Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf is moist and juicy on the inside, and crunchy on the outside. A homemade comfort food, that is easy to make, cheesy, and super flavorful. A unique twist on the classic recipe that is guaranteed to be a huge hit with everyone!
This Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf will quickly become your family’s favorite meal. Just like the classic meatloaf recipe, this one is moist, flavorful, affordable, and can feed a larger crowd. Easily one of the best homemade comfort food. While the bacon gives this recipe an extra bit of smokey flavor, it also adds to the tenderness of this meatloaf.
Baked to crispy perfection on the outside, and is super tender and juicy on the inside. This is the mother of all comfort foods! And if you are a bacon lover, this is the perfect combo. It is easy enough for a family weeknight meal or perfect for guests.
The garlic adds so much flavor, and the cheddar cheese makes it perfectly moist. This delicious homemade recipe can be an easy dinner, as it requires few ingredients. Similarly, the leftovers are delicious, and can easily be reheated.
Recipe Ingredients:
Beef – I use about 90% lean ground beef.
Bacon – Use longer slices of bacon to be able to fully wrap the loaf.
Milk
Large eggs
Onion and garlic
Bread crumbs
Seasoning – Dried parsley, thyme, paprika, Kosher salt, and black pepper. Feel free to use garlic powder and/or onion powder as well.
Cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese – Both are great options here. So, use what you have on hand.
Worcestershire sauce
For the homemade ketchup glaze:
Ketchup
Brown sugar
Apple cider vinegar
Mustard
How to make Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf?
This is one of the easiest comfort food recipes out there. Below are the quick steps to make it. Also, feel free to watch the recipe short video tutorial.
Preheat the oven: While you assemble the dish, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Make the meatloaf: In a large bowl, add the meat mixture: ground beef, milk, egg, onion, garlic, bread crumbs, dried parsley, thyme, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Then, mix them, but do not overmix the ingredients. Next, add the cheese and combine it with your hands with the rest of the ground beef mixture.
Bacon wrap: Form the meatloaf mixture into the shape of a log over the bacon. Then, arrange the bacon strips on top of an aluminum foil (shown in the video attached). Next, place the loaf over the bacon strips, fold the foil, and fill the loaf over, so it is fully wrapped in bacon.
Make the glaze: Whisk together the glaze ingredients and set them aside.
Bake: Transfer it to a baking dish (or loaf pan) and place it in the oven. Then, bake for about 55-60 minutes.
Glaze it: During the mid-way baking time, remove the loaf from the oven and brush with glaze all over it.
Rest and serve: Allow it to rest for about 15 minutes after removing from the oven. Then, serve with your favorite side dish.
Recipe Variations:
This recipe is easily adjustable. Below are some quick tips on how to adapt it:
Swap the meat: You can easily make this dish with any kind of ground meat. For example, try using ground turkey to make Turkey Meatloaf or even ground chicken in place of ground beef.
Add other cheese: Similarly, you can use other cheeses here, or a mixture of them. American, mozzarella, and Asiago cheese works just as fine.
Gluten-free: For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Seasoning: You can easily add your favorite seasonings here. Great additions would be Italian seasoning, chili powder, ranch seasoning, etc.
Add extra vegetables: Also, for additional flavors, feel free to add ingredients like sautéed onions, minced garlic, chopped herbs, or even diced vegetables.
For this recipe, I used ground beef meat. However, any type of meat would work here. Ground pork would work just as well, or you could even mix the two. In addition, if you want a healthier meatloaf, then use ground chicken or ground turkey.
Can I use any type of bacon for this recipe?
Yes! You can use your preferred type of bacon, whether it’s regular, thick-cut, or even turkey bacon. Just remember, that a thicker bacon might take a bit longer to cook and render its fat, so adjust cooking times accordingly.
Why does my meatloaf always fall apart?
Some factors might cause it to fall apart and crumble. One factor to make sure is that meatloaf is not very dry, or that it has too much liquid in it.
So, it’s important to have a nice balance when cooking the meatloaf. Eggs and bread crumbs are key ingredients in keeping this dish together.
Also, we use cheese in our recipe, which keeps the meatloaf nice and puffy.
Lastly, do not overmix it. Mixing the mixture until just combined and not overworking it will help maintain the desired texture.
