Have you ever dreamt of cooking in a sprawling, sunlit kitchen like The Pioneer Woman, where every dish turns out picture-perfect? Many home cooks admire Ree Drummond’s effortless style and delicious, family-friendly recipes. While we might not all have a spotless lodge and self-washing dishes, we can certainly bring the taste of her heartwarming cuisine into our own kitchens, starting with her incredible meatloaf.
This Pioneer Woman Meatloaf recipe is a true standout. What makes it so special? It’s enveloped in crispy bacon, creating a depth of flavor that’s simply irresistible. As the bacon cooks, its savory juices seep into the meatloaf, ensuring every bite is moist and packed with flavor. If you’re looking for a comforting and satisfying meal that the whole family will love, look no further. This meatloaf is easy to prepare, freezes beautifully, and is guaranteed to become a new family favorite.
Pioneer Woman Meatloaf served over mashed potatoes with homemade ketchup sauce
Choosing the Best Meat for Your Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
Selecting the right meat is crucial for achieving a tender and flavorful meatloaf. Here’s a breakdown of the best options:
- 80/20 Ground Beef: This is often considered the sweet spot for meatloaf. The 80% lean to 20% fat ratio ensures enough fat to keep the meatloaf moist and flavorful without being greasy. Leaner ground beef can result in a drier meatloaf.
- Meatloaf Mix (Beef, Pork, Veal): For an even richer and more complex flavor, consider using a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal. This trio creates a wonderfully tender and flavorful meatloaf. Aim for roughly equal parts of each, about 1/3 pound each for this recipe. The pork adds moisture and sweetness, while the veal contributes a delicate texture.
- Quality Matters: Regardless of the blend you choose, opt for high-quality ground meat. Better quality meat will always translate to better flavor in your final dish.
Pro Tip: Many grocery stores now offer pre-packaged “meatloaf mix” in the meat section, making it incredibly convenient to get the perfect blend for your Pioneer Woman Meatloaf.
The Best Bread for Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
The type of bread you use in your meatloaf significantly impacts its texture. Here’s why soft white bread is often recommended:
- Soft White Sandwich Bread: This is the classic choice and the preference of The Pioneer Woman herself. Soft white bread readily absorbs milk, creating a moist and almost undetectable binder for the meatloaf. It blends seamlessly into the ground beef mixture, resulting in a uniform and tender consistency.
- Artisan Bread (with adjustments): While softer bread is generally preferred, you can use crustier artisan bread if that’s what you have on hand. However, you’ll need to ensure it’s thoroughly soaked in milk to soften it completely. Crusty bread might leave a slightly more textured meatloaf. It’s best to remove the crust and use only the soft interior of the artisan bread for a smoother result.
The key is to use bread that will effectively soak up the milk and integrate smoothly into the meat mixture, contributing to a moist and cohesive loaf.
Avoiding Over-Mixing Your Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
While you want to ensure all ingredients are well combined in your Pioneer Woman Meatloaf, it’s important to avoid over-mixing the ground beef. Here’s why:
- Texture: Over-mixing ground beef develops the proteins, leading to a tougher, denser, and less tender meatloaf. You want a meatloaf that is moist and slightly crumbly, not rubbery.
- Flavor: Over-worked meat can also lose some of its desirable flavor and become less appealing.
Gentle Mixing is Key:
- Use Your Hands: The best way to mix meatloaf is gently by hand. This allows you to feel when the ingredients are just combined without overworking the meat.
- Combine Ingredients Gradually: Add the bread-milk mixture, cheese, seasonings, parsley, and eggs to the ground beef. Gently fold and mix until everything is just incorporated. Stop mixing as soon as everything is evenly distributed.
- Uniform Consistency, Not Perfection: Aim for a uniform consistency where the bread is blended in, but don’t strive for a perfectly smooth paste. A slightly looser mixture is preferable to one that’s been overworked.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Tips for Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
One of the great advantages of Pioneer Woman Meatloaf is its make-ahead and freezer-friendly nature. This makes it perfect for busy weeknights or meal prepping.
- Make-Ahead Convenience: You can fully assemble your meatloaf ahead of time. Simply wrap the unbaked loaf tightly in plastic wrap or foil and store it in the refrigerator overnight. This step can actually enhance the flavor as the ingredients meld together. Bake as directed the next day.
- Freezing Unbaked Meatloaf: Meatloaf freezes exceptionally well before baking. Wrap the assembled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then in a layer of foil for extra protection against freezer burn. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before proceeding with the baking instructions.
- Freezing Cooked Meatloaf: Cooked meatloaf is also perfect for freezing. Let the meatloaf cool completely after baking. Slice it into portions if desired (for easier reheating later), wrap tightly in foil, and then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating Frozen Cooked Meatloaf:
- Oven Reheating: For best results, reheat frozen cooked meatloaf in the oven. Wrap it in foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, usually about 20-30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the slices.
- Microwave Reheating: You can also defrost slices in the refrigerator overnight and reheat them in the microwave for quicker meals.
Pro Tip: If you’re making a large meatloaf, consider dividing it in half before freezing. This gives you the flexibility to bake only what you need and save the rest for another meal.
