Mozzarella Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

Try this Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf if you want to make a truly special dinner for your family! It’s wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese for the ultimate homemade comfort food.

Mozzarella Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf Recipe - Savory Nothings (1)

I don’t know about you, but a homemade meatloaf stuffed with mozzarella cheese and wrapped in bacon… Sounds pretty legendary!

It may not score big on pretty looks but it sure delivers the most amazing flavors you could hope for. Instead of using ketchup on it, I smother it in BBQ sauce because you know what, it’s just better that way.

I adapted this from The Pioneer Woman, because if there ever was a lady who knows her comfort food, it would most definitely be her!

My tips for the best meatloaf

Recipes like this one can be tricky to translate into all kinds of different kitchen situations of people all over the world.

I genuinely think it’s a great recipe though (with lots of great reviews!), so to make sure yours turns out perfectly, here are some tips:

Why is my meatloaf falling apart?

The meat mix for meatloaf is kind of like a dough: It needs to be kneaded a little to stick together.

This helps the proteins in the meat stick together and make a firmer shape. It also prevents your meatloaf from turning out crumbly.

I usually do this with the hook attachment of my hand mixer, because who’s got the passion to knead a meat dough?! 😉 The mixer does a quick and nearly mess-free job of combining the meat with seasoning, egg and breadcrumbs. So easy!

Use the correct baking pan

If you’re baking the meatloaf in a pan, make sure you’re using a metal loaf pan, one like this you can get on Amazon (FYI, this is an affiliate link and I make a commission for purchases made through this link), not a ceramic one.

Metal pans have thinner walls and the heat spreads differently. I used a metal baking pan, so I strongly recommend doing the same for this recipe.

I have successfully made this meatloaf without a pan at all though, so if you don’t want to deal with draining meat juices out of a loaf pan after baking, you can just lay out the bacon on a baking sheet, shape the meatloaf on top and stuff it with cheese, then criss-cross the bacon all around and over the top.

Mozzarella Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf Recipe - Savory Nothings (2)

What cheese is good for putting inside this mozzarella stuffed bacon wrapped meatloaf?

I used mozzarella here because it’s quite mild and I have small kids.

But for more sharpness/flavor, you could also use a nice cheddar.

I guess pretty much any cheese that melts well and you like the taste of works, to be honest.

How can you tell your meatloaf is done?

First of all, make sure your oven is set to the right temperature (and check with an oven thermometer to make sure it’s as hot as it says!).

Then, the pretty much only way to tell meatloaf is done (since you can’t really cut into it to check)? Is with an instant read thermometer (FYI, this is an affiliate link and I make a commission for purchases made after clicking through).

Get one! It’s so handy.

How do you keep meatloaf from drying out?

I use this super secret method to keep my meatloaf from drying out… Well, it’s not actually that secret:

I smother the meatloaf in sauce before baking, during baking AND right after baking.

Oh and P.S: My Homemade Meatloaf Sauce is pretty delicious if you don’ want to use barbecue sauce.

If you feel your meatloaf still dries out during baking, you can loosely cover it with aluminum foil, but I’ve never found this to be necessary.

Mozzarella Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf Recipe - Savory Nothings (3)

Serving ideas

We love our meatloaf with a side of mac and cheese or mashed potatoes and green beans! Roasted broccoli (or air fryer broccoli), roasted asparagus (or… you guessed it, air fried asparagus) or roasted carrots/glazed carrots/crockpot carrots are super delicious.

Leftovers are delicious in a sandwich with a side of coleslaw – so yummy!

PSIf you try this recipe, please leavea review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along onPinterest,FacebookorInstagram.

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Mozzarella Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf

Try this Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf if you want to make a truly special dinner for your family! It's wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese for the ultimate homemade comfort food.

Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings

made it? tap the stars to add your rating!

4.68 from 56 votes

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Recipe details

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 1 hour hr

Total 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • ¼ cup finely chopped green pepper optional, but delicious
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon dried garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground paprika
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 9 ounces thin-cut bacon
  • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese diced
  • ½ cup barbecue sauce

Instructions

  • Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F (convection ovens to 320°F). Line a 9×5 inch loaf pan first with parchment paper and then with ⅔ of the bacon, leaving an overhang. OR line a rimmed baking sheet with baking parchment and lay ⅔ of the bacon on top if you want to bake without a pan.

  • Make meat mix: Mix ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, onion, mustard and spices in a large bowl (I use a handheld mixer with the hook attachment to do this).

  • Shape meatloaf: Shape a long log with ⅔ of the meat mixture and fit it inside the loaf pan (OR on top of the bacon on the baking sheet, if baking without a loaf pan). Make a crease down the middle and add the mozzarella cheese to it. Cover with the remaining meat mixture. Fold the bacon overhang on top and cover entirely with the remaining ⅓ of bacon. Spread with ⅓ of the barbecue sauce.

  • Bake: Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Spread with another ⅓ of the barbecue sauce. Continue baking for another 20 minutes, then spread with the remaining sauce right as it comes out of the oven. Allow the meatloaf to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. If you baked in a loaf pan, VERY CAREFULLY drain it before removing from the pan (depending on your meat/bacon, a lot of juices can accumulate).

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Nutrition

Calories: 419kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 34gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 648mgPotassium: 561mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 205IUVitamin C: 1.2mgCalcium: 115mgIron: 3.7mg

Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

More ground beef recipes to try

  • Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes Dinner
  • Homemade Salisbury Steak
  • Sticky BBQ Slow Cooker Meatballs
  • Easy Swedish Meatballs

P.S: Check out our collection of easy dinner recipes with ground beef for more ideas!

Mozzarella Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

FAQs

Can you add cheese to meat loaf? ›

A 'stuffed' meatloaf made with beef, pork, cheese, eggs, soup mix and bread crumbs. Mozzarella cheese jazzes up a classic.

What ingredient keeps meatloaf from falling apart? ›

Binders like eggs or breadcrumbs will certainly help to keep your meatloaf together.

Why do you put milk in meatloaf? ›

Milk and other dairy products, like heavy cream and buttermilk, contain both water and fat, adding two types of moisture to our meatloaf. There's a long-held theory that milk can tenderize ground meat, and this is the reason often cited for cooking ground meat in milk to make a Bolognese-style ragù.

Why put eggs in meatloaf? ›

Eggs play a crucial role in meatloaf recipes. They add to its moisture and texture while binding all the other ingredients together.

What happens if you put too much milk in meatloaf? ›

The most common reason meatloaf is mushy is too much liquid added to the mixture. Too much liquid will stop the meatloaf from baking and cause the meat to boil instead.

Why do you put bread slices at the bottom of a meatloaf pan? ›

Place 1 or 2 slices of bread under meatloaf to soak up the extra grease while baking. Also a good way to put stale bread to use.

What is the basic meatloaf formula? ›

The Basic Meatloaf Formula

All recipes for meatloaf start with the same basic formula: 2 pounds of ground meat and a “panade” made of bread or crackers soaked in milk. Along with a few eggs, this panade helps to hold the ground meat together and adds some essential moisture to the mix.

Should you cover meatloaf when baking? ›

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

How do you keep meatloaf moist when baking? ›

Use Extra Egg: Eggs act as binders and provide moisture. Add one or two eggs per pound of meat for a moist texture. Make Use of Milk: Soak breadcrumbs in milk before adding them to your mixture. This will keep your meatloaf moist during baking.

How to make a Bobby Flay meatloaf? ›

directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. ...
  3. Whisk together the eggs and herbs in a large bowl. ...
  4. Whisk together the remaining ketchup and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl then brush the mixture over the entire loaf.
  5. Bake the meatloaf for approximately 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

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