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Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf is a dressed up version of a favorite comfort food. Lightly seasoned and covered with bacon and a delicious ketchup balsamic glaze it is a fun twist on a classic dish.
We love our comfort food! Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is always a good option as well as some delicious Chicken and Dumplings. Another favorite comfort food from my childhood is Chicken Enchiladas just like my mother use to make.
Comfort Food
I grew up eating meatloaf so it is a comfort food for me. The best part of having meatloaf for dinner though was having a meatloaf sandwich the next day! My 90 year old mother’s favorite meal is still meatloaf and she makes it regularly.
I find that meatloaf often has a bad reputation but, made correctly, meatloaf is amazing comfort food. I always make my mom’s meatloaf and her recipe is the basis for today’s bacon wrapped meatloaf. We’re going to add a special twist to the meatloaf today and dress it up a bit with some bacon. Everything’s better with bacon, right!?
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Hamburger. I like to use a 90/10 hamburger so that I don’t have too much grease cooking off the meatloaf. You can add in some ground pork, chicken or turkey if you like.
- Seasoning. I always use salt and pepper and some Italian Seasoning. I also use mayo, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup.
- Breadcrumbs. Use regular dry breadcrumbs or panko crumbs. If you use seasoned breadcrumbs, just leave the Italian seasoning out.
- Eggs. These act as a binder for the meatloaf and hold all the ingredients together. They prevent the meatloaf from falling apart.
- Bacon. Use a thin cut bacon so that it cooks completely, evenly and gets crisp.
After you have mixed together your meatloaf ingredients and formed it into a loaf, place it on a broiler pan. The grease that cooks off will drain through the broiler pan and your meatloaf won’t be sitting in it’s own fat as it cooks
Wrap meatloaf with thin slices of bacon covering the entire meatloaf but not overlapping the bacon. Tuck the ends of the bacon under the meatloaf.
Ketchup Glaze
This is the best part of the meatloaf as far as I’m concerned. Ketchup Glaze is a mixture of ketchup, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. It is used as a topping on the meatloaf and is delish!
Add a thin layer of ketchup glaze to the shaped meatloaf and then cover the meatloaf with bacon, in a single layer. Add another light layer of the ketchup glaze over the top of the bacon.
Bake the meatloaf at 350 degrees F for about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with the remaining ketchup mixture.
Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F. and bake for another 12-15 minutes until ketchup glaze as set up. If the bacon appears to be burning, cover the top of the meatloaf with foil. Cook to desired temperature, I cook mine to about 155 degrees F. I always use my favorite Therma Pen to check the temperature.
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Some favorite side dishes to serve with meatloaf:
Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
Ingredients
Meatloaf Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef extra lean
- 4 tsp garlic
- 2 Tbsp minced dried onion
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 Tbsp ketchup
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 8-10 thin bacon slices
Meatloaf Glaze
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Place all meatloaf ingredients except for the bacon and Ketchup Glaze ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix to combine.
- With clean hands, mix the ingredients until combined well
- Form the mixture into a loaf shape and place on a broiler pan, this will allow the fat from the meat to drain
- Lay bacon slices over the top, tucking them underneath the meatloaf
- Make the tomato gravy
- Pour the ketchup into a small bowl, add brown sugar and balsamic vinegar
- Stir the mixture until well combined
- Brush a light coating of ketchup glaze over meatloaf. Add strips of bacon in a single layer, not overlapping. Brush with another light coat of tomato gravy.
- Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with remaining ketchup glaze. Increase heat of oven to 400 degrees F. and bake for another 15-20 minutes of until internal temperature reaches 155-160 degrees F.
Nutrition Facts:
Originally published on February 5, 2010
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Anh says
I thought I was the only one with a scarred experience with meatloaf. About 2 decades ago, a guy from church who had a crush on my sister, came over to our apartment to cook her a Valentine’s Day dinner. It was meatloaf, I was excited to try it since I have never had it. OMGosh, it was undercooked and I cook not look at meatloaf again for years. Just a couple of years ago, I conquered my fear and tried out Paula Deen’s meatloaf recipe. My husband loved it and I have been using that recipe ever since. I’m loving your website and can’t wait to try out your enchilada and spanish rice recipes as well as your chocolate chip ~ although with the recall on the eggs right now, I must resist the urge to eat the dough raw and can’t let my young children do it either. Thank you and I’m so glad a friend introduced me to your website.
Meg says
I just made one and popped it in the fridge for later. I couldn’t believe how quick and easy. My meatloaf is usually such a chore! It’s beautiful and I can’t wait to taste it!
Cristine says
I tried this meatloaf out last night, and it was a little too bland for us. We loved the bacon on the top, and the ketchup gravy was so great! My favorite meatloaf recipe is the one on the box of Lipton Beef Onion soup packets! Thanks for the great recipes! We love trying them out!
Zupan's Markets says
This does look like it’s worth a try. Zupan’s has some delicious handmade meatloaf on days that you don’t want to go to the labor of making it on your own, but we’d like to pass this recipe onto our readers as well!
Valerie H. says
Oh, you are just to funny about that old grey meatloaf!!! Yuck!
I haven’t tried Pioneer Woman’s meatloaf recipe yet but I have tried
Pastor Ryan’s that she (PW) had showcased on her website. It was good.
I’ll have to give this one a try too. Glad you got over your phobia!
Rebecca says
My husband’s motto is “everything tastes better with bacon.” So, I was sold on this recipe as soon as I saw the bacon wrap. Thanks for the review!
Renee A. says
The pics of your meatloaf look so elegant! I have a recipe that’s not bad, but I must admit your looks pretty good. Sadly, whenever I make meatloaf, I have to set aside enough meat to make patties for my 14 and 4 year old…oh well!
Jennifer says
Pioneer Woman has another meatloaf recipe on her website that was done by Pastor Ryan. I think it is called Cajun Meatloaf and it is delicious. I have never been able to find a meatloaf that we liked, but this one did the trick. I revised it a little and put the bacon and tomato gravy on it also.
Pauline says
HaHa. I had grey meatloaf once too. The woman kept asking me I thought it was done yet and I kept saying no because of the color and then I found out it was ground turkey or chicken meatloaf. Not a pretty color and it never browns.
MelanieL says
We’re meatloaf fans and this looks delicious! I’m loving your “reviews” of her recipes, thanks! I need to get on the ball trying them out myself! I have the book I don’t know what I’m waiting for:)