Meatloaf is a classic comfort food, and when you combine it with the trusted recipes of The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, you know you’re in for a treat. This Meatloaf Recipe Pioneer style is not just easy to make, but it’s also incredibly delicious and perfect for family dinners. Brushed with a simple homemade sauce and wrapped in bacon, this Pioneer Woman meatloaf will become a staple in your recipe collection. Plus, it freezes beautifully, making meal prep a breeze!
Pioneer Woman Meatloaf Recipe
If you’re a fan of Pioneer Woman recipes, you’re likely looking for dishes that are hearty, flavorful, and bring that cozy, homemade feel to your table. This meatloaf recipe embodies all of those qualities. It’s a testament to simple, wholesome ingredients combined in a way that creates an unforgettable meal.
Meatloaf served over mashed potatoes with homemade ketchup sauce
Imagine the aroma of bacon and savory meat filling your kitchen. This Pioneer Woman meatloaf recipe delivers on flavor, thanks to the bacon wrap that crisps up beautifully and infuses the meatloaf with smoky goodness. The juices from the bacon seep into the meat, creating a depth of flavor that’s simply irresistible. It’s a dish that brings the warmth and sunshine of Ree Drummond’s kitchen right into your home.
Choosing the Best Meat for Your Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
Selecting the right meat is crucial for a moist and flavorful meatloaf. For this meatloaf recipe pioneer style, consider these options:
- 80% Lean Ground Beef: This is an excellent choice for meatloaf as it provides enough fat to keep the loaf moist without being greasy. Leaner meats tend to dry out during baking, so 80% lean is ideal.
- Meatloaf Mix (Beef, Pork, Veal): For an even more tender and flavorful meatloaf, use a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal. A ratio of 1/3 pound of each is recommended. This blend offers a wonderful balance of flavor and texture. Many grocery stores now offer pre-packaged meatloaf mixes, making it even easier to prepare this recipe.
Pro Tip: Explore your local grocery store’s meat section for pre-mixed meatloaf blends. These mixes often contain the perfect combination of beef, pork, and veal, specifically proportioned for meatloaf and meatball recipes, saving you time and ensuring optimal flavor.
The Best Bread for Pioneer Woman’s Meatloaf Recipe
The type of bread you use in your meatloaf can significantly impact its texture. For this meatloaf recipe pioneer, soft bread is key:
- Soft White Sandwich Bread: Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, often uses and recommends white sandwich bread for her meatloaf, and for good reason. Soft white bread blends seamlessly into the ground meat mixture, creating a uniform and tender consistency.
- Artisan Bread (with adjustments): While softer breads are generally preferred, you can use crustier artisan bread if that’s what you have on hand. However, ensure you remove the crust and soak the bread in milk for a longer period to soften it completely before mixing it with the meat.
Using soft white bread in this Pioneer Woman meatloaf recipe helps achieve that classic, comforting texture we all love. It prevents the meatloaf from becoming too dense and ensures each slice is moist and tender.
Avoiding Overmixing: Key to a Tender Meatloaf
When preparing your meatloaf recipe pioneer style, gentle mixing is essential. Overmixing ground beef can lead to a tougher, less flavorful meatloaf.
- Uniform Consistency is the Goal: You want to mix the ingredients until they are just combined and the bread is evenly distributed throughout the meat.
- Handle Gently: Use your hands to gently combine the ingredients. Avoid kneading or pressing the mixture excessively. Overworking the meat develops the gluten in the beef proteins, resulting in a denser, tougher texture.
Remember, a lightly mixed meatloaf will be more tender and have a better overall flavor. Focus on incorporating all the ingredients without overdoing it.
Make-Ahead Tips for Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
One of the great things about this meatloaf recipe pioneer style is its make-ahead convenience:
- Assemble in Advance: You can fully prepare and assemble the meatloaf ahead of time. Simply shape the loaf, wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator overnight. This makes weeknight dinners much easier to manage.
- Freezing for Future Meals: Meatloaf is also an excellent freezer meal. Assemble the loaf, wrap it well, and freeze it for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before cooking as directed.
Pro Tip: If you’re cooking for a smaller family or want to have future meals ready, divide the meatloaf mixture in half before shaping. Bake one portion and freeze the other for a later date. This is a fantastic way to meal prep and reduce waste.
How to Freeze and Reheat Meatloaf
Freezing cooked meatloaf is a fantastic way to enjoy this meatloaf recipe pioneer style on busy days.
