Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf (Print version)
A juicy ground beef meatloaf packed with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and pickle relish, topped with a tangy ketchup-mustard glaze and melted cheese.
# Ingredients:
For the meatloaf
01 -
2 lbs (900 g) ground beef, 80/20
02 -
6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
03 -
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
04 -
1 large egg
05 -
1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
06 -
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
07 -
3 tablespoons dill pickle relish
08 -
2 tablespoons ketchup
09 -
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
10 -
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
11 -
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
12 -
1 teaspoon salt
13 -
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the glaze and topping
14 -
4 strips raw bacon
15 -
3 tablespoons ketchup
16 -
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
17 -
1 tablespoon brown sugar
18 -
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (the reserved half from above)
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Cook 6 strips of bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain on paper towels and crumble once cool. Set 4 raw strips aside for the topping.
02 -
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, crumbled bacon, 1/2 cup of the cheddar, egg, breadcrumbs, onion, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, pickle relish, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined. Do not overmix.
03 -
Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x5-inch loaf pan or form a free-form loaf on a foil-lined baking sheet. Lay the 4 raw bacon strips lengthwise across the top.
04 -
Whisk together the ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar. Spoon half the glaze over the loaf. Bake for 45 minutes.
05 -
Spoon the remaining glaze over the top and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reads 160°F (71°C).
06 -
Scatter the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar over the top and bake for 3 to 5 more minutes until melted. Remove from the oven, tent loosely with foil, and rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
# Good to know:
01 -
Rest the loaf at least 10 minutes after baking before slicing for clean, juicy cuts.
02 -
A wire rack on a foil-lined sheet gives the crispiest bacon crust when baking free-form.