This Meatloaf Recipe inspired by The Pioneer Woman is incredibly easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner! Brushed with a flavorful homemade sauce and wrapped in bacon, it’s a family favorite that also freezes beautifully for future meals.
Are you a fan of Pioneer Woman recipes? Her approachable style and delicious comfort food are loved by many. Imagine yourself in her sunny kitchen, effortlessly creating a meal that everyone enjoys. While we might not all have a sprawling ranch kitchen, we can certainly bring the taste of Ree Drummond’s cooking into our homes.
This bacon-wrapped meatloaf recipe captures the essence of Pioneer Woman’s home cooking: hearty, flavorful, and satisfying. The bacon not only adds incredible taste but also keeps the meatloaf moist as it cooks, with the bacon drippings infusing even more flavor.
I often dream of having a kitchen as organized and bright as The Pioneer Woman’s, where every dish turns out perfectly. Until then, I’ll happily settle for making her delicious meatloaf, maybe without the red wig though! 😂 The aroma of bacon cooking over the meat is simply irresistible, and the flavor it imparts is out of this world.
Choosing the Best Meat for Your Sheet Pan Meatloaf
- 80% lean ground beef is generally recommended as the best choice for meatloaf. It provides enough fat to keep the meatloaf moist without being greasy. Using leaner ground beef can result in a drier meatloaf.
- For an even more tender and flavorful meatloaf, consider using a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal. A classic ratio is 1/3 lb. of each. This blend creates a wonderful texture and depth of flavor.
PRO TIP: Save time and effort by looking for pre-packaged meatloaf mixes at your grocery store. These mixes are specifically designed for meatloaf and meatballs and often contain the perfect blend of beef, pork, and veal.
The Best Bread for Moist Meatloaf
Soft, white sandwich bread is ideal for meatloaf, although you can also use crustier artisan bread if that’s what you have on hand.
Just like The Pioneer Woman, I prefer using white sandwich bread for meatloaf. Softer bread tends to incorporate more seamlessly into the ground beef mixture, resulting in a more consistent and tender texture. It helps bind the ingredients and keeps the meatloaf moist.
Avoid Overmixing Your Meatloaf
Yes, it is possible to overmix ground beef when preparing meatloaf or hamburgers. Overmixing can lead to a tougher, less flavorful meatloaf.
While you want to ensure all the ingredients are well combined for a uniform consistency, it’s important to handle the meat mixture gently. Mix just until everything is incorporated. Overworking the meat will develop the gluten, resulting in a denser, tougher texture.
Make-Ahead and Freezer-Friendly Meatloaf
- YES! Meatloaf is an excellent make-ahead dish. You can fully prepare and assemble the meatloaf in advance, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Simply wrap the assembled loaf tightly in foil or plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator overnight to bake the next day. This allows the flavors to meld together even further.
- Meatloaf is also fantastic for freezing, whether cooked or uncooked. For uncooked meatloaf, wrap it tightly and freeze. For cooked meatloaf, allow it to cool completely, then wrap it in foil and place it in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrost frozen meatloaf overnight in the refrigerator before baking or reheating.
Pro Tip: If you’re cooking for a smaller household, consider dividing the meatloaf mixture in half before assembling. Freeze one half for a future meal, ensuring you always have a delicious dinner option ready to go.
Sheet Pan Cooking for Perfect Meatloaf
While the original recipe might call for a broiler pan, a sheet pan works wonderfully for cooking meatloaf, offering a simple and effective method.
Sheet Pan Method:
- Using a simple cookie sheet is a perfectly acceptable way to cook meatloaf. However, keep in mind that you may need to carefully remove the sheet pan from the oven periodically during cooking to drain off any excess grease that accumulates. This prevents the meatloaf from becoming soggy and ensures it bakes properly.
Elevating on a Rack for Even Better Results:
- For even better results and to mimic the function of a broiler pan on a sheet pan, place a cooling rack inside a roasting pan or directly on a large baking sheet.
- Line the cooling rack with foil to make cleanup easier and to prevent the meatloaf from sticking.
- Poke a few small holes in the foil to allow excess fat to drip away from the meatloaf as it cooks. This is key to preventing a greasy bottom and promoting even cooking.
🛑 Important Note! If using the foil-lined cooling rack method, be aware that the bacon on the underside of the meatloaf, where it rests on the foil, may not crisp up as much as if it were directly exposed to the heat in a broiler pan. However, the overall flavor and texture will still be fantastic.
Can You Make This Meatloaf Without Bacon?
