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Best Brown Sugar Glazed Meatloaf with Bacon – Easy Weeknight Dinner

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This brown sugar glazed meatloaf with bacon weave is a comforting, impressive dish that’s surprisingly easy to make. The sweet and savory glaze caramelizes into a sticky coating, while the bacon weave locks in moisture for a tender, flavorful meatloaf that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-style)
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ½ cup milk (whole milk preferred)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely grated
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
  • 12 to 16 slices bacon (standard cut)
  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, ¼ cup ketchup, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, and garlic powder to make the glaze. Set aside.
  3. Peel and grate the onion using the large holes of a box grater. Do not drain the liquid.
  4. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, beaten eggs, milk, grated onion with juice, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, salt, pepper, and thyme. Mix with your hands until just combined.
  5. Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared wire rack. Shape into a loaf about 9 inches long, 5 inches wide, and 2 inches high.
  6. Weave the bacon: Lay 6 to 8 strips of bacon vertically on a cutting board. Fold every other strip back halfway. Place one bacon strip horizontally across the unfolded strips. Unfold the folded strips over the horizontal strip. Fold back the strips that were left down. Place another horizontal strip across. Continue until you have a woven rectangle big enough to cover the meatloaf. Carefully lift the weave and drape it over the meatloaf, tucking the ends under.
  7. Brush about half the glaze over the bacon weave.
  8. Bake for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, brush on the remaining glaze. Continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C).
  9. Remove from oven and let rest on the rack for 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into 1-inch thick pieces.

Notes

For best results, use 80/20 ground beef and standard-cut bacon. Do not overmix the meat mixture. Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing to retain juices. If glaze darkens too quickly, tent with foil. Double the glaze recipe if you want extra for serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: meatloaf, bacon weave, brown sugar glaze, comfort food, easy dinner, ground beef, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://twinkletaste.com/best-brown-sugar-glazed-meatloaf-with-bacon-easy-weeknight-dinner/