Put on your apron, roll back your sleeves, and get ready to mix, squeeze, and roll some good old-fashioned Pioneer Woman-Inspired Meatloaf. This simple dinner recipe layers basic ingredients like ground beef, eggs, milk, bread, Parmesan cheese, and parsley into a large mixing bowl, and all you have to do is dig in those hands, mix it all together, and shape it into an oblong, dome-shaped loaf. Afterward, thin strips of flavorful bacon are garnished across the top and then topped with a thick spread of tangy-sweet ketchup. While the meatloaf becomes succulent and juicy in the oven, you don't have anything more to do, except set your timer for one hour. This frees you up to prepare the rest of the meal, and, like a pioneer woman, you'll be whipping up bread, potatoes, and veggies by the time those hungry, hard-working cowboys and cowgirls are ready to come in from the range.
Notes
If you enjoyed this recipe for Pioneer Woman-Inspired Meatloaf, be sure to check out our printable recipe for Mom's Homestyle Meatloaf.
Cooking Time1 hr
Cooking MethodOven
Ingredients
- For the Meatloaf:
- 6 slices white sandwich bread, including crusts
- 1 cup milk
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup minced flat-leaf parsley
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 slices thin cut bacon
- fresh ground black pepper
- For the Topping:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- a few drops of Tabasco hot sauce to taste
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 2-part broiler pan by lining the bottom pan with foil and spraying the top pan with cooking spray.
-
In a very large bowl, tear the bread into 1/2 inch pieces. Pour the milk over and add the eggs and beat until a smooth, wet mixture forms. Add the beef, cheese, and seasonings. Using your hands, squeeze and mix until everything is evenly distributed throughout.
-
Form into a loaf shape on the prepared broiler pan. Place strips of bacon crosswise and slightly overlapping on top of the loaf. Tuck the ends underneath.
-
Stir the ketchup, brown sugar, and seasonings together and spread evenly on top of the loaf. Bake for about 1 hour, or until loaf tests 150 degrees F in the center using a quick-read baking thermometer.
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kenziewood07 43526 50
Sep 21, 2017
I have to agree with the comment below. The meatloaf turns out a bit dry and dense. But the recipe just needs a bit of tweaking to make it better. Try using a little less bread, and a few squirts of ketchup in the meat mixture. You can also start cooking the bacon in a pan so it starts browning before you lay it on top of the meatloaf.
genan 5638014
Feb 03, 2016
I love Ree's way with food--a mix of southern sweet generosity with prairie simplicity and sturdiness. However, whoever was "inspired" by her meatloaf recipe missed the mark. The dish lacked the usual savory flavors associated with a meatloaf and was a bit dense and dry as well. The most unappetizing aspect was the bacon, which hardly cooked at all underneath the topping. The topping was the only really tasty part, and made it into my recipe collection for all my meatloaves hereafter.
teresaalexander 25 69308
Jan 09, 2016
why do you need a broiler pan can i not make this in a loaf pan
Editor Kaitlin
Jan 11, 2016
Hi teresaalexander 25 69308, This can be made in a loaf pan if you wish. We recommend using a broiler pan so that the grease drains away from the meatloaf as it cooks. I hope this helps! Kaitlin, Editor, FaveSouthernRecipes
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