- Freezing Cooked Meatloaf: Allow the meatloaf to cool completely after baking. Wrap it tightly in foil and place it in a freezer bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheating Instructions:
- Oven Reheating: To reheat, bake the frozen meatloaf (still wrapped in foil) at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, approximately 20-30 minutes.
- Microwave Reheating (for quicker option): Alternatively, you can defrost the meatloaf in the refrigerator overnight and then microwave individual slices until warmed through.
Broiler Pan Substitutes for Perfect Meatloaf
A broiler pan is typically used for meatloaf to allow excess grease to drain away, preventing the bottom of the loaf from becoming soggy. If you don’t have a broiler pan, here are effective substitutes for this meatloaf recipe pioneer:
- Cookie Sheet Only (with draining): You can place the meatloaf directly on a cookie sheet. However, you’ll need to periodically remove the cookie sheet from the oven and carefully drain off the accumulated liquid during the cooking process. This method requires caution to avoid burns.
- Cooling Rack on a Roasting Pan (Recommended):
- 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: When using the foil-lined cooling rack method, the bacon on the underside of the meatloaf might not crisp up as much as it would on a traditional broiler pan. Be mindful of this if bacon crispiness is a priority for you. However, this method effectively drains the grease and prevents a soggy bottom.
Making Pioneer Woman Meatloaf Without Bacon
While the bacon wrap adds incredible flavor to this meatloaf recipe pioneer, you can certainly make it without bacon if you prefer or don’t have any on hand.
- Bacon is Optional: The recipe is still delicious without the bacon. The meatloaf itself is packed with flavor.
- Adjust Cooking Time: If omitting bacon, reduce the second bake time. Instead of baking for an additional 25 minutes after the initial 45 minutes, reduce it to 15-20 minutes, or until the meatloaf is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Sliced meatloaf with parsley and ketchup sauce
Even without bacon, this Pioneer Woman meatloaf recipe remains a hearty and satisfying meal, perfect for any family dinner.
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What to Serve with Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
Pioneer Woman meatloaf is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a variety of side dishes. Consider these classic and comforting options:
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are a quintessential side for meatloaf.
- Roasted Green Beans: A simple and healthy side dish that complements the richness of the meatloaf.
- Mac and Cheese: For an extra comforting meal, serve meatloaf with homemade mac and cheese.
- Glazed Carrots: Sweet and savory glazed carrots add a touch of sweetness to the plate.
- Side Salad: A fresh side salad provides a light and refreshing contrast to the hearty meatloaf.
Try These Next!
These recipes are also inspired by comforting, home-style cooking, much like this meatloaf recipe pioneer:
Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Chicken Spaghetti
Skillet Lasagna Skillet Lasagna
Sausage Tortellini Soup Sausage Tortellini Soup
Cube Steak and Gravy Cube Steak and Gravy
Bobby Flay's Meatball Recipe 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
Yields: 8 servings
Rating: 4.94 from 46 ratings
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This Pioneer Woman Meatloaf Recipe is truly a standout! Wrapped entirely in bacon and baked to juicy perfection, it’s also freezer-friendly for convenient future meals. Serve it with roasted green beans and creamy mashed potatoes for a complete and comforting dinner.
Ingredients
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
Sauce:
- 1+1/2 cups Ketchup
- 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
- 1 dash Tabasco sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, add bread slices and pour milk over top. Let soak for 5 minutes to soften.
- Add ground beef, Parmesan cheese, seasoned salt, salt, black pepper, parsley, and beaten eggs to the bowl with the bread and milk. Use your hands to gently combine all ingredients until just mixed. Be careful not to overmix.
- Shape the meat mixture into a loaf, 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.
- Drape bacon slices over the top of the meatloaf, tucking the ends underneath. Arrange bacon to cover the loaf, slightly touching but not overlapping for easy slicing after cooking.
- In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and Tabasco sauce (if using) for the sauce. Brush 1/3 of the sauce evenly over the bacon-wrapped meatloaf.
- Bake on the middle rack of the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and brush another 1/3 of the sauce over the meatloaf. Bake for an additional 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful meatloaf. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) before slicing.
- Serve warm with the remaining sauce spooned over slices. Pioneer Woman meatloaf pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes and roasted green beans.
Recipe Notes
Make-Ahead Meatloaf: Assemble the meatloaf in advance, wrap in foil or plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. Or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen meatloaf in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
Freezing Cooked Meatloaf: Let cooked meatloaf cool, wrap in foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in foil at 350°F (175°C) for 20-30 minutes or until heated through.
Love meatloaf recipes? Try my Mini Meatloaf recipe next!
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
Nutritional values are estimates and may vary based on specific ingredients used.
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Recipe 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
