Description
Sizzling bacon cheeseburger meatloaf merges classic comfort with bold burger flavors, creating a hearty meal that celebrates American culinary creativity. Juicy ground beef, crispy bacon, and melted cheese combine in a mouthwatering dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 4 slices bacon
- ½ cup (115g) shredded cheddar cheese
Binding and Moisture Ingredients:
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup (40g) finely chopped onion
- ¼ cup (40g) finely chopped dill pickles
Seasoning and Glaze Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60 ml) ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Glaze:
- ¼ cup (60 ml) ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon mustard
Instructions
- Prepare workstation by gathering all ingredients and preheating oven to 350°F.
- Combine ground beef with breadcrumbs, milk, ketchup, diced onion, chopped pickles, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Thoroughly blend ingredients using hands or spatula until mixture becomes uniform and well-incorporated.
- Transfer meat mixture into a baking dish, carefully molding into a compact rectangular shape with slight dome on top.
- Meticulously drape uncooked bacon strips horizontally across the meatloaf surface, ensuring complete coverage and tucking edges underneath.
- Generously distribute shredded cheddar cheese over bacon layer for enhanced flavor and texture.
- Create tangy glaze by whisking ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard until smooth and glossy.
- Evenly spread prepared glaze across entire meatloaf surface, ensuring complete and consistent coverage.
- Place meatloaf in preheated oven and bake for approximately 60 minutes, monitoring until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Remove from oven and allow meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes, enabling juices to redistribute and ensuring easier slicing.
- Slice into thick portions and serve with complementary side dishes.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and keep the meatloaf moist without being too fatty.
- Finely chop onions and pickles to ensure even distribution and prevent large chunks disrupting the texture.
- Mix ingredients gently to avoid overworking the meat, which can make the meatloaf tough and dense.
- Drain excess bacon grease halfway through cooking to prevent the meatloaf from becoming too greasy.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute breadcrumbs with crushed pork rinds or gluten-free oats.
- Test doneness with a meat thermometer to guarantee food safety and perfect moisture level.
- Let meatloaf rest before slicing to help it maintain structural integrity and lock in juices.
- Customize the glaze by adding hot sauce or sriracha for extra kick and flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg