Recipe: Mini Bacon and Cheese BBQ Meatloaves

Mini Meatloaves are an ingenious way of making meatloaf in half the time.... a time-saver that's perfect for weeknight meals... and a terrific way to try out new flavors to add into meatloaf... gone are the days of boring meatloaf... make it interesting and you'll see plates empty quickly!

Mini loaves are perfect for serving a crowd... perfect individual servings and easy to make and serve!

TIPS

Use whatever BBQ sauce you prefer... or use my recipe... make BBQ sauce ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for wonderful recipes likes this... click here for the recipe.

Want to cut the fat and not the flavor?.. try using turkey bacon.

I used cheddar cheese in this recipe.. I highly recommend you use sharp cheddar so the flavor comes through with all the other flavors.

The BBQ sauce quantity is approximate.. I put 1/4 cup into the meatloaf mix.. and then I generously baste the loaves.  I also serve some BBQ sauce on the side as well.

I listed the Worcestershire sauce as 1/2 tablespoon... use your tablespoon measuring spoon and "eyeball it".

An easy way to evenly divide the meat into 4 servings.... make the mixture.. then shape it into a square ... cut into squares.. then reshape each quarter into a mini loaf.... easy!

Serve this with Four Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Southern Creamed Corn.... yummmm!

Recipe: Mini Bacon and Cheese BBQ Meatloaves

All you need:

1 pound lean ground beef

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup chopped red pepper

1 egg, beaten

1 cup plain bread crumbs

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Sprinkling of salt and pepper

BBQ  sauce * for quantity  - see TIPS

2 strips smoked bacon, cut in quarters

All you have to do:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Line a baking pan with non-stick foil.

In a large bowl combine 1/4 cup BBQ sauce and all other ingredients except for the bacon strips.  Shape into mini loaves and place them on the prepared pan.  Brush them with BBQ sauce.

Lay 2 cut pieces of bacon on each loaf.  Brush them again liberally with BBQ sauce (I brush them before and after I lay the bacon on them).

Bake for about 30-35 minutes or fully cooked in the center (use an instant read meat thermometer if you are unsure or cut one open). 

Serve with additional BBQ sauce.