This Gourmet Style Savory Wrapped in Bacon Meatloaf is a meatloaf fit for a King as they say. The loaf is bursting with a smoky flavor of bacon. We prefer to use applewood bacon, however you can use hickory or maple flavored also. It's a nice change to just a regular meatloaf. No one likes peppers so we add them on top for flavor.

Make your meatloaf all mixed and freeze it for a future meal, it freezes perfectly for around 6 months. It's a winner meal and even perfect for serving guests!

Bacon Wrapped Gourmet Style Meatloaf via @Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine.comPhoto byClaudia Lamascolo

Meatloaf Mixture:

• 1 pound of ground chuck beef
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 egg
• Optional: strips of bell peppers for the top

Filling for Meatloaf:

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
• Bacon: 12 strips of bacon

Glaze Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375-degree hot oven and line a deep baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Place the breadcrumbs and milk in a bowl and let that sit for a few minutes.
3. In a clean bowl, add ground beef, ground pork, and milk-soaked breadcrumbs, along with the grated Parmesan cheese, chopped onion, minced garlic, parsley, thyme, oregano, salt, black pepper, and egg.
4. Mix everything until it looks evenly one color and the ingredients are well combined.
5. Lay out the bacon strips on a large piece of parchment paper using a cutting board spread the meat onto the bacon slices, making a loaf shape, and wrap it.
6. Top with the shredded cheese. Seal the loaf with all of the bacon using the paper to roll this up.
7. Press the meatloaf together lightly.
8. Add to the baking sheet, seam side down.
9. Combine in a clean bowl the ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
10. Using a pastry brush add the glaze on top of this meatloaf.
11. Add peppers on top if using.
12. Bake the meatloaf in the preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees internal temperature.
13. The meatloaf will retain juices better sitting around 10 minutes before trying to slice it and keep it intact.

Alternative Options:

1. Turkey Alternative: Replace the ground beef and pork with ground turkey.
2. Vegetarian Alternative: Create a vegetarian version by using a mixture of cooked and seasoned lentils, mushrooms, and chopped nuts as the base.
3. Use a vegan cheese alternative.
4. Instead of bacon, wrap the meatloaf with thin slices of turkey bacon or eggplant thin slices.

Other Meatloaf Recipes:

Italian Stuffed Meatloaf

Mini Meatloaf

Halloween Meatloaf

Italian Parmesan Meatloaf