Ingredients
MEATLOAF
1 lbground beef
1egg
2 Tbspbbq sauce (your favorite, I used Jack Daniels original)
1/4 cdry seasoned bread crumbs
1 1/2 tspParmesan cheese, grated
1/2 tspgarlic powder
1/8 tspsea salt, optional
2 clovegarlic zested or minced
1/4 tsprounded, dry mustard
1/4 tsprounded, oregano
1/4 tsprounded, basil
1/4 tsprounded, black pepper fresh ground
2-3green onions, white and green part, chopped finely
1/2 smallgreen bell pepper, small dice
1 cshredded sharp cheddar cheese (reserve 1/4c for on top)
TOPPING
3 slicebacon cut in half (6 smaller slices total)
2 Tbspbbq sauce
1 Tbsprounded, light brown sugar not packed
Step-By-Step
1 Preheat oven to 375° F. Get out a 9×13 baking pan. Do not use a bread pan. You can line this with foil to help with clean up, or just spray with a non-stick spray. Set aside.
2 Keep hamburger in the refrigerator until the last minute. In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, minced garlic, dry mustard, oregano, basil, pepper, onion and bell pepper. Stir it around a bit to get everything mixed. Add the 2 tsp bbq sauce and egg; mix. Grab the rest of the ingredients… this will go quickly so the “loaf” holds its shape.
3 Take the hamburger and add this to the bowl, QUICKLY mix together with clean hands… forget the spoon. Place 1/2 of the hamburger mix in the center of your pan. Make a “well” with your hand so it looks like a hollowed out 1/2 potato. Add 3/4 cup of the cheese and gently press it in.
4 Add the second half of the hamburger on top and press it together and shape like a log.
5 Lay the bacon strips on top of the loaf.
6 Smear the last 2 tbsp of bbq sauce on top of the bacon. Sprinkle brown sugar on top of the sauce and put this into the oven for 60 minutes. (temp should be 160°F internally)
7 After 60 minutes, you can sprinkle the remaining 1/4 c cheese on top and return it to the oven for 5 minutes, just to let the cheese melt. If you don’t want to to this, you can just stuff all the cheese inside and leave the outside to the bacon and bbq sauce.
