Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf With Barbecue Sauce Glaze Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 01/14/23
Bacon wrapped meatloaf recipe

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 75 mins
Total: 90 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Take your meatloaf to the next level with a few strips of bacon! This delicious bacon-wrapped meatloaf gets fabulous flavor from grated natural Parmesan cheese, Cajun spices, and a tasty barbecue sauce glaze. 

You can use candied brown sugar bacon to coat the meatloaf, or skip the brown sugar and use plain, partially cooked bacon strips.

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Ingredients

  • 4 strips lean bacon
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (optional)
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 red bell pepper (or orange, finely chopped)
  • 2/3 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
  • 1/3 cup evaporated milk (or whole milk)
  • 1 large egg (slightly beaten)
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasonings
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (1 teaspoon if the Cajun seasoning is salt-free)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

    Ingredients for bacon wrapped meatloaf
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Line a rimmed baking pan with foil; lightly oil the foil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

    Grease baking pan
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Cut the bacon strips in half crosswise and coat them with the 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, if using. Arrange the bacon on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until almost crisp. Remove the bacon from the oven and let it cool. 

    Cut bacon strips
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, pork, onion, bell pepper, breadcrumbs, cheese, milk, egg, Cajun seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

    Beef in bowl
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Put the ground meat mixture on the prepared foil-lined baking pan and shape into a loaf.

    Meat on pan
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Spread barbecue sauce over the loaf and arrange the bacon strips over the top.

    Coat meat with sauce
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Bake the meatloaf until the bacon is crispy and loaf is firm, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. If unsure, check the loaf with an instant-read food thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf. The minimum safe temperature for ground meat is 160 F/71 C.

    Bake meatloaf
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing or moving to a serving platter.

    Bacon-wrapped meatloaf
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

How to Store and Freeze

  • Transfer leftover meatloaf to a covered container or wrap it in foil and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
  • To freeze leftover meatloaf or a whole loaf, transfer the cooled meatloaf to an airtight container or freezer bag, or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Label with the name and date and freeze it for up to 3 months.

Tips

  • If you like to plan meals ahead, double the recipe and bake two loaves, one with bacon and one without the bacon and topping. Wrap and freeze the loaf without bacon for up to 2 months. Remove the wrapping from the frozen meatloaf and place it on a baking pan. Bake it in a preheated 350 F oven for 1 hour. Brush with barbecue sauce and cover with the strips of partially cooked bacon. Continue cooking for about 30 to 45 minutes longer, or until it reaches 165 F in the center.
  • For less mess, combine the meat mixture in a large zip-close storage bag. Knead the bag until the meatloaf mixture is well blended. Or use disposable gloves to mix the ingredients.

Recipe Variations

  • For a fun and quick meal, bake the meat mixture in lightly greased muffin cups. Brush barbecue sauce over the top each meatloaf muffin and place a small piece of bacon on each one. Bake meatloaf muffins for about 30 minutes.
  • Omit the pork and use 1 1/2 pounds of 80/15 or 85/10 ground beef.
  • Sneak about 1/2 cup of shredded carrot into the meatloaf for a healthier main dish.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
494 Calories
22g Fat
29g Carbs
43g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 494
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 8g 42%
Cholesterol 261mg 87%
Sodium 829mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Protein 43g
Calcium 174mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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