Bacon Cheddar Meatloaf

Crispy bacon. Pockets of gooey cheddar. Yellow onions cooked in bacon drippings. This Bacon Cheddar Meatloaf has ALL the good stuff.

I created this recipe after being disappointed by so many meatloaf recipes. Too boring, too soft, too flavorless—there are a lot of recipes out there. While the texture on some of them is good, many lack anything interesting about them.

So what better way to add flavor than to add bacon? I crumbled 4 strips of cooked bacon into the meatloaf mixture, and add 4 ounces of cubed cheddar. I wanted to mimic a classic bacon cheeseburger flavor, and this meatloaf delivers!

Ingredients

• Bacon—this will get cooked before adding it to the meatloaf
• Cut the cubed cheddar from a block of cheddar cheese (sharp or mild, whatever you prefer)
• Ground round is 85% lean beef
• Ground pork keeps the meatloaf tender and juicy
• Yellow onion will get cooked in the bacon drippings (yum!)
• Breadcrumbs and eggs hold the meatloaf together
• Worcestershire sauce, parsley, and salt add flavor to the finished dish
• Ketchup and a little ranch dressing make an irresistible sauce for the top

How to make meatloaf from scratch

First, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain it and set it aside to cool, then crumble or chop it.

Then, cook the onion in the bacon drippings until it’s soft.

Combine the bacon, cheddar, ground round, ground pork, cooked onion, breadcrumbs, eggs, worcestershire sauce, parsley, and salt in a large bowl.

Mix gently with your hands to combine. Be careful not to overmix the mixture, as that will make the meat tough.

Form the mixture into a meatloaf shape, roughly 12 inches long by 5 inches wide.

Make sure to place it on a baking sheet with a rim to catch any juices that run from the meatloaf (and also to catch the drippy cheese!).

This is the sheet pan that I use, and I always use a silicone mat to make clean-up much easier.

Bake the meatloaf for 45 minutes, and then spoon on a mixture of ketchup and ranch dressing. Trust me on this one—the ranch adds a tasty zip to it!

Finally, place it back in the oven for 10 minutes, where the ketchup will set and the meatloaf will finish cooking.

The Bacon Cheddar Meatloaf is one of those comfort food dinners that hits the spot. It’s easy enough to feed your family on a weeknight, but it can pull double duty and impress guests at a casual get-together for dinner.

What to serve with meatloaf

Mashed potatoes are a classic side dish for meatloaf. I serve it with my Roasted Garlic Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes and Crispy Bacon Brussels Sprouts.

If you want to make a side dish ahead, this Mashed Potato Casserole reheats beautifully.

For a lower-carb option, Mashed Cauliflower with Roasted Garlic would be delicious.

If I’m short on time, frozen sweet potato fries and a salad are great accompaniments. We’ve been loving the sweet potato puffs from Alexia!

FAQs

Do I need the cover the meatloaf while baking?
You do not need to cover meatloaf in the oven. The beef and pork has enough fat to prevent it from drying out.

How can I make meatloaf gluten-free?
To make meatloaf gluten-free, substitute an equal measure of crushed pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs. That will also make meatloaf keto-friendly. In addition, check the label of your worcestershire sauce to ensure that it is gluten-free. If not, just leave out the worcestershire sauce.

How can I make meatloaf dairy-free?
The base of this meatloaf is dairy-free, so just omit the cheese to make it dairy-free. Check the ingredient label on your breadcrumbs to ensure that those are dairy-free, too.

If you make this recipe, please leave me a comment below, or tag me on Instagram or Pinterest. I love hearing from you!

Bacon Cheddar Meatloaf

Kate Shungu

With pockets of gooey cheddar and crispy bacon, what's not to love about this meatloaf?

4.86 from 7 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 55 mins

Total Time 1 hr 10 mins

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 416 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 slices bacon
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• ½ lb ground pork
• 1 lb ground round
• ⅔ cup breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
• ⅓ cup chopped parsley
• 4 oz sharp cheddar, cut into ½ inch cubes
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon ranch dressing

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Place the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until crisp. Place the bacon on a paper towel lined plate to drain (keep the bacon grease in the pan), then chop into fine pieces.
• Add the onion to the bacon grease. Cook until soft, about 3–4 minutes. Remove the onions but leave the bacon grease (which you can save for another use or discard).
• In a large bowl, combine the ground pork, ground round, breadcrumbs, eggs, worcestershire sauce, parsley, cubed cheddar, salt, chopped bacon, and cooked onions. Mix very gently with your hands to combine.
• Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet with a rimmed edge. Form it into a loaf with your hands, packing it gently so it stays together.
• Place in the oven and cook for 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the ketchup and ranch dressing in a small bowl. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and pour the ketchup mixture on top. Return to the oven for 8–10 more minutes, or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.
• Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition

Calories: 416kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 30gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 854mgPotassium: 488mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 337IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 188mgIron: 3mg

Keyword meatloaf

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