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Home Recipes Meal Recipes

Easy Taco Meatloaf Burgers

Published: Apr 17, 2023 by Sandi Gaertner · 14 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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a pinterest collage photo of the meatloaf burgers

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.
Jump to:
  • Why This Recipe Is Great:
  • Ingredient Notes:
  • Substitutions:
  • Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
  • Topping ideas:
  • Recipe FAQ:
  • More Gluten Free Dinner Recipes:
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Fearless Dining
  • 💬 Comments

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 absolutely 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. Any way you dish it up, this meatloaf with salsa is a family favorite!!

Kids love smushing the corn chips, and it gets them helping in the kitchen. This meatloaf makes enough burgers that you can even freeze some burgers for another time!

If you love easy dinner recipes, don't forget to check out all the delicious gluten free dinner recipes on my site.

Why This Recipe Is Great:

  1. I am in love with 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!

Let's start making this Mexican meatloaf recipe because it will change your world. Meatloaf isn't just for dumping on a plate. It is time to take meatloaf up a notch!!

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 make sure 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 really mix this together.

Meatloaf in a pan ready to bake.

Step 3: Add the meatloaf mixture to a 9x13 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.

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 up to 4 days in an air-tight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.

More Gluten Free Dinner Recipes:

  • Moist Gluten Free Ground Chicken Burgers
  • BBQ Gluten Free Quaker Oats Meatloaf Recipe
  • Grilled Chicken Filet Burger
  • Gluten Free Meatball Subs

📖 Recipe

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
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 35 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Gluten Free Dinner 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
  • ⅓ 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 9x13 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




  1. Teresa Lux

    April 08, 2023 at 1:22 pm

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

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      April 08, 2023 at 6:40 pm

      I am so glad you loved the recipe. You can always add some heat with chopped jalapeños :-). Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Cindy

    October 03, 2021 at 3:40 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 04, 2021 at 9:40 am

      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.

      Reply
  3. Christie

    May 10, 2018 at 4:10 am

    5 stars
    These look devourable! I love all the flavors and will be making these for dinner. Yum!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      May 10, 2018 at 10:09 am

      Thank you so much Christie 🙂

      Reply
  4. Michelle @ The Complete Savorist

    May 10, 2018 at 1:37 am

    Oh Sandi, That's worth a plane ticket to come visit you! Wow.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      May 10, 2018 at 10:13 am

      Awe, thank you and I would love you to come visit!!

      Reply
  5. peter @feed your soul too

    May 09, 2018 at 11:16 am

    5 stars
    Love this idea. Comfort food at its best.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      May 09, 2018 at 5:15 pm

      Thank you so much Peter :-).

      Reply
  6. Wendy

    May 09, 2018 at 9:49 am

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

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      May 09, 2018 at 5:15 pm

      Happy burger month Wendy 🙂

      Reply
  7. Kelly

    May 09, 2018 at 8:37 am

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

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      May 09, 2018 at 5:15 pm

      Thank you so much Kelly, it would definitely feed a crowd 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you are here. If you have Celiac Disease, are gluten intolerant, or have a wheat allergy, you've come to the right place. With years of extensive experience in recipe development, I am dedicated to assisting you on your gluten free journey. As a seasoned gluten free cookbook author and recipe developer, I specialize in creating easy, family-friendly recipes that rival their gluten-filled counterparts. Rest assured, my recipes undergo rigorous testing and refinement, ensuring foolproof results every time.

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