Easy Recipe for Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf

Learn how to make bacon-wrapped meatloaf, the ultimate comfort food, by following these simple steps. Get the tips for making sure the bacon is cooked, how to create a freeform meatloaf without a loaf pan, and how to drain grease from meatloaf the easy way. The essential information is all right here, plus additional hacks to make this the best bacon-wrapped meatloaf experience ever.

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In Search of a Better Meatloaf Recipe

Years ago, I used to make meatloaf in a loaf pan. I used a couple of pounds of ground beef and a packet of onion soup mix. It was a classic recipe that was easy to make. There were some drawbacks, though. The meatloaf would often break apart in the pan. Also, the ketchup and brown sugar glaze I put on top would often get drowned in a pool of grease. Not very appetizing! Of course, I would drain the grease off before serving, but still, it wasn’t pretty. I wanted to find a way to make my meatloaf look more attractive.

Enter the Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf of My Dreams

In my efforts to become a better cook, I turned to the Food Day section in my local paper, The Oregonian. Every Tuesday, new recipes were published and some of them were easy enough for me, as a beginning cook, to make. Although the Food Day section is no longer in existence, there is a recipe archive. It’s a great place for inspiration, but this bacon-wrapped meatloaf recipe is not there. Up until now, all I have had is a faded newspaper clipping with my faint notations written in pencil. What if someone else in my family wants to make this recipe, which has become a favorite?

This bacon-wrapped meatloaf recipe has so many advantages over my old meatloaf recipe. First of all, the ingredients are pantry staples, with no need to go out and purchase a special soup mix. Second, there is a special way to handle the grease. Finally, it makes an attractive presentation. Oh, and the recipe includes bacon. What more could I ask of a meatloaf recipe? So, here is my version. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Equipment Needed for Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

1 small oval or rectangular roasting rack

1 15 by 10-inch baking dish (You can use a 9 by 11-inch dish, but make sure the roasting rack can fit in the pan.)

Aluminum foil

Meat thermometer (optional)

Ingredients for Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 eggs

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons Worchestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce

1/2 cup milk

1 pound lean ground beef

1 pound ground sausage, regular or spicy flavor

2/3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal

2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes

1 package of thin-sliced bacon (9-12 slices)

Ingredients for Glaze

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

2 teaspoons cider or white vinegar

Instructions for Making Easy Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the baking dish and roasting rack by lining the bottom of the baking dish with foil. Cover the roasting rack with foil and poke holes in it all over before setting it in the baking dish. This will help the grease drain away from the meatloaf.

Heat oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add the onion and garlic. Cook until softened (about 5 minutes), then set aside to cool.

Remove the bacon from the package. Place the strips in a small rectangular casserole dish on layers of paper towels. Cook the bacon in the microwave for 4 minutes. This will ensure that the bacon gets cooked thoroughly when it is covering the meatloaf.

While the bacon is cooking, make the glaze in a small bowl or measuring cup and set it aside. Mix all other meatloaf ingredients (including the cooked onions and garlic) together in a large mixing bowl. You can use a fork, but I like to use my hands. It’s delightfully squishy.

Pour the meatloaf mix carefully onto the prepared roasting rack and pat it into an oval shape.

Cover the meatloaf with glaze.

Remove the bacon from the casserole dish. It should be only partially cooked. Lay each strip of bacon across the meatloaf, overlapping slightly. Tuck the ends of each piece under the meatloaf if you can. This will keep the bacon from curling up as it cooks.

Place the meatloaf into the oven for an hour. When the timer goes off, test the meatloaf for doneness by making a small slit into the top with a knife to see that the meat is cooked. You can also test the meatloaf with a meat thermometer. The temperature should be 160 degrees. If it isn’t, just put the meatloaf back in the oven for about 10 more minutes.

Place the cooked meatloaf on hot pads and let it sit for 20 minutes to cool. Slice and serve the meatloaf in the casserole dish.

Making the Meatloaf without the Bacon

Can you make this bacon-wrapped meatloaf without the bacon? Sure, if you have to. You can just double the glaze. brush on half before baking, then brush the meatloaf with the remaining glaze after the meatloaf has baked for about 45 minutes. Then bake for about 15 more minutes after adding the second half of the glaze.

Making this Meatloaf in a Loaf Pan

If you would rather make this meatloaf in a loaf pan, you can omit the bacon and add the glaze using the steps above. If you have a loaf pan with a perforated bottom and a drip pan, that will eliminate the need to drain the grease off after baking. If you have just a regular loaf pan, you will need to carefully drain the grease off after baking, which might affect the way the glaze sticks to the top of the meatloaf.

Meatloaf Tips and Common Questions

There are many varieties of meatloaf, but some basic tips can apply no matter what your ingredients. Here are some of the best meatloaf tips as well as some common questions. When you have the answers you need, making meatloaf can be a breeze.

Meatloaf Cooking Tips and Questions

How long does it take to cook a 2lb meatloaf at 350? What temp should meatloaf be cooked at in the oven?

How long do you cook a 2 pound meatloaf? Here is how long to bake a 2 pound meatloaf: As stated in the recipe, you should cook the meatloaf for at least an hour at 350 degrees. If you want to make very sure the meatloaf is cooked to the proper doneness, use a meat thermometer. The temperature should reach 160 degrees. If you cover the meatloaf with thick sliced bacon, you may want to pre-cook the bacon for about 10 minutes in the microwave. The bacon will still be pliable enough to wrap around the meatloaf and will crisp up nicely in the oven.

Should meatloaf be covered? Do you cover meatloaf?

When it is baking, the meatloaf should not be covered. In the case of this bacon-wrapped meatloaf recipe, the bacon needs to cook and crisp. That will not happen if the meatloaf is covered. For storage in a refrigerator, or for transport after cooking, the meatloaf should be covered. I usually use plastic wrap, but you can cover it with foil as well.

Other Easy Main Dishes You Might Enjoy

If you are a fan of easy recipes, here are some other main dish recipes you might want to try, especially if you need dinner in a hurry. The ingredients are simple, and the preparation takes very little time. Some of these recipes make use of leftovers to make your food budget stretch further. Check out these delicious options:

• Easy Taco Salad (This recipe comes together quickly when the ground beef is cooked ahead of time.)
• Cheesy Green Chile Chicken Casserole (Use canned green chiles along with leftover rotisserie chicken or canned chicken for an easy meal.)
• Lentil Barley Soup (No chopping of any kind is required for this hearty soup recipe.)
• Coca-Cola or Pepsi Cola Chicken (Whichever cola you use, this 4 ingredient recipe is amazing.)
• Easy Make-Ahead Lasagna (If you double the simple recipe and make two, you can bake one and freeze the other.)
• Lemon Garlic Rosemary Roasted Chicken (If you are a fan of the garlic and rosemary combination, this recipe is for you. It can be dressed up for a fancy date night dinner.)