Bourbon Bacon Meatloaf

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Bourbon Bacon Meatloaf is certainly not your mother’s meatloaf! This tender meatloaf has tons of bacon flavor with bacon on the inside and on the top. But the showstopper addition is the bourbon glaze for a combination that’s simply irresistible!

You wanted a worry free dinner that you know will be a hit with your friends, family, and maybe even garner you some local fame? I present to you Bourbon Bacon Meatloaf! This savory, sweet, and satisfying main course will go down in the history books! 

Though I have always loved traditional meatloaf recipes, I sometimes feel that meatloaf in general has gained a bad reputation over the years. There are so many different types of sauces, flavors, binders, and meats involved that it can be difficult to nail down the best recipe that agrees with everyone. It’s time to bring back the love for this fantastic family friendly dinner!

The key to this recipe is the homemade bourbon glaze. Don’t let the alcohol scare you! It can be intimidating to work with, but once you take the chance, it will definitely pay off! The sweet, caramelized preserves and savory barbecue sauce meld perfectly with the distinct bourbon flavor bringing out the very best qualities in the beef and bacon. Soon you’ll be confident in your own fancy cooking skills!

Bourbon glazed meatloaf with bacon is a great option to serve with some easy roasted green beans and Cheddar Mashed Potatoes. Or satisfy all your comfort food cravings with some comforting and delicious Instant Pot Ranch Potatoes and light and fluffy Oatmeal Dinner Rolls!

For the meatloaf:

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• ⅔ cup quick cook oats
• ½ cup milk
• 2 eggs lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 12 slices bacon, divided

For the Bourbon Glaze:

• 3/4 cup cherry preserves or any fruit preserves you have on hand
• 1/4 cup your favorite kind of bourbon (Whiskey or cognac will also work, it will just be a little different!)
• 1/2 cup your preferred barbecue sauce

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: To make the glaze, put all the ingredients in a sauce pan and stir to combine. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 5-10 minutes.

Step 3: Meanwhile, fry the slices of bacon over medium heat until crisp. Crumble into small pieces, reserving about ¼ cup for the top of the meatloaf. 

Add the crumbled bacon and ground beef to a large mixing bowl. 

Step 4: Add the oats, milk, eggs, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder and salt to the bowl. Mix everything well with your hands. You want everything to be well combined without overworking the mixture. 

Step 5: Form the meat into a loaf. Try to keep your loaf as rectangular as possible to help keep the ends from getting over cooked. You can shape directly on a baking sheet, or set it on a rack if you have one. Whichever you choose, be sure to line it with nonstick aluminum foil so that the glaze won’t stick and burn to the pan and make a mess.

Step 6: Pour the bourbon glaze all over the meatloaf and bake it for about 50 minutes, basting again with a generous layer of glaze halfway through the baking time.

Step 7: Add the reserved bacon pieces on top of meatloaf and bake for another 10 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meatloaf is 160 degrees. 

Remove the meatloaf and let it rest for a few minutes before cutting it. Serve with the rest of your bourbon glaze on the side!

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Bourbon Bacon Meatloaf

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Bourbon Bacon Meatloaf is certainly not your mother’s meatloaf! This tender main dish has tons of bacon flavor with bacon on the inside and on the top. But the showstopper addition is the bourbon glaze for a combination that’s simply irresistible!

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Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• ⅔ cup quick cook oats
• ½ cup milk
• 2 eggs lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 12 slices bacon, divided

For the glaze:

• 3/4 cup cherry preserves (or any other fruit preserve)
• 1/4 cup bourbon, or any kind of whiskey or cognac
• 1/2 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce

Instructions

1. Set oven to 350 degrees F
2. To make the glaze, put all the ingredients in a sauce pan and stir to combine. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 5-10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, fry the slices of bacon until crisp. Crumble into small pieces, reserving about ¼ cup for the top of the meatloaf. 
4. Add the crumbled bacon and ground beef to a large mixing bowl. 
5. Add the oats, milk, eggs, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder and salt to the bowl. Mix everything well with your hands. You want everything to be well combined without overworking the mixture. 
6. Form the meat into a loaf. Try to keep your loaf as rectangular as possible to help keep the ends from getting over cooked. 
7. You can shape directly on a baking sheet, or set it on a rack if you have one. Whichever you choose,be sure to line it with nonstick aluminum foil so that the glaze won’t stick and burn to the pan and make a mess. .
8. Pour the bourbon glaze all over the meatloaf and bake it for about 50 minutes, basting again with a generous layer of glaze halfway through the baking time.
9. Add the reserved bacon pieces to the top of the meatloaf and bake for another 10 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meatloaf is 160 degrees. 
10. Remove the meatloaf and let it rest for a few minutes before cutting it. Serve with any remaining glaze on the side. 

Recommended Products

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• 
  Nordic Ware Baker's Half Sheet 
• 
  Pyrex Smart Essentials 3-Piece Prepware Mixing Bowl Set, 1-Qt, 1.5-Qt ,and 2.5-Qt Glass Mixing Bowls, Dishwasher, Microwave and Freezer Safe

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 651Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 166mgSodium: 892mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 1gSugar: 27gProtein: 40g

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