How to make a meatloaf sandwich?
The great thing about this recipe is that is very versatile. You can easily use leftovers in pasta dishes or make a delicious sandwich.
Simply, use your favorite bread, such as French rolls, and toast it. Then, add a slice of meatloaf to it.
Also, feel free to add tomatoes, lettuce, and extra ketchup on top.
Recommended Meatloaf Cooking Times and temperatures:
I love cooking a 2lb loaf, at 350 degrees F for about 70-80 minutes. This is the optimal cooking time for juicy and succulent meat. Also, to make sure you have a perfectly cooked meatloaf, we recommend using an instant-read thermometer.
The internal temperature should be 160 degrees F. If the temperature is lower than 160 degrees F, put it back into the oven and back for a few extra minutes.
Can I make it Keto?
Yes! To make a Keto meatloaf, you will simply replace the breadcrumbs with almond flour and mix it in with the rest of the ingredients.
Cooked leftover meatloaf properly stored will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. To freeze a cooked meatloaf, wrap it tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil, or place it in an airtight container or freezer wrap. It can be frozen for up to 3-4 months.
Use room-temperature bacon. This is an important one because when you try to roll cold bacon, it just doesn’t mold that well as the fat is all cold.
In addition, you can use turkey bacon instead of the regular type.
Make sure you use longer and thinner bacon slices, that can be wrapped around easily.
Both the lean and regular ground beef would work well. Just know that using the leaner option will result in a slightly denser meatloaf as it has less fat content.
Additionally, you can form the meatloaf up to 8 hours ahead and refrigerate it until ready to bake.
Don’t over-mix the mixture or it can become tough and dry.
Similarly, if you want to use a store-bought BBQ sauce to speed up the process, that will work as well.
Before serving, let the meat rest for 15 minutes so that all the juices seep back. Then slice it and serve.
It is very important to check the temperature for proper doneness. Simply, insert a meat thermometer inside. The temperature should read when ready 165 degrees F when ready.
Also, you can use flavored bacon like maple-glazed or applewood-smoked bacon.
Tools I used to make this Recipe:
Non-Stick Pan Set – I have this set and I love it, I used the smaller pan for this recipe.
Cover a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set it aside.
Make Meatloaf:
Combine ground beef, milk, egg, onion, garlic, bread crumbs, dried parsley, thyme, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and mix well with your hands.
Add the cheddar cheese and again mix well.
Shape the beef mixture into a loaf shape and set it aside.
Make a Bacon Weave:
Lay half of the bacon strips, one next to each other, vertically across the prepared rimmed baking sheet.
Lift up and fold back the ends of every other bacon strip on one side of the baking sheet. Place a bacon slice perpendicular to the horizontal rows of bacon, on top of the bacon strips that were not folded back. Straighten out the folded bacon strips to cover the strip that has just been placed.
Lift up and fold back the ends of the horizontal bacon strips that are under the vertical bacon strip to the side of the baking sheet. Place a bacon slice right next to the first vertical bacon strip, directly on top of the bacon strips that you did not fold back. Repeat the process of alternating the vertical and horizontal bacon strips until you reach the other end of the horizontal bacon strips.
Wrap in Bacon:
Check and make sure that the loaf-shaped meat is the same length as the bacon weave. If needed reshape it.
Place the loaf-shaped meat in the center of the weave. Wrap in bacon, and flip on the other side, meaning that the bacon ends should be tucked under the meat.
Meatloaf Glaze:
Combine all the glaze ingredients in a bowl until smooth and set aside.
Bake:
Transfer the dish into the oven and bake for about 70-90 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the inside temperature is 160F degrees. Mid-baking covers the meatloaf in the prepared glaze. Brush it all over the surface.
Once the meatloaf is done, let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve with your favorite side dish.
I am really excited to make your meatloaf recipe. Making this weekend. Just have one question for the glaze. In the video mustard is an ingredient but it is not listed in the recipe. Just wondering how much mustard to use? Thank you and can’t wait, my hubby is going to love this!
An entire cup of cheese, and nobody knew it.. lol. My family wants me to cook two next time for sandwiches during the week! My changes to this recipe were in line with your suggestions, so i can't thank you enough. Easy and delicious!
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