Dive into the heart of comfort food with the Pioneer Woman Meatloaf Recipe, a timeless classic perfected by Ree Drummond. This isn’t just any meatloaf; it’s a juicy, bacon-wrapped masterpiece, brushed with a tangy homemade sauce that will have your family begging for seconds. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or just starting out, this recipe is straightforward, satisfying, and guaranteed to become a staple in your kitchen.
Pioneer Woman Meatloaf served over mashed potatoes with ketchup sauce
Inspired by the iconic Pioneer Woman herself, this meatloaf recipe elevates the humble dish to new heights. Imagine sinking your fork into tender, flavorful meat enveloped in crispy bacon, each bite bursting with savory goodness. The secret lies in the simple yet effective combination of ingredients and techniques, ensuring a meatloaf that’s moist, delicious, and far from ordinary. Let’s explore what makes this Pioneer Woman Meatloaf recipe so special and how you can easily recreate it at home.
Understanding the Best Meat for Meatloaf
The foundation of any great meatloaf is, of course, the meat. Choosing the right type and blend is crucial for achieving the perfect texture and flavor. Here’s a breakdown to guide you:
- 80/20 Ground Beef: This is your go-to choice for a reason. The 80% lean to 20% fat ratio provides the ideal balance, ensuring your meatloaf is juicy and flavorful without being greasy. Leaner ground beef tends to result in a drier meatloaf, so sticking with 80% lean is highly recommended.
- Meatloaf Mix (Beef, Pork, Veal): For an even more tender and complex flavor profile, consider using a mix of ground beef, pork, and veal. A combination of 1/3 pound of each creates a wonderfully rich and nuanced meatloaf. Many grocery stores conveniently sell this meat combination pre-packaged specifically for meatloaf and meatballs, saving you the hassle of buying each type separately.
Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to ask your butcher for advice on the best meat blend for meatloaf. They can offer valuable insights and even grind a custom mix for you.
The Importance of Bread in Meatloaf
Bread might seem like an unexpected ingredient in meatloaf, but it plays a vital role in achieving the right texture. Here’s what you need to know about choosing the best bread:
- Soft White Sandwich Bread: The Pioneer Woman herself favors soft white sandwich bread, and for good reason. Its soft texture readily absorbs milk, creating a moist and tender crumb in the meatloaf. It blends seamlessly into the ground beef mixture, resulting in a uniform consistency.
- Artisan Bread (with adjustments): While white sandwich bread is preferred, you can also use crustier artisan bread if that’s what you have on hand. However, be sure to remove the crust and soak the bread in milk for a longer period to ensure it softens completely.
The key is to use bread as a binding agent and a moisture enhancer. Soaking the bread in milk before adding it to the meat mixture is a crucial step that shouldn’t be skipped.
Mastering the Mixing Process
When it comes to meatloaf, less is often more, especially when mixing the ingredients. Overmixing ground beef can lead to a tougher, less flavorful meatloaf. Here’s how to mix it just right:
- Gentle Handling: Combine all the meatloaf ingredients in a large bowl and use your hands to gently mix them together. The goal is to ensure the bread is incorporated and the ingredients are just combined.
- Avoid Overmixing: Be careful not to overwork the mixture. Overmixing develops the gluten in the meat, resulting in a dense and rubbery texture. Mix until everything is just combined and stop there.
Remember, you’re aiming for a uniform consistency, but tenderness is paramount. Handle the meat mixture with care to achieve the perfect balance.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions
One of the great advantages of meatloaf is its make-ahead and freezer-friendly nature. This makes it an ideal dish for busy weeknights or meal prepping.
- Make Ahead: You can fully assemble the meatloaf ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Simply wrap the unbaked loaf tightly in foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bake it the next day as per the recipe instructions.
- Freezing Unbaked Meatloaf: Meatloaf freezes beautifully before cooking. Assemble the loaf, wrap it securely in foil and then in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, defrost it in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
Pro Tip: Consider dividing the meatloaf mixture in half before freezing. This way, you can bake one loaf now and freeze the other half for a future meal, perfect for smaller households or individual servings.
Freezing and Reheating Cooked Meatloaf
Cooked meatloaf is also an excellent freezer food, perfect for leftovers or planned meals down the line.
- Freezing Cooked Meatloaf: Let the cooked meatloaf cool completely. Wrap it tightly in foil and place it in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: To reheat frozen cooked meatloaf, you have two options:
- Oven Reheating: Bake the frozen meatloaf (still wrapped in foil) at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, about 20-30 minutes.
- Microwave Reheating: Defrost the meatloaf in the refrigerator overnight and then microwave individual slices until heated through.