Absolutely! If you prefer to omit the bacon, you can certainly make this meatloaf recipe without it. If you leave out the bacon, you may need to reduce the final baking time slightly, perhaps to 15-20 minutes for the last stage of cooking, as the bacon contributes to the overall cooking time. Keep an eye on the internal temperature to ensure it reaches 160°F.
Meatloaf slices arranged on a wooden cutting board, garnished with fresh parsley, with a dish of homemade ketchup sauce in the background, showcasing a delicious and comforting meal.
Essential Tools for Sheet Pan Meatloaf
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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. Classic choices include mashed potatoes and green beans, as mentioned in the original recipe. Consider serving it with:
- Creamy mashed potatoes or roasted garlic mashed potatoes
- Roasted green beans, steamed broccoli, or glazed carrots
- A simple side salad with vinaigrette
- Mac and cheese for extra comfort food goodness
- Corn on the cob or creamed corn
More Comfort Food Recipes to Try Next!
Overhead shot of Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo in a pan, kitchen tongs lifting a portion, highlighting a rich and creamy pasta dish. Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
A serving of creamy Chicken Spaghetti on a white plate, sprinkled with red pepper flakes and parsley, showcasing a comforting and flavorful pasta bake. Chicken Spaghetti
Skillet Lasagna in a skillet, a wooden spoon scooping up a cheesy portion, emphasizing an easy and cheesy one-pan lasagna recipe. Skillet Lasagna
A bowl of creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup with kale and a spoon, presenting a hearty and comforting soup option. Sausage Tortellini Soup
Mashed potatoes topped with cubed steak and brown gravy with onions, green beans on the side, illustrating a classic and satisfying comfort meal. Cube Steak and Gravy
Italian Meatballs in a pot with a wooden spoon, highlighting a recipe for flavorful and homemade meatballs. Bobby Flay’s Meatball Recipe
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The Pioneer Woman Sheet Pan 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 the best! Wrapped in bacon and baked to juicy perfection, it’s a comforting and flavorful dish that’s perfect for family dinners. It pairs wonderfully with classic sides like roasted green beans and mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Meatloaf Ingredients:
- 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 Ingredients:
- 1+1/2 cups Ketchup
- 1/3 cup Brown Sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
- 1 dash Tabasco sauce (optional)
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Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, place the white bread slices and pour the milk over them. Let the bread soak in the milk for about 5 minutes until softened.
- To the bowl with the bread and milk, add the ground beef, Parmesan cheese, seasoned salt, salt, black pepper, minced parsley, and beaten eggs.
- Use your hands to gently combine all the meatloaf ingredients. Ensure the soaked bread is well incorporated, but be careful not to overmix the meat.
- Shape the meat mixture into a loaf, approximately 5 inches wide. Place the loaf on a broiler pan or a prepared sheet pan with a cooling rack (as described above) to allow for grease drainage.
- Lay the bacon slices over the top of the meatloaf, overlapping slightly if needed to cover the surface. Carefully tuck the ends of the bacon underneath the loaf to secure them.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and Tabasco sauce (if using) to make the sauce.
- Brush about 1/3 of the sauce evenly over the bacon-wrapped meatloaf.
- Bake the meatloaf on the middle rack of the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
- Remove the meatloaf from the oven and brush another 1/3 of the sauce over the top. Return it to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until cooked through and the bacon is crisp.
- Once cooked, remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful meatloaf. Pro Tip: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) in the center before slicing.
- Slice and serve the Pioneer Woman Sheet Pan Meatloaf with the remaining sauce on the side. It’s delicious served with mashed potatoes and roasted green beans!
Recipe Notes
Make-Ahead Instructions: Prepare the meatloaf as instructed up to step 6. Wrap tightly in foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Bake as directed the next day, adding about 10-15 minutes to the baking time to ensure it’s cooked through.
Freezing Instructions:
- Uncooked Meatloaf: Assemble the meatloaf, wrap tightly in freezer-safe wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.
- Cooked Meatloaf: Allow meatloaf to cool completely. Wrap slices or the whole loaf tightly in freezer-safe wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, about 20-30 minutes, or defrost overnight and microwave until warm.
Love Meatloaf Recipes? Also try my Mini Meatloaf recipe for individual servings!
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
Did you make this recipe? Tag @TheCozyCook on Instagram or use hashtag #thecozycook!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Recipe Author: Stephanie
Recipe Source: The Pioneer Woman
Categories: Beef Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Freezer Food Recipes, Make Ahead Recipes, Meatloaf Recipes, Pioneer Woman Recipes
Published by Stephanie on October 25, 2018 — 183 Comments »
