By Pioneer-Technology Content Creator
This meatloaf recipe inspired by The Pioneer Woman is incredibly easy to prepare! It’s coated in a flavorful homemade sauce and freezes beautifully, making it ideal for future meals.
Are you a fan of Pioneer Woman Recipes? Then you absolutely must try her Twice Baked Potato Casserole!
Classic meatloaf served over creamy mashed potatoes, topped with a rich homemade ketchup sauce.
Have you ever dreamt of having your own sun-drenched, immaculate kitchen like The Pioneer Woman? Watching her cook is truly inspiring, where every dish seems to turn out perfectly. While we might not all have self-washing dishes, we can certainly enjoy the incredible flavors of her recipes, like this bacon-wrapped meatloaf. And trust us, you won’t even need a red wig to appreciate how delicious it is! 😂
This meatloaf is genuinely packed with flavor. The bacon cooks right over the meat, and the bacon drippings infuse into the loaf, creating an unbelievably rich taste. Imagine that savory aroma filling your kitchen! 💗
Choosing the Best Meat for Your Meatloaf
Selecting the right meat is crucial for a tender and flavorful meatloaf. Here’s what to consider:
- 80% Lean Ground Beef: This is an excellent choice for meatloaf. Ground beef with a bit of fat (80% lean) helps keep the meatloaf moist. Meat that is too lean can result in a drier loaf.
- Blend of Ground Beef, Pork, and Veal: For an even more tender and flavorful meatloaf, consider using a combination of meats. A mix of ground beef, pork, and veal (using 1/3 lb of each) will give you a wonderful texture and depth of flavor.
PRO TIP: Many grocery stores offer pre-packaged meatloaf mix in the meat section. This blend is specifically designed for meatloaf and meatballs, saving you the hassle of buying multiple types of meat.
Best Bread Choice for Meatloaf
The type of bread you use also impacts the texture of your meatloaf. Here are some options:
- Soft White Sandwich Bread: This is a classic and excellent choice for meatloaf. The Pioneer Woman herself prefers white sandwich bread, and for good reason. Softer bread blends seamlessly into the ground beef mixture, creating a more consistent and tender texture.
- Crusty Artisan Bread: While less traditional, you can use crusty artisan bread if that’s what you have on hand. However, keep in mind that it might result in a slightly chunkier meatloaf texture.
For the most classic and tender result, stick with soft white sandwich bread, just like The Pioneer Woman recommends.
Avoiding Overmixing Your Meatloaf
Yes, it is possible to overmix ground beef when you are preparing meatloaf or even burgers. Overmixing can negatively affect the final texture.
While you want to ensure all the ingredients are well combined and the meatloaf has a uniform consistency, it’s important to handle the meat mixture gently. Overworking the ground beef will make the meatloaf tougher and slightly less flavorful. Mix just until everything is combined.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions
- Make-Ahead Magic: Meatloaf is a fantastic make-ahead dish. You can fully prepare and assemble your meatloaf in advance. Once assembled, simply wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Bake it the next day for a convenient and delicious meal.
- Freezing for Later: Meatloaf is also freezer-friendly. You can freeze the assembled, unbaked meatloaf for future use. When ready to bake, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before proceeding with the baking instructions.
Pro Tip: If you find that this recipe makes a larger meatloaf than you need, divide it in half before baking or freezing. Freeze one portion for another meal!
Freezing Cooked Meatloaf
Cooked meatloaf freezes exceptionally well, making it perfect for meal prepping or leftovers.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cooked meatloaf to cool down to room temperature.
- Wrap Tightly: Wrap the cooled meatloaf securely in foil.
- Freeze: Place the wrapped meatloaf in a freezer bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating Instructions:
- Oven Reheating: To reheat frozen cooked meatloaf, bake it in the foil at 350°F (175°C) until it is heated through, approximately 20-30 minutes.
- Microwave Reheating: Alternatively, you can defrost the frozen meatloaf in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat it in the microwave until warmed through.
Broiler Pan Alternatives for Meatloaf
A broiler pan is typically used when making meatloaf to allow excess grease to drain away. This prevents the bottom of the meatloaf from becoming soggy as it cooks in its own juices. If you don’t have a broiler pan, here are some effective substitutes:
Cookie Sheet Only:
- You can place the meatloaf directly on a cookie sheet. However, you’ll need to carefully remove the cookie sheet from the oven periodically during cooking to drain off the accumulated liquid. This method can be a bit tricky and requires caution to avoid spills and burns.
Cooling Rack on a Roasting Pan:
- Set up: Place a cooling rack on top of a roasting pan or cookie sheet with sides.
- Foil Lining: Line the cooling rack with aluminum foil to prevent the meatloaf from falling through the rack.
