with this taco meatloaf using this Gluten Free Honey Rolls recipe or burgers with my Gluten Free Hamburger Buns.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Your meatloaf is done baking when it has an internal temperature of 165º F. Use a digital meat thermometer to measure this temperature.
To freeze the extra meatloaf, cut the cooled meatloaf into burger-sized squares. Place into a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze.
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:
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Southwestern Meatloaf Burger
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef * see note
- ½ cup cheddar cheese
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup chopped peppers
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
- ½ cup jar salsa
- ⅓ cup chopped leek or onion
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons taco seasoning see note.
Burger Toppings
- 2 tablespoons cilantro
- ¼ cup poblano or green pepper slices
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- In a large bowl, add 2 pounds ground beef, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1 large egg, 1/4 cup chopped peppers, 1 cup crushed tortilla chips, 1/2 cup jar salsa, 1/3 cup chopped leek or onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1-2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- Mix the meat mixture well. Spray gluten-free baking spray to a 9×13 baking pan. Pour the meat mixture into the pan and use a large spoon to spread it evenly.
- Top the uncooked meatloaf with additional shredded cheese and bake for 35-40 minutes or until done. The final cooking time will vary by the size and depth of your pan. To test for doneness, insert a digital thermometer into the middle of the meatloaf. If it reads 165º F, the meatloaf is finished baking.
- Assemble as a burger with fresh cilantro and pepper slices. You can add more salsa on top if you like.
Notes
- Use ground beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or turkey in this meatloaf burger recipe.
- Be sure to check the label of your taco seasoning to ensure it is gluten free.
- 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.
- Pasilla peppers, aka padrone peppers, are very mild. You can also use green bell peppers.
- These burgers will keep up to 4 days in an airtight 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, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
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.
I made this and we really enjoyed it! Not too spicy but great flavor! Will definitely make this again.
I am so glad you loved the recipe. You can always add some heat with chopped jalapeños :-). Thank you!
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.
Padron peppers are pretty small and are harder to find year-round. Poblano has a very similar flavor so I would recommend using that. A pasilla is a dried poblano.