BBQ Beef Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf (Printable)
Savory beef loaf wrapped in smoky bacon with sweet BBQ glaze. An easy, hearty main dish perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meat & Protein
01 - 2 lbs ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
02 - 12 slices streaky bacon
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Binders & Fillers
05 - 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1/2 cup whole milk
→ Sauces & Condiments
08 - 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, plus extra for glazing
09 - 2 tbsp ketchup
10 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
→ Seasonings
11 - 1 1/2 tsp salt
12 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
13 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a loaf pan.
02 - In a large bowl, combine ground beef, chopped onion, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and thyme. Mix gently until just combined—do not overmix.
03 - Shape the mixture into a loaf approximately 9 x 5 inches and place on the prepared baking sheet or in the loaf pan.
04 - Lay the bacon strips over the meatloaf, tucking the ends underneath to wrap completely.
05 - Brush the top of the bacon with a generous layer of BBQ sauce.
06 - Bake for 50 minutes. Remove from the oven, brush with more BBQ sauce, and return to the oven for another 10–15 minutes, or until bacon is crisp and the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
07 - Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The bacon keeps everything incredibly moist while creating that irresistible crispy exterior everyone fights over
- It feeds a crowd with minimal effort and tastes even better the next day as sandwiches
02 -
- Overmixing makes meatloaf tough and dense so stop as soon as ingredients are combined
- The bacon shrinks as it cooks so tuck ends generously underneath or theyll pull away
03 -
- Use a meat thermometer to avoid guessing doneness and ending up with dry meatloaf
- Tenting foil loosely over the top if bacon browns too fast saves the day