- Drainage Holes: Poke several small holes in the foil. These holes will allow the fat to drain away from the meatloaf and drip down into the roasting pan below.
🛑 Important Note! When using the foil-lined cooling rack method, the bacon on the underside of the meatloaf (the part resting on the foil) might not crisp up as well as it would if it were directly on a broiler pan. Be mindful of this if crispy bacon is a priority for you.
Making Meatloaf Without Bacon
Yes, you can definitely make this Pioneer Woman meatloaf recipe without bacon if you prefer or need to.
If you omit the bacon, you may need to slightly reduce the baking time. The original recipe calls for a total baking time of 1 hour and 10 minutes with bacon. Without bacon, the meatloaf might cook a bit faster. Start checking for doneness around the 40-45 minute mark. The internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C).
Sliced meatloaf on a wooden board, garnished with parsley and served with homemade ketchup sauce.
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What to Serve Alongside Your Meatloaf
Meatloaf is a versatile main course that pairs well with a variety of side dishes. Consider these delicious options to complete your meal:
More Delicious Dinner Recipes to Try
Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo in a pan, ready to serve. Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
A plate of comforting Chicken Spaghetti, topped with fresh parsley. Chicken Spaghetti
Skillet Lasagna bubbling in a pan, topped with melted cheese. Skillet Lasagna
Hearty Sausage Tortellini Soup in a bowl, garnished with kale. Sausage Tortellini Soup
Cube Steak and Gravy with mashed potatoes and green beans. Cube Steak and Gravy
Italian Meatballs in a pot, simmered to perfection. Bobby Flay’s Meatball Recipe
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The Pioneer Woman Meatloaf Recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Rated 4.94 stars based on 46 reviews
Servings: 8
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This Pioneer Woman Meatloaf Recipe is truly the best you’ll ever taste! The entire meatloaf is lovingly wrapped in bacon and baked until perfectly done. It’s also freezer-friendly, making it ideal for preparing meals in advance. This meatloaf is especially delicious served with roasted green beans and creamy mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
[US Customary] – [Metric]
For the Meatloaf:
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 6 slices White Bread
- 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
For the Sauce:
- 1 ½ cups Ketchup
- 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
- 1 dash Tabasco sauce (optional)
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Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Soak Bread: In a large bowl, add the white bread slices and pour the milk over them. Let the bread soak in the milk for about 5 minutes to soften.
- Combine Ingredients: To the bowl with the soaked bread, add the ground beef, grated Parmesan cheese, seasoned salt, salt, freshly ground black pepper, minced fresh parsley, and beaten eggs.
- Mix Gently: Use your hands to gently combine all the ingredients. Ensure the soaked bread is well incorporated into the meat mixture. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the meatloaf tougher.
- Shape the Loaf: Form the meat mixture into a loaf shape, approximately 5 inches wide. Place the loaf on a broiler pan to allow fat to drain during baking. For easier cleanup, line the bottom of the broiler pan with foil.
- Wrap with Bacon: Lay the bacon slices over the top of the meatloaf, carefully tucking the ends of the bacon underneath the bottom of the loaf to secure them. The bacon helps to hold the shape of the loaf. Arrange the bacon slices so they are touching but not overlapping, which makes it easier to slice between the bacon pieces after cooking.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and Tabasco sauce (if using).
- First Sauce Layer: Brush about 1/3 of the prepared sauce evenly over the bacon-wrapped meatloaf.
- Bake: Bake the meatloaf in the preheated oven for 45 minutes on the middle rack.
- Second Sauce Layer: Remove the meatloaf from the oven and brush another 1/3 of the sauce over it. Return it to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
- Rest Before Slicing: Once cooked, remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This resting time allows the juices to redistribute throughout the loaf, resulting in a more tender and flavorful meatloaf. Cutting into it too early can cause the flavorful juices to run out. Pro Tip: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach 160°F (71°C) in the center before slicing to ensure it is fully cooked.
- Serve: Slice and serve your delicious Pioneer Woman Meatloaf with the remaining sauce. It’s wonderful with creamy mashed potatoes and roasted green beans!
Recipe Notes
Make-Ahead Instructions: Meatloaf is an ideal make-ahead recipe. You can prepare and assemble the meatloaf completely ahead of time. Once assembled, wrap it securely in foil or plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Bake as directed the next day. You can also freeze the assembled meatloaf. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before baking. Pro Tip: If the recipe yields more meatloaf than you need, divide it in half and freeze the portion you don’t need for a future meal! Love Meatloaf Recipes? Be sure to try my Mini Meatloaf recipe next time!
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
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Stephanie
Recipe Source: The Pioneer Woman
Beef Recipes Dinner Recipes Freezer Food Recipes Make Ahead Recipes Meatloaf Recipes Pioneer Woman Recipes
Published by Stephanie on October 25, 2018 — 183 Comments »
