Whenever I walk into family buffet restaurants, I can guarantee there will be meatloaf on it. However, meatloaf is so easy to make that it doesn’t even tempt me. Besides, wrapping it in bacon gives you a family-friendly comfort food restaurant meal without the price tag. Yes, bacon and the glorious glaze scream winner-winner. I must say, wrapping bacon around the ever-delicious meatloaf is genius. Imagine combining two of the most incredible foods in a single dish. It’s almost like a meat-lovers pizza without the crust.

The Traditional Meatloaf Recipe Wrapped With Bacon

Every family has their traditional meatloaf recipe passed down from generation to generation. Although every family has its go-to recipe, essential ingredients include ground meat, bread crumbs, eggs, ketchup, and milk. Of course, you know I can’t resist the temptation to improve a good thing, especially when cooking. (Oh, how I love experimenting and inventing new recipes!) Oh, and if you’d like to try the closest thing to African meatloaf, check out my bobotie recipe.

The Ingredient List

How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 350°F/177℃ with the rack in the middle. Prep Bacon – Line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Then, overlap the slices of bacon on the parchment paper. Set aside. (Photo 1) Glaze – Combine ketchup, Dijon mustard, and sugar in a small bowl and set it aside. (Photo 2) Saute – Heat about a tablespoon of oil in a medium saucepan on medium heat. Add onions, garlic, thyme, and bell pepper. Saute for a minute or two to let the flavors bloom, being careful not to let it burn. Allow it to cool. (Photo 3) Mix Loaf – Add the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, beef bouillon powder, milk, and cayenne pepper (if using any) to a medium bowl. Add the cooled onion mixture. Mix it gently until thoroughly combined. DO NOT OVERMIX. (Photo 4) Form the meatloaf like a log on top of the bacon. Glaze with about ⅔ of the ketchup mix. (Photos 5-7) Wrap – Working along the shorter end of the pan, lift the edge of the meatloaf by the parchment underneath and gently fold it inward until the bacon wraps the meatloaf. Brush with the remaining ketchup mixture. (Photos 8-9) Bake for 45-60 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the meatloaf registers 160℉ (72℃) internal temperature. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. (Photo 10) Serve this meatloaf with mashed potatoes or desired side dish. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

Tips and Tricks

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Bacon-wrapped meatloaf is a great make-ahead recipe for big crowds, potlucks, and family get-togethers. Prep and bake as instructed, pop it in the freezer, and reheat when ready to serve. Easy peasy! Take it out of the freezer and thaw it overnight in the freezer when the big day comes. Then bake as usual and enjoy. Store the leftover meatloaf in an airtight container or wrap it tightly with a cling wrap, removing as much air as possible to keep it moist. It will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days or three months in the freezer. Heat it in the oven and enjoy. BTW, meatloaf makes excellent sandwiches.

What to Enjoy With Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

Besides cream cheese mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade garlic bread, and creamy coleslaw are classic pairings.

More Deliciously Meaty Main Dishes to Try

Watch How to Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”Hgak106L” upload-date=”2022-04-04T07:00:00.000Z” name=”Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf” description=”Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf – What could be more comforting than homemade meatloaf beautifully wrapped in savory, meaty bacon strips? Baked to perfection, then generously drizzled with a sweet and tangy glaze gives it the perfect finish” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] By Imma This blog post was originally published in April 2022 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video

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