Broiler Pan Substitutes for Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
A broiler pan is ideal for meatloaf because it allows excess grease to drain away, preventing a soggy bottom. If you don’t have a broiler pan, here are effective substitutes:
- Cookie Sheet Only (with caution): You can place the meatloaf directly on a cookie sheet. However, as the meatloaf cooks, fat will render out and pool around the loaf. You’ll need to carefully remove the cookie sheet from the oven periodically and drain off the excess liquid to prevent the bottom from becoming soggy. This method requires caution to avoid burns.
- Cooling Rack on a Roasting Pan: This is an excellent alternative that mimics the function of a broiler pan.
- Set Up: Place a cooling rack on top of a roasting pan or cookie sheet with sides.
- Foil Lining (optional but recommended): Line the cooling rack with aluminum foil. This provides a surface for the meatloaf to sit on and makes cleanup easier.
- Poke Holes: Pierce several small holes in the foil. These holes allow the fat to drip through and collect in the roasting pan below, keeping the meatloaf elevated and preventing it from sitting in grease.
Important Note: If using the foil-lined cooling rack method, be aware that the bacon on the underside of the meatloaf (where it sits on the foil) may not crisp up as much as it would on a traditional broiler pan. However, the overall result will still be delicious.
Making Pioneer Woman Meatloaf Without Bacon
While the bacon wrap is a signature element of this Pioneer Woman Meatloaf recipe, you can certainly make it without bacon if you prefer or need to.
- Flavor Adjustments: Bacon adds a significant amount of smoky, savory flavor. If omitting bacon, consider enhancing the flavor of the meatloaf itself. You can:
- Add Smoked Paprika: Incorporate 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika into the meatloaf mixture to add a smoky depth.
- Increase Seasonings: Slightly increase the amount of seasoned salt, salt, and pepper to ensure the meatloaf is well-seasoned.
- Add Worcestershire Sauce: A dash of Worcestershire sauce in the meatloaf mixture can also boost the savory flavor profile.
- Adjusted Cooking Time: Without the bacon wrap, the meatloaf may cook slightly faster. Reduce the initial baking time to around 35-40 minutes and the second baking time to 15-20 minutes. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
Sliced Pioneer Woman Meatloaf garnished with parsley and homemade ketchup sauce
Serving Suggestions for Pioneer Woman Meatloaf
Pioneer Woman Meatloaf is classic comfort food that pairs wonderfully with a variety of side dishes. Here are some delicious serving ideas:
- Classic Sides:
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are an iconic pairing with meatloaf.
- Roasted Green Beans: A simple and healthy side that complements the richness of the meatloaf.
- Mac and Cheese: For ultimate comfort, serve meatloaf with cheesy mac and cheese.
- Vegetable Sides:
- Glazed Carrots: Sweet and savory glazed carrots add a vibrant touch.
- Steamed Broccoli: A healthy and quick side dish.
- Corn on the Cob: Especially in summer, corn on the cob is a delightful accompaniment.
- Other Great Options:
- Dinner Rolls or Biscuits: Perfect for soaking up the delicious meatloaf sauce.
- Side Salad: A fresh side salad can balance the richness of the meal.
Pioneer Woman Meatloaf Recipe
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 1/2 cups Ketchup
- 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
- 1 dash Tabasco sauce (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Soak Bread: In a large bowl, pour milk over white bread slices. Let soak for 5 minutes until softened.
- Combine Meatloaf Ingredients: Add ground beef, Parmesan cheese, seasoned salt, salt, black pepper, parsley, and beaten eggs to the bowl with the bread and milk.
- Mix Gently: Use your hands to gently combine all ingredients until just mixed. Avoid over-mixing.
- Shape Loaf: Shape the meat mixture into a loaf about 5 inches wide and place it on a broiler pan. You can line the bottom of the broiler pan with foil for easier cleanup.
- Wrap with Bacon: Drape bacon slices over the top of the meatloaf, tucking the ends underneath. Arrange bacon so slices are touching but not overlapping.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and Tabasco sauce (if using).
- Glaze Meatloaf: Brush 1/3 of the sauce evenly over the bacon-wrapped meatloaf.
- Bake: Bake for 45 minutes on the middle rack of the preheated oven.
- Second Glaze: Remove from oven and brush another 1/3 of the sauce over the meatloaf. Bake for another 25 minutes.
- Rest: Remove from oven and let meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This allows juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful meatloaf.
- Check Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) before slicing.
- Serve: Slice and serve with the remaining sauce. Enjoy with your favorite side dishes like mashed potatoes and roasted green beans!
Notes:
- Make-Ahead: Assemble meatloaf ahead of time, wrap, and refrigerate overnight before baking.
- Freezing: Freeze unbaked or cooked meatloaf for up to 3 months. See freezing instructions above.
- Recipe Source: Inspired by The Pioneer Woman’s Meatloaf Recipe.
Nutrition Information (per serving, approximate):
- 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 making and sharing this delicious Pioneer Woman Meatloaf recipe! Let us know in the comments how yours turned out!