Broiler Pan Substitutes for Perfect Meatloaf
A broiler pan is traditionally used for meatloaf to allow excess grease to drain away, preventing a soggy bottom. But what if you don’t have one? Here are effective substitutes:
- Cookie Sheet Only: You can place the meatloaf directly on a cookie sheet. However, be aware that you’ll need to periodically remove the sheet from the oven and drain the accumulated liquid during cooking. This method can be a bit cumbersome.
- Cooling Rack on a Roasting Pan (Recommended): This is an excellent alternative that mimics the function of a broiler pan:
- Place a cooling rack on top of a roasting pan or cookie sheet with sides.
- Line the cooling rack with aluminum foil.
- Poke several small holes in the foil to allow fat to drip through into the pan below.
Important Note: If using the foil-lined cooling rack method, the bacon on the bottom of the meatloaf might not get as crispy as it would on a broiler pan. Keep this in mind if bottom bacon crispiness is a priority.
Bacon or No Bacon? Customizing Your Meatloaf
While the Pioneer Woman Meatloaf recipe is famous for its bacon wrapping, you can certainly make it without bacon if you prefer or need to.
- Bacon-Wrapped: The bacon not only adds incredible flavor but also bastes the meatloaf as it cooks, keeping it moist and adding a smoky richness.
- Without Bacon: If you choose to omit the bacon, the recipe will still be delicious. You might want to reduce the second baking time slightly, from 25 minutes to 15-20 minutes, as the absence of bacon might affect cooking time.
Sliced Pioneer Woman Meatloaf garnished with parsley and ketchup sauce
Ultimately, the choice is yours. Bacon enhances the flavor and moisture, but a bacon-less meatloaf is still a comforting and satisfying meal.
Tools You’ll Need
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Broiler Pan or Cooling Rack and Roasting Pan
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Pastry Brush (for sauce)
- Meat Thermometer (optional but recommended)
Serving Suggestions for Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
Meatloaf is a versatile main course that pairs well with a variety of side dishes. Here are some classic and complementary options:
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are a quintessential partner for meatloaf, perfect for soaking up the delicious sauce.
- Roasted Green Beans: A simple and healthy side, roasted green beans provide a nice contrast to the richness of the meatloaf.
- Mac and Cheese: For ultimate comfort food indulgence, serve meatloaf with a side of cheesy mac and cheese.
- Coleslaw: The cool and tangy crunch of coleslaw cuts through the savory meatloaf beautifully.
- Side Salad: A fresh green salad with a vinaigrette dressing offers a lighter counterpoint to the hearty meatloaf.
Complete Pioneer Woman Meatloaf Recipe
This Pioneer Woman Meatloaf recipe is the best you’ll ever try! The entire loaf is wrapped in bacon and baked to perfection, and it freezes well for future meals! This pairs perfectly with roasted green beans and mashed potatoes.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients
Meatloaf:
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 6 slices White Bread, crusts removed
- 2 pounds Ground Beef, 80% lean
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
- 1/4 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
- 3/4 teaspoons Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup fresh Parsley, minced
- 4 large Eggs, beaten
- 12 slices Thin-cut Bacon
Sauce:
- 1 ½ cups Ketchup
- ⅓ cup Brown Sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
- 1 dash Tabasco sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, pour milk over bread slices and let soak for 5 minutes.
- Add ground beef, Parmesan cheese, seasoned salt, salt, pepper, parsley, and beaten eggs to the bowl with the bread and milk.
- Gently combine all ingredients with your hands, ensuring the bread is well incorporated but avoid overmixing.
- Shape the mixture into a loaf about 5 inches wide and place it on a broiler pan. If using a cooling rack and roasting pan, place the loaf on the foil-lined rack.
- Drape bacon slices over the top of the meatloaf, tucking the ends underneath.
- In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and Tabasco sauce (if using).
- Brush about ⅓ of the sauce evenly over the meatloaf.
- Bake for 45 minutes on the middle rack of the preheated oven.
- Remove from the oven and brush another ⅓ of the sauce over the meatloaf.
- Bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center registers 160°F (70°C).
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Serve with remaining sauce and your favorite side dishes.
Recipe Notes
- Make-Ahead: Assemble meatloaf ahead of time, wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
- Freezing Unbaked: Freeze assembled meatloaf for up to 3 months; defrost overnight before baking.
- Freezing Cooked: Freeze cooked meatloaf for up to 3 months; reheat in oven or microwave.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatloaf mixture or sauce for a little heat.
- Vegetable Boost: Finely diced onions, carrots, or bell peppers can be added to the meatloaf mixture for extra flavor and nutrients.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 628kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 33g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Cholesterol: 195mg, Sodium: 1065mg, Potassium: 548mg, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 565IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 279mg, Iron: 3.8mg
Enjoy this comforting and delicious Pioneer Woman Meatloaf recipe! It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that brings family and friends together around the dinner table.
